Taiwanese 16-tile mahjong rules: how to play
Reviewed by Jayesh, Admin · Last updated 27 October 2026
Taiwanese mahjong is played with 16 tiles in the hand, three more than the 13 used in most other styles. That gives you room to build bigger hands, and it is why players call it 16-tile mahjong. This guide covers the rules Mahjong Dubai plays, from the tiles to the winning hand.
The scoring depends on the rules your table plays. Classic Taiwanese counts tai. The Dubai house rules (Standard and Advanced) count points. The way you play the hand is the same for all three.
The tiles
A Taiwanese set has 144 tiles. There are four copies of every suit, wind and dragon tile, and one of each flower.
| Group | Tiles | Copies of each | Tiles in the set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo | 1 to 9 | 4 | 36 |
| Circles (also called dots) | 1 to 9 | 4 | 36 |
| Characters | 1 to 9 | 4 | 36 |
| Winds | East, South, West, North | 4 | 16 |
| Dragons | Red, Green, White | 4 | 12 |
| Flowers | four seasons and four flowers | 1 | 8 |
Here is one of each kind: a run of bamboo, circles and characters, then the four winds, the three dragons and two flowers.
Winds and dragons together are called honours. Flowers are never part of a set. When you draw one, you put it face up in front of you and draw a replacement tile.
The deal
- Four people play. The dealer sits East.
- Each player takes 16 tiles. The dealer takes a 17th and starts by discarding one.
- Before play begins, everyone sets out their flowers and draws replacements.
Taking a turn
On your turn you draw a tile, then discard one. You always draw before you discard, so you have 16 tiles in your hand between turns.
Instead of drawing, you can claim the tile another player has just discarded:
- Pong: three of the same tile. You can claim a pong from any player.
- Gong: four of the same tile. A gong counts as a set, and you draw a replacement tile so your hand stays the right size.
- Sheung: three tiles in a row in one suit, such as 4-5-6 circles. You can only claim a sheung from the player on your left, whose turn comes just before yours.
- Mahjong: the tile that completes your winning hand. You can claim it from anyone.
If two players want the same tile, Mahjong comes first, then gong, then pong, then sheung.
A claimed set goes face up in front of you. Sets you build from tiles you drew yourself stay hidden in your hand and are called concealed.
The winning hand
You win with 17 tiles: five sets and a pair. A set is a pong, a gong or a sheung, and the pair is also called the eyes. You can win in two ways:
- Self-pick: you draw the winning tile from the wall yourself. All three other players pay you.
- On a discard: you claim the winning tile from another player's discard. Only the player who discarded it pays.
There is one special winning shape in Classic Taiwanese, Nico Nico: seven pairs and one pong. It is worth 30 tai.
Scoring a win
When you win, you add up the scoring patterns your hand shows. Classic Taiwanese counts tai. A dragon pong, for example, is worth 1 tai, and a hand made only of pongs is worth 4 tai. The Dubai house rules count points instead, with a base added to every win.
Here is a finished hand scored under Classic Taiwanese:
Four sequences, a dragon pong and a pair, won by self-pick
| Scoring pattern | Points |
|---|---|
| Concealed Self-Pick | 3 tai |
| No Flowers | 1 tai |
| Pong of white Dragon | 1 tai |
| Single Wait | 1 tai |
| Total | 6 tai |
The tai scoring guide has the full table of patterns and more worked examples.
Two rules worth knowing
- Dead hand. If you end up with the wrong number of tiles, your hand is dead. You keep drawing and discarding, but you cannot win that hand.
- Passing on a win. Under Classic Taiwanese, if a discard would have given you the win and you let it go, you can't win on that same tile until you have discarded again.
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles are in a Taiwanese mahjong set?
144: three suits of 1 to 9 with four copies of each tile, four copies of each wind and dragon, and eight flowers.
How many tiles do you hold in Taiwanese mahjong?
16 between turns. The dealer starts with 17, and a winning hand has 17 tiles: five sets and a pair.
Can you claim a sheung from any player?
No. You can only claim a sheung (a run of three) from the player on your left. Pongs, gongs and the winning tile can be claimed from anyone.
What happens to flower tiles?
Flowers are never part of a set. When you draw one, you put it face up in front of you and draw a replacement. Under Classic Taiwanese, a flower that matches your seat scores 1 tai when you win.
Can I play Taiwanese mahjong online for free?
Yes. Mahjong Dubai is free to play in your browser at play.mahjongdubai.com, against AI players or with friends at a private table.