Mastering Mahjong Scoring : A Complete Guide for Beginners to Advanced Players
Mahjong Scoring Quick Reference Table
Mahjong scores are determined by two factors: Han and Fu.
- Han: A numerical value based on the type of winning hands and Dora tiles. Used in score calculation.
- Fu: A numerical value based on the shapes of sets and the method of winning. Used in score calculation.
Not sure what Han and Fu are? Check out the articles below. These are essential to understanding scoring!
Mahjong Yaku List. Dora – How mahjong is played. Mastering Mahjong Scoring : A Complete Guide for Beginners to Advanced PlayersOnce you understand Han and Fu, you can calculate scores using the formulas provided. However, unless you're a mental math whiz, doing this on the fly can be tough. Memorizing score tables is the standard approach to mahjong scoring.
Detailed explanations and memorization tips are provided below. For now, refer to the score table linked above.
Non-Dealer Scores
( ) Indicates the points that the dealer and each non-dealer player will pay to the winner if the winner wins by Tsumo.
Upper ( )・・・each non-dealer
Lower ( ) ・・・dealer
| 1 Han | 2 Han | 3 Han | 4 Han | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Fu | - | - (400) (700) | - (700) (1,300) | - (1,300) (2,600) |
| 25 Fu | - | 1,600 (-) (-) | 3,200 (800) (1,600) | 6,400 (1,600) (3,200) |
| 30 Fu | 1,000 (300) (500) | 2,000 (500) (1,000) | 3,900 (1,000) (2,000) | 7,700 (2,000) (3,900) |
| 40 Fu | 1,300 (400) (700) | 2,600 (700) (1,300) | 5,200 (1,300) (2,600) | Mangan 8,000 (2,000) (4,000) |
| 50 Fu | 1,600 (400) (800) | 3,200 (800) (1,600) | 6,400 (1,600) (3,200) | |
| 60 Fu | 2,000 (500) (1,000) | 3,900 (1,000) (2,000) | 7,700 (2,000) (3,900) | |
| 70 Fu | 2,300 (600) (1,200) | 4,500 (1,200) (2,300) | Mangan 8,000 (2,000) (4,000) | |
| 80 Fu | 2,600 (1,300) | 5,200 (2,600) | ||
| 90 Fu | 2,900 (800) (1,500) | 5,800 (1,500) (2,900) | ||
| 100 Fu | 3,200 (800) (1,600) | 6,400 (1,600) (3,200) | ||
| 110 Fu | 3,600 (-) (-) | 7,100 (1,800) (3,600) |
Hands with 5 Han or more
For hands with 5 Han or more, the points are fixed and do not depend on the fu count.
| 5 Han | 6・7 Han | 8・9・10 Han | 11・12 Han | 13 Han |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,000 (2,000) (4,000) | 12,000 (3,000) (6,000) | 18,000 (4,000) (8,000) | 24,000 (6,000) (12,000) | 32,000 (8,000) (16,000) |
Dealer Scores
| 1 Han | 2 Han | 3 Han | 4 Han | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Fu | - | - (700) | - (1,300) | - (2,600) |
| 25 Fu | - | 2,400 ( - ) | 4,800 (1,600) | 9,600 (3,200) |
| 30 Fu | 1,500 (500) | 2,900 (1,000) | 5,800 (2,000) | 11,600 (3,900) |
| 40 Fu | 2,000 (700) | 3,900 (1,300) | 7,700 (2,600) | Mangan 12,000 (4,000) |
| 50 Fu | 2,400 (800) | 4,800 (1,600) | 9,600 (3,200) | |
| 60 Fu | 2,900 (1,000) | 5,800 (2,000) | 11,600 (3,900) | |
| 70 Fu | 3,400 (1,200) | 6,800 (2,300) | Mangan 12,000 (4,000) | |
| 80 Fu | 3,900 (1,300) | 7,700 (2,600) | ||
| 90 Fu | 4,400 (1,500) | 8,700 (2,900) | ||
| 100 Fu | 4,800 (1,600) | 9,600 (3,200) | ||
| 110 Fu | 5,300 ( - ) | 10,600 (3,600) |
Hands with 5 Han or more
For hands with 5 Han or more, the points are fixed and do not depend on the fu count.
| 5 Han | 6・7 Han | 8・9・10 Han | 11・12 Han | 13 Han |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12,000 (4,000) | 18,000 (6,000) | 24,000 (8,000) | 36,000 (12,000) | 48,000 (16,000) |
“Kuipinfu” (Open Pinfu) hand
For hands like "Sanshoku Doujun" (Three Color Straight) or "Ikkitsuukan" (Pure Straight) where you win with a Ron after declaring an open meld (Furo or "calling"), there might be no additional fu points aside from the base fu points (resulting in a 1-Han 20-fu hand). However, even in such cases, the hand is calculated as a 30-fu hand. This specific scenario is often referred to as the "Kuipinfu" (Open Pinfu) hand.
Han
There are Yaku worth between 1 and 6 Han, and the highest scoring Yaku, called Yakuman. Note: There are no Yaku worth 4 or 5 Han on their own.
The Han values for each Yaku are as follows:
| Closed Hand | Open Hand | Yaku Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Han | × | Riichi (Ready Hand Declaration) |
| 1 Han | × | Ippatsu (One-Shot Win) |
| 1 Han | × | Menzen Tsumo (Concealed Self-Draw) |
| 1 Han | × | Pinfu (All Sequences) |
| 1 Han | × | Iipeikou (Pure Double Sequence) |
| 1 Han | 1 Han | Yakuhai (Value Tiles) |
| 1 Han | 1 Han | Tanyao (All Simples) |
| 1 Han | 1 Han | Haitei (Last Tile Drawn) |
| 1 Han | 1 Han | Houtei (Last Tile Discarded) |
| 1 Han | 1 Han | Rinshan Kaihou (After Kan Win) |
| 1 Han | 1 Han | Chankan (Robbing a Kan) |
| 2 Han | × | Double Riichi |
| 2 Han | × | Chiitoitsu (Seven Pairs) |
| 2 Han | 1 Han | Sanshoku Doujun (Mixed Triple Sequence) |
| 2 Han | 1 Han | Ittsu (Pure Straight) |
| 2 Han | 1 Han | Chanta (Mixed Outside Hand) |
| 2 Han | 2 Han | Sanshoku Doukou (Triple Pung) |
| 2 Han | 2 Han | San Ankou (Three Concealed Pungs) |
| 2 Han | 2 Han | Toitoi (All Pungs) |
| 2 Han | 2 Han | San Kantsu (Three Kans) |
| 2 Han | 2 Han | Shousangen (Little Three Dragons) |
| 2 Han | 2 Han | Honroutou (All Terminals and Honors) |
| 3 Han | × | Ryanpeikou (Twice Pure Double Sequence) |
| 3 Han | 2 Han | Junchan (Pure Outside Hand) |
| 3 Han | 2 Han | Honitsu (Half Flush) |
| 6 Han | 5 Han | Chinitsu (Full Flush) |
| Yakuman | × | Suukantsu (Four Concealed Pungs) |
| Yakuman | × | Kokushi Musou (Thirteen Orphans) |
| Yakuman | Yakuman | Daisangen (Big Three Dragons) |
| Yakuman | Yakuman | Ryuuiisou (All Green) |
| Yakuman | Yakuman | Tsuiisou (All Honors) |
| Yakuman | Yakuman | Chinroutou (All Terminals) |
| Yakuman | Yakuman | Suukantsu (Four Kans) |
| Yakuman | Yakuman | Shousuushii (Little Four Winds) |
| Yakuman | Yakuman | Daisuushii (Big Four Winds) |
| Yakuman | × | Chuurenpoutou (Nine Gates) |
| Yakuman | × | Chiihou (Earthly Hand) |
| Yakuman | × | Tenhou (Heavenly Hand) |
You can find detailed explanations of each Yaku (winning hand) here.
Mahjong Yaku List.
Fu
The fu (points) are determined by the method of winning (Tsumo or Menzen Ron), as well as the sets, the pair (head), and the waiting shape at the time of winning.
| ① Base Points | Guaranteed Basic Points | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Fu | ||
| ② Winning Method | Tsumo | Closed Hand Ron |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Fu | 10 Fu |
| ③ Melds | Number Tiles 2–8 | Honor Tiles, Number Tiles 1 & 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sequence | 0 Fu | 0 Fu | |
| Open Triplet | 2 Fu | 4 Fu | |
| Closed Triplet | 4 Fu | 8 Fu | |
| Open Quad | 8 Fu | 16 Fu | |
| Closed Quad | 16 Fu | 32 Fu |
| ④ Pair (Jantou) | Value Tiles |
|---|---|
| 2 Fu |
| ⑤ Waiting Shape | Single Wait, Nobetan, Penchan, Kanchan |
|---|---|
| 2 Fu |
| ①＋②＋③＋④＋⑤＝Total Fu *Round up to the nearest 10; e.g., 32 Fu becomes 40 Fu |
|---|
| Exceptions | Pinfu Tsumo | Seven Pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed 20 Fu | Fixed 25 Fu |
Tips for Memorizing the Score Table
Tips for Memorizing Dealer Scores
Here are some tips for memorizing dealer scores for 1 to 4 Han. First, remember these rules:
- 1 Han: Half of the Fu
- 2 Han: Equal to the Fu
- 3 Han: Twice the Fu
- 4 Han: Four times the Fu
Refer to the table below. The top row shows approximate scores based on the rules above, while the bottom row lists the correct scores. The approximate scores give you a good estimate, but you’ll need to memorize the differences (noted below the table).
| 1 Han Half of Fu | 2 Han Equal to Fu | 3 Han Twice the Fu | 4 Han Four times the Fu | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Fu | - | 2000- (700) | 4000- (1,300) | 8000- (2,600) |
| 25 Fu | - | 25002,400 ( - ) | 50004,800 (1,600) | 100009,600 (3,200) |
| 30 Fu | 15001,500 (500) | 30002,900 (1,000) | 60005,800 (2,000) | 1200011,600 (3,900) |
| 40 Fu | 20002,000 (700) | 40003,900 (1,300) | 80007,700 (2,600) | Mangan 12,000 (4,000) |
| 50 Fu | 25002,400 (800) | 50004,800 (1,600) | 100009,600 (3,200) | |
| 60 Fu | 30002,900 (1,000) | 60005,800 (2,000) | 1200011,600 (3,900) | |
| 70 Fu | 35003,400 (1,200) | 70006,800 (2,300) | Mangan 12,000 (4,000) | |
| 80 Fu | 40003,900 (1,300) | 80007,700 (2,600) | ||
| 90 Fu | 45004,400 (1,500) | 90008,700 (2,900) | ||
| 100 Fu | 50004,800 (1,600) | 100009,600 (3,200) | ||
| 110 Fu | 55005,300 ( - ) | 1100010,600 (3,600) |
Approximate Scores and Corrections
The difference between approximate and exact scores can be summarized in five simple patterns:
| Approximate Score | Correction |
|---|---|
| 1500, 2000 | 0 |
| 2500–4000 | -100 |
| 5000–7000 | -200 |
| 8000–9000 | -300 |
| 10000+ | -400 |
Calculating Scores for Tsumo Wins
So far, we’ve focused on Ron wins. For Tsumo, you need to calculate the score each opponent pays. This is typically the Ron score divided by three, though it must be rounded up to the nearest multiple of 100 if not divisible by three.
- 2000 ⇒ 2100 (700 each)
- 2900 ⇒ 3000 (1000 each)
- 3400 ⇒ 3600 (1200 each)
- 4400 ⇒ 4500 (1500 each)
- 5800 ⇒ 6000 (2000 each)
- 6800 ⇒ 6900 (2300 each)
- 7700 ⇒ 7800 (2600 each)
- 10600 ⇒ 10800 (3600 each)
- 11600 ⇒ 11700 (3900 each)
Example Problems
Let’s practice using the techniques discussed:
Example: 1 Han, 50 Fu
- 1 Han = Half of 50 Fu = Approx. 2500 points
- Corrected for -100, the score is 2400 (Ron).
- For Tsumo: 2400 ÷ 3 = 800 points each.
Example: 2 Han, 40 Fu
- 2 Han = 40 Fu × 1 = Approx. 4000 points
- Corrected for -100, the score is 3900 (Ron).
- For Tsumo: 3900 ÷ 3 = 1300 points each.
Example: 3 Han, 40 Fu
- 3 Han = 40 Fu × 2 = Approx. 8000 points
- Corrected for -300, the score is 7700 (Ron).
- For Tsumo: 7700 adjusted to 7800 ÷ 3 = 2600 points each.
Scores for Mangan and Higher
High-value hands are easier to remember. Start by memorizing that a dealer’s Mangan is 12,000 points. Other scores follow simple multiples:
- Mangan: 12,000 points
- Haneman: 1.5× Mangan (18,000 points)
- Baiman: 2× Mangan (24,000 points)
- Sanbaiman: 3× Mangan (36,000 points)
- Kazoe Yakuman: 4× Mangan (48,000 points)
| 5 Han Mangan | 6–7 Han Haneman | 8–10 Han Baiman | 11–12 Han Sanbaiman | 13+ Han Kazoe Yakuman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12,000 (4000) | 18,000 (6000) | 24,000 (8000) | 36,000 (12,000) | 48,000 (16,000) |
Tips for Memorizing Non-Dealer Scores
First, focus on quickly calculating the points for the dealer's Tsumo win (winning by drawing a tile)!!
The points paid by each player for the dealer's Tsumo win are the same as the points paid by the dealer when a child wins with a Tsumo.
Let’s take a 2-han 40-fu example:
| Dealer's Points | Child's Points | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
As you can see, once you can quickly calculate the dealer's points, you can easily determine the points the dealer needs to pay when a child wins with a Tsumo.
If you know how much the dealer pays, calculating the points for other players becomes simple. In this example, the dealer pays 1,300, so the child pays half of that, which is 650. However, in Mahjong scoring, amounts are rounded up to the nearest 10, so the child pays 700. This completes the calculation for the child’s Tsumo win points.
The points for a Ron win (winning on another player's discard) are usually double the points the dealer pays during a Tsumo win. However, there are a few exceptions where the points aren’t exactly double.
Here are the discrepancies, and you’ll need to memorize them yourself!!!
| Incorrect Points | Correct Points |
|---|---|
| 1,400 | 1,300 |
| 2,400 | 2,300 |
| 3,000 | 2,900 |
| 4,000 | 3,900 |
| 4,600 | 4,500 |
| 7,200 | 7,100 |
| 7,800 | 7,700 |
Calculating Scores on Your Own
At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that there is a formula to derive scores. Let me introduce that formula here.
If you know the Han and Fu, you can use the formulas below to calculate the score.
If you are good at mental math, you can calculate the score using this method without memorizing score tables. If you are skilled with an abacus, then...
| Formula for Child's Win |
|---|
| Fu ✕ 4 ✕ 2^(Han) = Score |
| Formula for Dealer's Win |
|---|
| Fu ✕ 8 ✕ 2^(Han) = Score |
For example, in the case of a Child's win with 2 Han and 30 Fu, the calculation would be as follows: *(Han) exponent means 2^(Han) for a 2-Han win.*
30 ✕ 4 ✕ 2^2
Since 2^2 equals 4, the formula becomes:
30 ✕ 4 ✕ 4 = 480
Note that this 480 points is the amount paid by one Child. Since Mahjong scores do not include a tens place, the score is always rounded up. In this case, it becomes 500 points.
The Dealer pays twice as much as a Child, so:
480 × 2 = 960 (rounded up to 1000 points).
**Dealer: 1000 points**
**Child: 500 points**
What do you think? Do you think you can calculate it?
Conclusion
Calculating Mahjong scores can be challenging, and many people leave it to advanced players.
However, by learning score calculation, you can play more strategically rather than aiming for a win blindly.
Please do your best to master it!
Please send us your comments.