Taiwanese Mahjong in a minute
Taiwanese Mahjong, often called 16-tile Mahjong, is the four-player version played across Taiwan. Every player holds 16 tiles instead of 13, so a winning hand needs five sets and a pair, 17 tiles in all.
- Everyone takes 16 tiles. A flower or season goes face up beside you and is replaced from the wall.
- East deals and plays first. Play then passes to South, West and North, and back to East.
- Draw a tile, then discard one. You hold 17 after drawing and end every turn back on 16.
- Claim a discard if it helps. A pung, a kong or your winning tile can come from anyone. A chow can only use a discard from the player on your left.
- Complete five sets and a pair. Win on a tile you draw yourself (自摸) or on another player's discard.
How our Taiwanese tables play
The table follows the Taiwanese 16-tile rules and only accepts legal claims, so new players can learn as they go.
144 tiles with flowers
Three suits, the winds and dragons, plus eight flowers and seasons. There are no animal tiles.
No seven pairs
Every win needs five sets and a single pair. A hand of pairs only does not count.
More than one winner
If two players can win on the same discard, they both win.
Eight wind rounds
A match goes round the four winds twice. The dealer keeps the deal after a win or a drawn hand.
Casual or tai scoring
Casual scoring is the default: any complete hand wins and scores a point. In a private room, switch Scoring to Taiwan Tai for the tai table, flower tai and payouts, with a 1-tai minimum and no cap.
What's at the table
Everything a Mahjong night needs is built into the room.
Invite with one link
Share the room link from the table. Friends join from their own browser, with no account.
AI fills empty seats
Start with two or three players and AI opponents take the rest, so the table is always full.
Practise against AI
Choose Practice with AI to play against computer players, with no one else to wait for.
See each other while you play
Start a video call from the table, or just use the chat. Cameras are optional.
Self-drawn wins are called for you
When a tile you draw completes a hand that meets the table's minimum, the game declares the win straight away.
Before you play
Can I play Taiwanese Mahjong online with friends for free?
Yes. Creating a private room, inviting friends and playing are free. Nobody needs an account or an app; each player only enters a name.
What if we don't have four players?
Start the game anyway. AI players fill the empty seats, so two or three friends can still play a full table.
How many tiles do you hold?
Sixteen. You draw a 17th on your turn and discard back to 16. A winning hand is 17 tiles, five sets and a pair.
Can I win with seven pairs?
No. Taiwanese rules have no seven pairs hand. Every win needs five sets and one pair.
How many tai do I need to win?
On casual scoring, the default, any complete hand wins. With Taiwan Tai scoring a hand needs at least 1 tai, and a seat flower is enough.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Mahjong runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, and players on different devices can share a table.
