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Taiwanese Mahjong 台灣麻將

The classic 16-tile game, played against three computer opponents. Everything runs on your device: no account, no server, no real money.

Opponents

Match length

A round ends when every player has been dealer once (about 4–10 hands).

Game speed

On by default: every player who can win takes the discard and the discarder pays each of them. Untick for the nearest winner in turn order only.

Points are only a scoreboard for this game. There are no stakes and nothing is sent anywhere.

About Taiwanese mahjong

Taiwanese mahjong is the 16-tile variant of the game. Each player holds 16 tiles, draws one and discards one, and wins by completing five sets and a pair with the 17th tile. A set is a run of three (chi 吃), a triplet (peng 碰) or a four-of-a-kind (kong 槓).

What makes it different

  • 16 tiles, not 13. A full hand is five sets plus a pair.
  • Flowers. The eight flower tiles are never part of your hand. When you draw one, you show it and take a replacement from the back of the wall.
  • Tai scoring. Hands score in tai (台). Each point of tai raises what the losers pay, so a bigger hand is worth more.
  • Dealer streaks. When the dealer wins, they stay dealer and earn extra tai for each consecutive win (連莊).

Frequently asked

What do the numbers on the tiles mean?

Traditional Taiwanese sets have no ordinary digits. Characters tiles show a Chinese numeral (一 to 九) above 萬, Dots tiles show circles and Bamboo tiles show sticks (the 1 of Bamboo is a bird). This game also prints a small 1–9 in the corner of every Characters, Dots and Bamboo tile so anyone can read them. Switch it off under Show numbers on tiles in the setup screen or the Menu. Very small discard and helper tiles may omit the digit.

Does this game use real money or an online server?

No. Points are a scoreboard only. The opponents are simple programs running in your browser, and the game works offline once loaded.

Which scoring rules does it use?

A common casual tai table, shown in the Tai table panel. Taiwanese households and tournaments differ in the details, so treat it as one reasonable standard rather than the only one.

Can more than one player win on the same discard?

Yes, by default. When two or three players can win on one discard, each of them wins and the discarder pays each winner. You can switch this off in the setup screen or the Menu so that only the nearest winner in turn order wins.

Is it the same as Mahjong Solitaire?

No. Solitaire is a tile-matching puzzle for one person. This is the four-player game families play around the table at Lunar New Year, here against three computer opponents.

Match over

    How to play

    1. Goal. Build a hand of five sets and one pair (17 tiles including the last one). Sets are runs of three in one suit (e.g. 3-4-5), or three/four of the same tile.
    2. Your turn. You draw a tile, then discard one. Select a tile and tap it again to discard. Characters, Dots and Bamboo tiles show a small 1–9 in the corner (switch it off in the Menu).
    3. Flowers. If you draw a flower tile it goes to the side and you draw a replacement automatically.
    4. Claiming. When someone discards a tile you can use, buttons appear:
      • 吃 Chi — complete a run, only from the player before you.
      • 碰 Peng — complete a triplet from anyone.
      • 槓 Kong — take a fourth tile. You draw a replacement from the back of the wall.
      • 胡 Hu — win with the discarded tile. This beats every other claim. By default every player who can win on a discard wins, and the discarder pays each of them; switch this off in the setup screen or Menu if you prefer only the nearest winner in turn order to win.
      Claiming exposes the set, so you lose the 門清 (concealed) bonus.
    5. Winning. Draw your winning tile yourself (自摸) or win off a discard (胡). Your hand's tai decide what each opponent pays.
    6. Draw game. If the wall runs out, nobody wins and the dealer stays.

    The helper line under your status shows how many tiles you are from ready (聽牌) and what you would be waiting for. Switch it off in the menu if you prefer a challenge.

    Tai scoring table

    Payout per opponent = 30 + 10 × tai. On a discard win only the discarder pays; on a self-draw everyone pays. If several players win on the same discard (on by default, switch it off in setup or the Menu), the discarder pays each winner separately.
    Game speed