Scoring

Basic scheme of calculation

The method of calculating the points varies according to the rules, but the basic scheme is described in the table below. Notice that the scoring units vary: the modern Japanese rules use fu (point) and han (multiplier) units; the modern Chinese rules use exclusively faan units. All other rules use points and doubles units.
1. Summing up of the tile points/fu (i.e., basic points for the sets) E.g., 2 points for a melded Pung of simples, 4 points for a melded Pung of Winds, 8 points for a concealed Pung of Dragons
Note: In modern Chinese Mah Jong, no points are rewarded for basic combinations.
2. Summing up any other scoring items that pay points/fu/faan E.g., 20 points for winning, 2 points for going out on a self-drawn tile
Note: In modern Chinese Mah Jong, all scoring items pay faans only (so this step consists of adding up all scores that in other rules pay doubles/han).
3. Total points (possibly rounded off or up to nearest ten) In the example, 36 points, rounded off to nearest ten, resulting in 40 points. In modern Chinese Mah Jong, a constant basic point value is assumed for all hands (often unity "1" is conveniently used).
4. Calculation of scoring items that pay doubles or han E.g., 1 double for a Pung of Dragons, 1 double for a Pung of player's own Wind
Note: In modern Chinese Mah Jong, all scoring items pay faans only, and instead of simple doubling, the laak complex limit system is adopted (steps from 4 to 6 are skipped).
5. Doubling of the total tile points In the example, 40 is doubled twice: 40 * 2 * 2 = 160 points
6. Total score (possibly rounded off or up to nearest ten or hundred) 160 points
7. Checking the total score against the specified "limit" (maximum score), if necessary. If a settling table is not used, this is the final score. Note: In the American Modern rule preset, a limit is applied to the difference of scores between the losers.
In modern Chinese and Japanese Mah Jong, the absolute limit is specified by a settling table (a hand can score multiples of limit).
8. Determining the final score using a settling table. Used e.g. in Hong Kong, Chinese New Style and in the Japanese Modern rules.
9. Determining the payments (possibly rounded off or up to nearest ten or hundred).  In the Western and Japanese rules the dealer (East) pays and receive double payments; in the Chinese rules all players normally pay double if the winner goes out self-drawn, otherwise only the discarder pays double. In the Western rules losers pay each other according to the difference between their scores. Rounding at payment time is used in the Australian and Japanese Modern rules.
10. Adding/reducing of the penalties and bonus points for dealer's extra hands, winning the kitty or a Goulash deal. Penalties and these bonus points are paid as such after all other payments have been done (that is, no rounding, doublings and limits are applied to them).

Related topics:
Overview
Basic tile points
Scores for basic sets
Scores for Flowers and Seasons
Scores for patterns based on Chows
Scores for patterns based on Pungs and Kongs
Scores for patterns based on the whole hand
Scores for miscellaneous patterns
Scores for winning
Limit and Special hands – Classical
Limit and Special hands – Serpents
Limit and Special hands – Pairs
Limit and Special hands – Special ways of going out
Limit and Special hands – American hands
Limit and Special hands – Miscellaneous
Doubling table
Settling tables
Rounding
Limit points

Procedures:
Printing scoring items
Renaming scoring items
Resetting the names of scoring items
Inclusion and scoring of hands and patterns