Which mahjong ruleset is which?
Four major variants on Mahjong Hand — use this table to pick a learning path, then open Rules or Start for deeper guides.
| Topic | Riichi | MCR | Hong Kong | American NMJL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Tiles | 136 (no flowers) | 144 (incl. flowers/seasons) | 144 (incl. flowers/seasons) | 152 (8 jokers + flowers) |
| Typical win shape | 4 melds + pair; yaku required | 4 sets + pair; fan patterns | 4 sets + pair; limit hands | Year-card pattern (NMJL card) |
| Scoring | Han / fu → points | Fan table (8+ to win in MCR) | Faan with caps / limits | Pattern points on NMJL card |
| Open melds | Chi / pon / kan (closed bonus common) | Chi / pon / kan allowed | Chi / pon / kan allowed | Exposed pungs/kongs; jokers wild |
| Distinct flow | Riichi declaration, dora, tsumo/ron | Tournament timing; no Charleston | Fast rounds; optional limit hands | Charleston pass + NMJL year card |