Scoring

Limit points

After the calculation of the tile points and doubles and possible rounding the total score is compared with Limit points (specified on the Extra payments and Rounding page under the Scoring section in the category tree of the Preferences dialog box). If the total exceeds the Limit, it is normally cut down to the specified sum (traditionally 500 points).

Notice that penalties, bonus for dealer's extra hand and winning a Goulash deal and kitty are paid after applying the limit (and after calculating possible payment doubles).

Applying limit for losers

In the American Modern rule preset the limit is applied in a special way for losers. Instead of using it directly on the final score (as is the case with the winner), the difference of final scores (before payment doubles) is used as the criterion for cutting down points exceeding the limit.

Example. If the limit is 500 points and player A's final score is 660 points and player B's score 100 points, the difference of their scores is 560 points, which is cut off to 500 points. This is the amount that B pays to A. Normally A's score would first be cut off to 500 points, in which case he would receive only 400 points from player B. Notice however, that if player A or B is East, he will normally receive/pay double.

To specify this rule, check the Apply to score difference (losers) box on the Payments option page.

Limit points and the settling table

If a Faan-Laak or Mangan settling table is used to determine the final score, the concept of Limit points becomes more complex. The specified amount of Limit points only indicates the base unit that is used in the settling table to determine multiples of limit paid for exceptionally valuable hands. The actual maximum final score is determined by the highest value specified in the settling table. (Note however that certain hands may specify direct scoring which exceeds the maximum specified by the settling table; for more information, see Exceptions below.)

E.g., in Hong Kong Mah Jong, which uses the Chinese Faan-Laak system, the Limit (laak) is 16 points which is given for a hand worth 4 faans. But the actual maximum final score is 3 laaks (base limit doubled twice, i.e. 400% of the base limit) resulting in 64 points and is given for hands worth 10 faans or more.

In Japanese Modern Mah Jong, where the Mangan scoring system is used, the base Limit is 2,000 points. The actual maximum final score is 400% of the Limit (8,000 points) given for hands worth 13 han or more.

Exceptions

• If a single pattern has a scoring assignment that exceeds the limit (e.g., if the hand has a scoring value of 800 points and the limit is 500 points, or if the scoring value is 150% of the limit), that value is used directly (and scoring for other patterns is ignored), instead of cutting down the final score to limit points (or using the highest value of a settling table).
• If multiple limit hands are allowed (by using the Allow multiple Limit hands option on the Limit & Special Hands option page), scoring for limit hands – ones specified in % of Limit unit or in points unit, but exceeding the current limit – can be cumulative.

Related topics:
Basic scheme of calculation
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

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