tsumoHalf Flush (Hun Yat Sik) Non-Flower Blueprint
Dots + Red Dragon triplet and East Wind pair (3 non-flower Faan open, 4 Faan closed).
Hong Kong Mahjong Scoring Explained
Learn Hong Kong Mahjong scoring on tsumo.io, including the 3 non-flower faan gate, value anchors, common under-value mistakes, and review drills.
Hong Kong Mahjong Scoring Explained
Complete Hong Kong Mahjong scoring guide: 3 non-flower faan gate, common starter combinations, flower rules, doubling tables, and limit hands.
The 3 Non-Flower Faan Gate: The Core HKOS Standard
In standard Hong Kong Mahjong (HKOS) and on tsumo.io, hands must reach a minimum threshold of 3 non-flower Faan to declare a legal win.
A hand that completes 4 sets and a pair with only 1 or 2 Faan is an under-value hand (Chicken Hand) and cannot win at standard 3 non-flower Faan minimum tables.
Top 4 Starter Non-Flower Faan and Multi-Faan Combinations
These four reliable hand patterns form the backbone of beginner Hong Kong Mahjong strategy.
All Triplets (Dui Dui Wu) Non-Flower Blueprint
Four triplets and a pair of 9 Dots (3 non-flower Faan).
| Combination Name | Pattern Description | Faan Value | Open vs Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ping Wu (All Chows) + Concealed | Four sequences and neutral pair, keeping hand fully closed | 3 non-flower Faan (1 Ping Wu + 1 Menzen + 1 bonus) | Closed Only |
| Hun Yat Sik (Half Flush) | One suited family mixed with Winds or Dragons | 3 non-flower Faan (open) / 4 Faan (closed) | Open or Closed |
| Dui Dui Wu (All Triplets) | Four triplets and one pair | 3 non-flower Faan | Open or Closed |
| Siu Saam Yuen (Small Three Dragons) | Two Dragon triplets and one Dragon pair | 3 non-flower Faan (+ 2 Dragon faan = 5 total) | Open or Closed |
Flower Tile Scoring Rules (Fa Pai)
Hong Kong Mahjong uses eight bonus tiles: 4 Seasons (Spring=1, Summer=2, Autumn=3, Winter=4) and 4 Flowers (Plum=1, Orchid=2, Chrysanthemum=3, Bamboo=4).
A flower matching your seat number (East=1, South=2, West=3, North=4) awards 1 Faan. Holding no flowers at all (Ching Fa) also awards 1 Faan.
Holding all four flowers or all four seasons awards 2 Faan. However, flower faan alone cannot bypass the 3 non-flower faan gate!
Exponential Doubling Table & Table Settlement
HKOS uses an exponential payout structure where each additional Faan doubles the base point payment:
0 Faan = 1 pt base; 1 Faan = 2 pts; 2 Faan = 4 pts; 3 non-flower Faan = 8 pts; 4 Faan = 16 pts; 5 Faan = 32 pts; 6 Faan = 64 pts (capped at table limit, typically 8 or 10 Faan).
On Self-Draw (Zimo), all three opponents pay the full score. On Discard Win (Sik Wu), the discarder pays the full amount alone.
Reliable 3 Non-Flower Faan and 4-Faan Starter Hand Blueprints
To win consistently in Hong Kong Mahjong, aim for one of these standard 3 non-flower Faan and 4-faan building routes:
Route 1 (All Chows + Concealed = 3 non-flower Faan): Form four sequences and a pair while keeping your hand fully closed. Self-drawing adds an extra faan.
Route 2 (Half Flush = 3 non-flower Faan open / 4 Faan closed): Collect tiles from one suit (e.g. Bamboo) and combine them with Dragon triplets or Seat Wind triplets.
Route 3 (All Triplets / Dui Dui Wu = 3 non-flower Faan): Call Pon aggressively to assemble four 3-of-a-kinds across any suits.
Route 4 (Dragon Triplets + Wind Triplets = 3+ non-flower Faan): Combine a Red Dragon pung (1 Faan), Green Dragon pung (1 Faan), and Seat Wind pung (1 Faan).
Worked Faan Calculation Scenarios: Self-Draw vs Discard Win
Scenario A (Discard Win / Sik Wu): You win off an opponent discard holding Half Flush (3 non-flower Faan) + Red Dragon Triplet (1 Faan) = 4 Faan total. Payout = 16 points, paid entirely by the discarder.
Scenario B (Self-Draw / Zimo): You draw the winning tile yourself holding All Chows (1 Faan) + Concealed Hand (1 Faan) + Self-Draw (1 Faan) + Own Seat Flower (1 Faan) = 4 Faan total. Payout = 16 points, paid equally by all three opponents (16 points each).
Hong Kong Mahjong Faan Payout & Doubling Table
| Faan Total | Base Points | Self-Draw Payment (Per Player) | Discarder Direct Hit Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Non-Flower Faan (Minimum Gate) | 8 pts | 8 pts from each of 3 opponents (24 total) | 16 pts paid solely by discarder |
| 4 Faan | 16 pts | 16 pts from each (48 total) | 32 pts paid solely by discarder |
| 5 Faan | 32 pts | 32 pts from each (96 total) | 64 pts paid solely by discarder |
| 6 Faan | 64 pts | 64 pts from each (192 total) | 128 pts paid solely by discarder |
| 7 Faan (Pure Flush) | 128 pts | 128 pts from each (384 total) | 256 pts paid solely by discarder |
| 8–10 Faan (Table Cap / Bao) | 256–512 pts | 256–512 pts from each | 512–1,024 pts paid solely by discarder |
FAQ
Can I win with 2 structural Faan and 1 Flower Faan at a 3 non-flower Faan table?
No. At standard 3 non-flower Faan minimum tables, your hand must achieve at least 3 non-flower Faan from hand patterns and honor triplets alone. Flowers add bonus points only after the gate is met.
What is a Limit Hand (Bao Hand) in Hong Kong Mahjong?
A Limit Hand is a maximum-scoring hand (like Great Three Dragons, Thirteen Orphans, or All Honors) that automatically hits the table cap (typically 8, 10, or 13 Faan).
What happens if I win on an opponent discard with only 2 Faan at a 3 non-flower Faan table?
Under standard table rules, declaring a win with less than 3 non-flower Faan is a false win foul (Chombo / Bao Pai), and you must pay penalty points to the other three players.
What is Ching Yat Sik (Full Flush) in Hong Kong Mahjong?
Ching Yat Sik is a hand constructed exclusively from a single suited family (Dots, Bamboo, or Characters) with zero honor tiles. It is worth 7 Faan and is one of the most powerful hands in the game.