Rule presets

Classification of rules

The Chinese Classical represents Mah Jong as it was played in China in the beginning of the 20th century (the default rule preset of Four Winds, European Classical, represents a slightly simpler version from the same or perhaps a slightly earlier period).

The rules of Mah Jong have never been standardized, and the game has always been rich of variations, but during the last seven or eight decades Mah Jong has experienced very radical changes, partly as a result of becoming popular all over the world and taking influence of similar games played in other cultures, but also because the game was officially banned in its home country for decades, and accordingly lost its roots for a long time.

Today the classical game is virtually unknown in Asian countries and the modern competing variations often differ greatly from each other, partially explained by the fact that the rules have been shaped in the hands of gamblers. On the other hand, in Western countries (especially in Europe) the game is still clearly based on classical rules, though several additions foreign to the original game have also been introduced. Until recently there has not been much dialogue between the competing forms of Mah Jong, and the game has continued to develop in several different directions, resulting in endless local variations.

However, it is possible to classify the different versions by comparing certain key elements. Based on these factors the major three categories (deriving from the Chinese Classical as the root category) are Chinese Modern, Japanese and Western rules. The following sections describe the new features and major deviations (regarding its parent) of each rule version.

Root: Chinese Classical

Focus on collecting coherent hands with Chows and Pungs, typical goals being Chow hand, Pung hand and Mixed hand (One suit and Honors).
Rewards player for going out on a fully concealed hand (including the winning tile)
Use of simple point-double based scoring plan; payments for basic sets (Pungs and Kongs)
East receives and pays double payoff scheme
Payments between losers
Changes between Chinese Classical and European Classical: in the latter, no Flowers and Seasons are used, the replenishing Dead Wall of 16 tiles is replaced by an exhaustible Dead Wall of 14 tiles, only concealed Kongs are interpreted as concealed triplets, Kong can be declared after a claimed tile, no bonus for going out on a Terminal or Honor pair, going out on a one-chance Chow is rewarded (rather than going out on a one-chance hand), several Limit hands have been omitted, and winning pays 20 instead of 10 points.

A. Chinese Modern

1. Chinese Old Style

Rewards going out self-drawn, rather than collecting a concealed hand
The point unit is abandoned (no payments for basic sets)
Payments between losers abandoned (only the winner is paid)
Faan values of patterns increased (One suit and Honors is worth 3 faan)
Use of Faan-Laak complex limit system
Introduction of "Chung plan" in payments: if the winner goes out self-drawn, all pay double, otherwise the discarder pays double and others normally.
In Four Winds: Hong Kong

1.1 Chinese New Style

Introduction of numerous new patterns
Extension of old-style payoff schemes to 6-9-12 or higher payoff schemes

1.2 Taiwanese

The most common version is a 16-tile Mah Jong (the completed winning hand consists of 17 tiles instead of 14), where a player needs to collect four sets of Chows/Pungs/Kongs and a pair.
Introduction of new payoff scheme, where all pay directly the winner's final score in case of self-drawn win, otherwise the discarder alone pays winner's final scores (just for himself). Thus the self-draw is again emphasized; this is probably a result of mixing the Hong Kong and Japanese schemes.
A version of 12-tiles Mah Jong is also played in Taiwan. This version is supported in Four Winds by the use of pre-dealt jokers. Wilmington Advanced 12-Tile rules are based on this version of Mah Jong.

2. Chinese Official

Based primarily on Chinese New Style
Replaced the exponential (doubling) faan-laak system with additive point system
Payoff scheme based on Taiwanese

B. Japanese

1. Japanese Classical

Payments between losers abandoned (only the winner is paid)
Introduction of "discarder pays for all" payoff scheme (extended from "pao" penalty typically applied in Chinese Classical and Modern), accentuating the meaning of defensive playing strategies
New patterns: Terminal or Honor in each set, All Simples, 3 Chows of 1 suit step 3 (three consecutive Chows from 1 to 9 of one suit), Three Concealed Triplets (this is actually a classical pattern), Four Triplets 3 Concealed, etc.
Focus on going out early on easy or mediocre hands on and not losing
Rule of missed discard: you are not allowed to go out by claiming a tile that you missed first time it appeared during any single turn
Rule of sacred discard (applied to last discard only)
Deal is passed after a draw (in modern rules the rule is often modified, e.g. by not passing the deal if dealer has a ready hand)

1.1 Japanese Transitional

Several new patterns (e.g., "Same Chow from all suits", "Two/three identical Chows", "Three triplets of the same number", "Three Kongs", "Three triplets of the same number"), often with higher scoring if composed of concealed sets (note the difference to the Japanese Modern, where the emphasis is on the concealedness of the hand, rather than that of the patterns themselves).
Rule of Riichi introduced
Extra payments for dealer's extra hands (i.e., deals played without passing the deal at the start of the hand)
Fixed payments for ready hands (ready declaration not required) after a draw

1.2 Japanese Modern

Two major variations: Ari-Ari ("official") and Nashi-Nashi (stricter, not as popular). Four Winds Japanese Modern and EMA Riichi rules are a version of Ari-Ari rules, but you can apply rules specific to Nashi-Nashi by customizing the rues.
Mangan complex limit scoring system (instead of simple point-double based scoring)
Multiplier values of patterns increased; point-counting for basic sets (Pungs and Kongs) retained but has less significance
Several new patterns (e.g., "Same Chow from all suits", "Two identical Chows", "Three triplets of the same number", "Terminal in each set") which tend to emphasize semi-concealed (= concealed hand, discarded winning tile allowed) hands: either a different scoring is specified for patterns appearing in a melded or concealed hand, or a given pattern is recognized only in a concealed hand (e.g. in Ari-Ari rules melded All Simples is acknowledged [Kuitan]; in Nashi-Nashi rules All Simples is acknowledged only in a concealed hand)
Minimum of 1 han (sometimes increased to 2 on the 5th continued deal): typical easy winning hands are All Simples, No-points-hand, Terminal or Honor in each set, or any Riichi hand (as Riichi declaration automatically gives 1 han). In Nashi-Nashi rules the minimum point requirement is checked for ready hands, as well (to qualify for special payments after a draw or for a legal hand for a ready declaration), the more permissive Ari-Ari rules do not require this (Keishiki Tenpai). Some versions of Nashi-Nashi rules may also require that a hand to be declared ready must already meet the minimum point requirement (not counting the winning tile), but this is not supported in Four Winds.
Played in half-games of 2 rounds (East and South rounds) instead of full games of 4 rounds
Introduction of top prize (equalized end points to determine the total score after the game is finished)
Multiple winners are often allowed
Use of Dora tiles (Ari-Ari: No Kong Dora, No Ura Dora; Nashi-Nashi: Ura Dora, sometimes Kong Dora and Kong Ura Dora, as well, and sometimes scoring for Dora in concealed hand only)
Rule of Riichi (Ari-Ari: Sacred hand allowed if player goes out self-drawn; Nashi-Nashi: Sacred hand not allowed); sometimes extra han for ip-patsu (going out on the first turn after the declaration with no claims between the turns)
Rule of Sacred Discard (often extended to entire deal or applied in absolute mode, forbidding a player with a sacred hand to go out on any discard)
Extra payments for dealer's extra hands (i.e., deals played without passing the deal at the start of the hand)
Fixed payments for ready hands (ready declaration not required) after a draw
Varying rules for passing the deal after a draw (often the deal is passed unless the dealer has a ready hand)
Dead hand rules are typically applied

C. Other Asian Rules

These rules typically combine features of Chinese and Japanese Mah Jong.

1. Internet Mahjong Server (IMS) and Mahjong Masters Million (MMM)

Some new patterns
Kinds of hybrids between modern Chinese and Japanese Mah Jong (developed in Singapore)
Payments between losers abandoned (only the winner is paid)
Use of arbitrary settling table for payments (concept of faans as multipliers and laaks as limits abandoned); introduction of auxiliary points (reminiscent of combination of fu and han in Japanese rules)
Payoff scheme rewards East (final score multiplied by 1.5 instead of 6 as in Modern Japanese rules) without penalizing East loser (in classical rules East also pays double, though not for all but just for himself), and also any player going out self-drawn (IMS only, multiplied by 1.5, instead of 6, as in Chinese rules); in addition, penalizes the discarder, who pays alone but just for himself (as in Taiwanese rules) and not for all players (as in Japanese rules).
In MMM rules the typically Japanese rules of sacred discard and missed discard are also used.

2. World Mahjong Player Association (WMPA) Rules

Several new patterns, mostly taken from the modern Japanese Mah Jong. On the other hand, no scoring for Fully concealed hand, but instead for Concealed hand and Self-drawn winning tile (as in the Chinese Mah Jong).
Rule of sacred discard (absolute mode) and missed discard.
A modified version of Rule of Riichi.
Payments between losers abandoned (only the winner is paid); introduction of a kind of a combination of the modern Chinese and Japanese payoff scheme: the winner's final score is first squared (a unique feature), and if the winning tile is self-drawn, each loser pays the squared sum to the winner, otherwise the discarder pays for all losers (adaptation of the Japanese system). East receives and pays the same as other players (which is an adaptation of the Chinese system).
Minimum of 3 faan: a typical winning hand consists of One suit with Honors (worth 3 faan), or a Pung hand with a value triplet. Concealed hands based on four Chows are also common, as it can easily be combined with e.g. All Simples or Chow hand (no Honors allowed).

3. Korean

Differs from all other versions by omitting the Bamboo suit.
Claimed Chows allowed only on going out.
Rule of sacred discard (extended to entire deal).
A modified version of Rule of Riichi.
Payments between losers abandoned (only the winner is paid)
Minimum of 2 points: as Bamboo suit is omitted, a typical winning hand often consists of One suit with Honors (worth 2 pts). Though claimed Chows are allowed only on going out, hands based on four Chows are also common, as it automatically receives 1 point for Concealed hand and easily earns an extra point for All Simples or Chow hand (which must go out on a multiple-chance Chow and cannot contain traditional value pairs).
Introduction of a new payoff scheme, where all pay directly the winner's final score in case of self-drawn win, otherwise the discarder alone double the winner's final score (just for himself). Thus the self-draw is mildly emphasized; on the other hand, going out on a fully concealed hand is heavily encouraged by giving it a bonus of 7 points.

D. Western

In Western Mah Jong the classical point-double scoring plan is still used, and as in the classical Chinese game, East always pays and receives double and losers settle scoring according to the difference of their final scores.

1. American Classical

Fairly close to Chinese Classical rules, but scoring slightly simplified (e.g., special ways of going out allowed for No-Points hand, no scoring for Three concealed triplets, Concealed hand or Fully concealed hand, etc.). Pung hand get scores only if at least one of the triplets is concealed.
Introduces 7 pairs hands.
Often modified by applying a minimum point requirement (1 double game) or by requiring that the winning hand may not contain mixed suit tiles (Cleared hand game).

1.1 American Modern

Focus on collection of special hands (and introduction of dozens of new such hands, many of which irregular)
Introduction of Charleston and jokers in order to make collection of special hands easier (though jokers are occasionally used in Asian rules, as well).
Occasional use of additional rules (e.g., Kitty or pool collected by the winner with a Pung hand, double payment deals, special tiles like Cat/ Rat, Cock/Worm and Old man/Bag of gold, etc.).
Prohibition of mixed suits (cleared-hand game): the winning hand must not contain more than one suits (excepting some limit hands)
The winning hand can contain maximum of 1 Chow (excepting some limit hands)
Losers are paid the same as the winner for incomplete hands (excepting irregular hands).
No Dead Wall (all tiles of the Wall are played).
Several national variations (e.g., Wright-Patterson and American-Jewish rules), some of which can no longer be considered as the game of Mah Jong (e.g., NMJL rules, where Chows are no longer recognized, Kongs and Flowers are kept in hand, a set of five similar tiles is introduced, etc., and where you no longer can go out on four regular sets and a pair)

1.2. Australian

Focus on collection of high-scoring hands (and introduction of several new special hands, some of which are irregular).
Prohibition of mixed suits and and maximum of 1 Chow (as in American rules), but a fully concealed hand can contain more than 1 Chow (this is a new feature not found in American rules).
Introduction of Goulash deal after a draw (as deals often end in a draw as a result of restrictions). Goulash rules use Charleston and jokers and are practically the same as the modern American rules (but no Chows are allowed in the Goulash deal).
Rewards losers with a ready hand with nearly the same scores as the winner (including uncompleted irregular hands) – note the difference to American rules, which do not require that loser's hand is ready in order to be scored, and which do not specify special scoring for uncompleted special hands.

2. European national variations

British: Maximum of 1 Chow, use of Goulash deal after a draw, obligatory ready declaration; special scoring for losers with uncompleted, ready special hands.
Dutch: Two-double game (the winning hand must be worth at least 2 doubles); use of exhaustible Dead Wall instead of a replenishing one; some non-classical bonus scores ("Chow hand" without any restrictions, "All simples", "Bird eats cake"); losers are normally paid the same as the winner for certain uncompleted hands (without needing to have a ready hand).
French: Adaptation of Riichi (but hand does not need to be concealed); discards are concealed; use of an exhaustible Dead Wall instead of a replenishing one; use of Dominant Wind instead of Wind of the Round; payments after a draw (to all players); several irregular hands, which can also be partially melded.
German: Classical rules but with a strong emphasize on collecting Honor triplets and Kongs, as each of these earn easy extra doubles. Concealed hands pay also well.
Italian: Adaptation of Riichi (but with many differences to Japanese Riichi game); use of an exhaustible Dead Wall instead of a replenishing one; several non-classical patterns.