Common Scoring Patterns

Recognize popular winning patterns like All Simples, All Triplets, and Half Flush.

Common Scoring Patterns

Once you can build a basic winning hand, the next layer of strategy is learning the scoring patterns that make a hand more valuable. Different rule sets reward different combinations, but three patterns appear almost everywhere.

All Simples — Tanyao

All Simples means every tile in your hand is numbered 2 through 8. You avoid the terminal tiles, the 1s and 9s, and you also avoid honors. This pattern is popular with beginners because it is easy to recognize and flexible to build. A hand full of middle-numbered tiles has many ways to form sequences.

All Triplets — Toitoi

All Triplets means your hand is made of four triplets and one pair. The triplets can be exposed through pong or kong calls, or they can stay concealed in your hand. This pattern is harder to complete than it looks because you need so many copies of the same tiles, but when it comes together it usually scores well.

Half Flush

A Half Flush is a hand that uses only one suit plus any honor tiles. For example, a hand made entirely of bamboo tiles and wind tiles would qualify. Half Flush is easier to spot than a full flush but still valuable, especially when it includes honor pairs that match your seat wind or the prevailing wind.

Local Rules Vary

Scoring systems differ from table to table and from region to region. Some groups add extra patterns, while others change the values. The three patterns above are a solid starting point, so learn to recognize them first. Then check the house rules wherever you play.