How to Play MCR Mahjong
Master the Mahjong Competition Rules (MCR), the standardized international ruleset used in global tournaments and competitions.
What is MCR Mahjong?
MCR (Mahjong Competition Rules) is the standardized international ruleset developed by the World Mahjong Organization (WMO) for competitive play. It combines elements from various mahjong traditions while establishing a balanced scoring system for fair competition.
Key Features of MCR Mahjong:
- Standardized international rules
- No gambling elements
- Clear scoring system
- 144 tiles (no jokers)
- Fan-based scoring pattern
Game Setup
Equipment Needed
MCR Mahjong uses a standard set of 144 tiles:
- Characters (�?: 1-9, four of each (36 tiles)
- Circles (�?: 1-9, four of each (36 tiles)
- Bamboo (�?: 1-9, four of each (36 tiles)
- Winds: East, South, West, North (16 tiles)
- Dragons: Red, Green, White (12 tiles)
- Flowers: 4 flowers (4 tiles)
- Seasons: 4 seasons (4 tiles)
Initial Setup
Each player starts with 13 tiles. The dealer (East) receives 14 tiles and begins play. Flowers and seasons are replaced immediately when drawn.
Basic Rules
Turn Sequence
- Draw: Take a tile from the wall
- Replace bonus tiles: If you draw flowers/seasons
- Form combinations: Create valid patterns
- Discard: Discard one tile face-up
Valid Combinations
- Chow (顺子): Three consecutive tiles in the same suit
- Pung (刻子): Three identical tiles
- Kong (杠子): Four identical tiles
- Pair (对子): Two identical tiles
Scoring System
MCR uses a fan-based scoring system. Each winning hand must have at least 8 points (fan).
Common Scoring Patterns:
- All Chows (平和): 1 fan
- Pure Straight (一条龙): 16 fan
- All Pungs (碰碰�?: 6 fan
- Mixed One Suit (混一�?: 6 fan
- Pure One Suit (清一�?: 24 fan
💡 Scoring Strategy
Focus on building hands that can achieve multiple scoring patterns simultaneously. This is more efficient than pursuing a single high-scoring pattern.
Competition Rules
Time Limits
- Each game: 150 minutes
- Each hand: Maximum 20 minutes
- Player turn: Maximum 10 seconds
Penalties
Common penalties in competitive play:
- False mahjong declaration: -10 points
- Exposing tiles accidentally: -5 points
- Incorrect tile count: -5 points
- Overtime penalty: -5 points per minute
Strategy Tips
🎯 Hand Planning
Always aim for hands worth at least 8 fan. Plan your strategy in the first few turns based on your initial tiles.
🔄 Flexibility
Keep your hand flexible in the early game. Don't commit to a specific pattern too early unless you have a very strong starting hand.
👀 Defense
Pay attention to discarded tiles and exposed sets to gauge the safety of your discards and potential winning tiles.
�?Speed
Practice quick decision-making to comply with time limits. Know common patterns and their fan values by heart.