Mahjong (HK Mahjong, Malaysian Mahjong, Singapore Mahjong, Taiwanese Mahjong) is a tile game from China for 4 players. Master Mahjong scoring — fan tables, payments, and running totals. Track digitally with PartyPot. Free on iOS & Android.
Mahjong
Also known as: HK Mahjong · Malaysian Mahjong · Singapore Mahjong · Taiwanese Mahjong
Players
4
Play Time
2–6 hours
Origin
China
Equipment
144 Mahjong tiles, dice, scoring sticks (or PartyPot)
What Is Mahjong?
Mahjong is more than a game — it's a social institution across Asia. Four players build hands from 144 tiles, aiming to complete specific patterns (winning hands) that score points based on a "fan" system. The complexity lies in the scoring: different winning hands have different fan values, self-drawn wins pay differently than discard wins, and regional variants (Hong Kong, Malaysian, Singapore, Taiwanese) each have their own scoring tables. PartyPot eliminates the most frustrating part of Mahjong — calculating and tracking payments across a marathon session.
How to Play Mahjong
Four players sit at a table, tiles are shuffled and walls are built
Each player draws 13 tiles; the dealer draws 14 and discards one to start
Players take turns drawing and discarding tiles to build winning hands
You can "Chow" (sequence from left player), "Pong" (triplet from any player), or "Kong" (four of a kind)
A winning hand has 4 sets (sequences or triplets) plus 1 pair = 14 tiles
Scoring is based on fan value of the winning hand — higher fan = higher payout
Self-drawn wins are paid by all 3 players; discard wins are paid by the discarding player
How PartyPot Makes Mahjong Better
Per-hand score entry with running totals across the entire session
Handles self-draw vs. discard payment direction automatically
Transaction history shows every hand result — perfect for settling disputes
Smart Settlement after marathon sessions calculates minimum transfers
Works for all regional variants — set your own scoring rules
Pro Tips
Agree on the minimum fan requirement BEFORE starting (e.g., 3-fan minimum)
Use PartyPot to track the dealer seat rotation — it affects payment amounts
For marathon sessions, use Smart Settlement at meal breaks
Log each hand immediately — memory gets fuzzy after 4+ hours
Want a deeper dive?
Read the full Mahjong guide on our blog
Play Mahjong with PartyPot
Download PartyPot free — create a room, share the QR code, and start playing Mahjong with a digital banker in under 30 seconds.
