(Flowers and Seasons)
The Mandarins, also called Flowers and Seasons, are eight in number, two for each of the four winds. They may be eliminated from the set and are not usually used in the play, as they add a large element of chance into the game.
If they are used, each side of the wall is increased by two tiles, making each side a double tiered row of 18 tiles side by side.
Then, if a player draws one of his own wind mandarins, he exposes it on the table and draws a "loose tile," the mandarin of his own wind permitting him to double his score once. If then he draws the other mandarin of his own wind he repeats the above process and may double his total score again. Where "Seasons and Flowers" are used instead of mandarins the numbers on them, 1, 2, 3 and 4, represent East, South, West and North winds respectively. The red numbers are the "Seasons" and the green numbers are the "Flowers." They are used exactly as are the mandarins, i.e., One's own "Season" will double the value of his hand, as will his own "Flower." Both of them will double the value twice.
SCORE CARD
It will be seen at a glance that the scoring values are divided into three parts. First, the bonus scores which only the winner can use; secondly, the combination scores which all four players can use; finally the doubling honors which all four players may use, so it is that in settling the scores the winner starts at the top with twenty (20) points for "Mah-Jongg" or for winning and goes down the list scoring ten points, if he has no sequence in his hand and so on thru the bonus scores, adding to these whatever scores he obtains from combinations in his hand or on the table and doubling the sum as many times as he has doubling honors.
In the bonus scores for the winning hand only there are six items:
1. "Mah-Jongg" which gives 20 points for winning the hand.
2. No sequence in hand or on table. This is a bonus of 10 points given to a player if he wins without use of sequences.
3. Drawing the winning piece. This is a bonus of 2 points given to the winning player if he draws the tile which completes his hand from the wall. Of course punging the winning tile will forfeit this bonus.
4. Filling the only place to win. This is a bonus of 2 points given to a player who fills the only possible place to win, i.e., winning by matching the pair or drawing the middle tile of a sequence.
5. Winning on a draw from a loose tile. This of course is a bonus of ten points given to the winning player if any of his loose tile draws have been fortunate enough to complete his hand.
6. No other score than "Mah-Jongg" in hand or on table. This is a bonus of ten points given to the winning player having only 20 points for "Mah-Jongg" as his score, and is a hand made up of four sequences and a pair in which there is no score, a sequence having no scoring value whatsoever. Of course even drawing the winning piece will forfeit this bonus as can easily be seen.
In the combination scores exposed sets are those on the table; face up to the right of the player, concealed sets are those which are in his hand at the time of winning. As will be seen by the score card, concealed sets having been made up by the player without the assistance of a pung or chow score twice as much as the same set would if it were on the table. This together with the fact that sets of ones, nines, winds or dragons score twice as much as sets of twos, threes, fours, fives, sixes, sevens and eights should be helpful in memorizing the score which is essential to the careful playing of each hand.
As for the doubling honors, each set or combination doubles the total score once, and if there are five doubling honors in a hand, the total score should be doubled five times—for example: a player goes Mah-Jongg or Mah-Diao having 32 points in bonus scores, 18 in combination scores, making his total score 50. Then if he has five doubling honors his final score is 1,600 points, i.e., 50-100-200-400-800-1,600.
EXAMPLE OF HANDS AND HOW THEY ARE SCORED
Example No. 1.
| For Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| For Three 2 Dots | 2 | |
| 22 | Total Score | |
| No double honors: | 22 | Final Score |
In this hand the player punged the 2 dot which completed his hand, 20 for Mah-Jongg as the only bonus score he has because: 1. He has sequences. 2. He did not draw the winning piece. 3. He did not fill the only place to win. 4. He has other score than Mah-Jongg. 5. He did not win on a loose tile draw. In combination value, he has only two points for the set of three 2 dots, the sets of sequences helping complete the hand, but scoring nothing. There are no doubling honors in the hand so the final score is 22. This is the lowest winning hand that can be scored.
Example No. 2
Winner chowed the 1 character to complete hand. Score is
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No other scores on hand or on table | 10 | |
| 30 | Total Score | |
| No combination scores or doubling honors | 30 | Final Score |
| Mah-Jongg—20 | 20 | |
| No sequences—10 | 10 | |
| Filling only place to win—2 | 2 | |
| Drawing wins p.—2 | 2 | |
| 34 | ||
| 3 ones concealed | 8 | |
| 3 threes concealed | 4 | |
| 3 fives exposed | 2 | |
| 3 fours exposed | 2 | |
| 50 | Total Score | |
| No doubling honors: | 50 | Final Score |
Example No. 4
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| Drawing winning piece | 2 | |
| 32 | ||
| 3 sixes (concealed) | 4 | |
| 3 twos (exposed) | 2 | |
| 3 dragons (exposed) | 4 | |
| 3 threes (exposed) | 2 | |
| 44 | Total Score | |
| Double once for red dragons | 88 | Final Score |
Example No. 5
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| Drawing winning piece | 2 | |
| Filling only place to win | 2 | |
| 34 | ||
| 3 twos (exposed) | 2 | |
| 3 nines (exposed) | 4 | |
| 3 ones (exposed) | 4 | |
| 3 dragons (exposed) | 4 | |
| 48 | Total Score | |
| Double once for green dragons | 96 | |
| Double once for all one suit except winds or dragons | 192 | Final Score |
Example No. 6
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| Drawing winning piece | 2 | |
| Filling only place to win | 2 | |
| 34 | ||
| 4 nines (concealed) | 32 | |
| 3 sevens (exposed) | 2 | |
| 3 fours (concealed) | 4 | |
| 3 ones (concealed) | 8 | |
| 80 | Total Score | |
| Double three times for all one suit | 160 | |
| 320 | ||
| 640 | Final Score |
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| 30 | ||
| 4 dragons (concealed) | 32 | |
| 4 winds (exposed) | 16 | |
| 3 dragons (exposed) | 4 | |
| 3 dragons (concealed) | 8 | |
| 90 | Total Score | |
| Double three times for all one suit (honor) | 180 | |
| 360 | ||
| 720 | ||
| Double once for red dragons | 1440 | |
| Double once for white dragons | 2880 | |
| Double once for green dragons | 5760 | Final Score |
If this hand is held by the East Wind he may double again for having a set of his own wind, making his score 11,520, and being East Wind, he collects double from each player when he wins, making his total 23,040 from each of the other three players or 69,120 in all.
Example No. 8
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| 30 | ||
| 3 dragons (exposed) | 4 | |
| 3 fours (exposed) | 2 | |
| 3 eights (exposed) | 2 | |
| 3 dragons (concealed) | 8 | |
| 46 | Total Score | |
| Double once for white dragons | 92 | |
| Double once for green dragons | 184 | Final Score |
If player is East Wind, he collects double, or 368 from each player. If any other wind, he collects 368 from East Wind and 184 from the other two players.
Example No. 9
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| 30 | Total Score | |
| Double three times for all one suit | 60 | |
| 120 | ||
| 240 | Final Score |
Note: In this hand the player did not even fill the only place to win as a 6 character would have won also.
If player is East Wind, he collects 480 from each of the other three players. If any other wind, he collects 480 from East Wind and 240 from the other two players.
Example No. 10
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| Winning on loose tile draw | 10 | |
| Drawing winning piece | 2 | |
| Filling only place to win | 2 | |
| 44 | Total Score | |
| 4 nines (exposed) | 32 | |
| 4 ones (concealed) | 16 | |
| 4 dragons (exposed) | 16 | |
| 4 dragons (exposed) | 16 | |
| 124 | Total Score | |
| Double once for red dragons | 248 | |
| Double once for green dragons | 496 | Final Score |
Example No. 11
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| Drawing winning piece | 2 | |
| 32 | ||
| 3 winds (concealed) | 8 | |
| 3 dragons (concealed) | 8 | |
| 3 twos (concealed) | 4 | |
| 3 nines (concealed) | 8 | |
| 60 | Total Score | |
| Double once for all one suit except winds or dragons | 120 | |
| Double once for red dragons | 240 | |
| Double once for own wind | 480 | Final Score |
This illustration assumes player to be North Wind. This player collects double, or 960, from East Wind and 480 each from South and West Winds.
Example No. 12
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| 20 | ||
| 3 fives (exposed) | 2 | |
| 3 winds (exposed) | 4 | |
| 2 dragons | 2 | |
| 28 | Total Score | |
| Double once for all one suit except winds or dragons | 56 | Final Score |
Note: Two points for pair of red dragons. Dragons and own wind are only pairs that score, and they are limited to two points.
Example No. 13
PLAYER IS EAST WIND
PLAYER IS WEST WIND
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| Draw winning piece | 2 | |
| 32 | ||
| 3 winds (concealed) | 8 | |
| 3 winds (concealed) | 8 | |
| 4 winds (concealed) | 32 | |
| 3 winds (exposed) | 4 | |
| 84 | Total Score | |
| Double 3 times for all [one] suit (honor) | 168 | |
| 336 | ||
| 672 | ||
| Double once for own wind | 1344 |
Collects 2688 from East Wind and 1344 apiece from North and South Winds.
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| Only place to win | 2 | |
| 32 | ||
| 4 ones (concealed) | 32 | |
| 4 nines (concealed) | 32 | |
| 4 fours (exposed) | 8 | |
| 4 sevens (exposed) | 8 | |
| 112 | Total Score | |
| Double 3 times for all one suit | 224 | |
| 448 | ||
| 896 | ||
| Double once because player is East wind and won | 1792 | Final Score from each player |
Example No. 16
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| 20 | ||
| 3 fours (concealed) | 4 | |
| 3 dragons (concealed) | 8 | |
| 32 | Total Score | |
| Double 3 times for winning on | 64 | |
| Original hand | 128 | |
| 256 | ||
| Double once for red dragons | 512 | |
| Collects double because is East wind and won | 1024 | Final Score from each player |
PLAYER IS SOUTH WIND
Example No. 17
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| Drawing winning piece | 2 | |
| Filling only place to win | 2 | |
| 24 | ||
| 3 ones (concealed) | 8 | |
| 3 fours (concealed) | 4 | |
| 4 winds (concealed) | 32 | |
| 2 own wind | 2 | |
| 70 | Total Score | |
| Double once for all one suit except winds or dragons | 140 | Final Score |
Collects double, or 280, from East wind; 140 from North and South respectively.
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| No sequence | 10 | |
| 30 | ||
| 4 ones (concealed) | 32 | |
| 4 nines (concealed) | 16 | |
| 4 nines (concealed) | 32 | |
| [3 dragons (concealed)] | 8 | |
| 118 | Total Score | |
| Double once for green dragons | 236 | Final Score |
Collects double, or 472, from East wind: 236 from West and South winds respectively.
Example No. 19
| Mah-Jongg | 20 | |
| 20 | ||
| 3 winds (concealed) | 8 | |
| 3 dragons (exposed) | 4 | |
| 32 | ||
| Double once for all one suit except winds or dragons | 64 | |
| Double once for white dragons | 128 | |
| Double once for own wind | 256 |
Collects 512 from East wind, 256 from North and South, respectively.
PLAYER IS EAST WIND
Example No. 20
East wind collects this amount from each of the other three players, making a total of 132,096 points that East may win in one hand. This is the highest hand which is probable. There is a hand composed of sets of 3 of a kind, similar to this, which, if drawn on the original draw, will yield more points than this, but it is highly improbable that the hand will ever actually be drawn by any given player.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCORE SETTLING
In the four layouts following, the illustrations represent all the hands together as they are laid down after one of the players wins. They serve to clear up "settling" of the scores and also bring out important points in the playing of the hands. In each case the score of the four players is given in total and practice in the calculating of scores can be obtained by beginners by scoring these hands and comparing their results with the given scores.
East Wind "Mah-Jongged" with a total score of [608] points. He collects double this amount from each of the other three winds because he is East Wind, and winning, collects double. This makes 1216 from each player or a total of 3648. He then throws his hand into the discard and the other three players settle, the high hand collecting the difference between his hand and the remaining two. In the illustration, West Wind is the high hand and he collects 336 from South Wind and 484 from North Wind, the difference between his hand and those of South and North Winds, respectively. He then discards his hand and leaves the South and North Winds to settle. They do this by South Wind collecting 48 points from North; both discard their tiles, and the scores are settled. It might be best here to analyze the above layout to see how the play went. East Wind's hand appeared harmless enough because he had most of it concealed, only exposing two sets. On this account, none of the other opponents would hesitate about discarding the [eight of bamboo] which allowed him to Mah-Jongg. North and South Winds having poor hands themselves might have held the eight of bamboo and not have taken a chance on it "putting him out" if they had been warned how near he was to winning, for West Wind had an exceptionally fine hand with the best part of it concealed and he won back from North and South Winds more than half of his payment to East, the winner.
North and South Winds fell in a conflict of suits, one of the most frequent occurrences of the game and one which spoils a great many otherwise good hands. They were both attempting to complete "all dot" hands and each has two conflicting pairs, namely, 5 and 6 of dots. Either of them to win can only have one pair in their hand, and each was holding the other from any chance of winning.
When two players play for the same suit, it is best for both to give up any idea of obtaining all of one suit, and fill in the hand with one or two sets of winds or dragons. Very often one can get three doubles in this way when it would be impossible to complete a hand of all one suit.
NORTH WIND MAH-JONGGS
North Wind Mah-Jonggs with 22 points as his total score. He collects 22 points apiece from [North] Wind and South Wind. East, however, must pay him double or 44, being banker and losing. This gives North Wind a total of 88. The other three then settle. West Wind with a total of [2816]; collects the difference between his hand and East Wind's which is 2814, doubled because he won from East Wind and East Wind must pay double when he loses. This gives West Wind 5628 from East Wind, and just the difference in their hands from South Wind which is 2808. Then South Wind in settling with East Wind collects the difference, 4, double or 8. This layout demonstrates the point that it is not always necessary to Mah-Jongg or win, in order to take in the highest number of points. North Wind "Mah-Jongged" and collected only 88 points, whereas West Wind collected a total of 8,436 points. What evidently took place in this hand goes as follows: West Wind was exceptionally fortunate in the draw and soon had three sets of winds and dragons exposed, or on the table. The other three players seeing in this a dangerous hand, "ran for cover," this consisting of gathering all the sequences possible together, and mixing the suits. By doing this a player can very quickly complete his hand and win, although his score will be low when he does win. However, the one who does "Mah-Jongg," no matter how low his score may be, collects that amount, and escapes any exceptionally high scoring hands which the other players may hold. In this case it was North Wind who won out and avoided paying many points to West Wind by doing so.
NORTH WIND MAH-JONGGS
In the above layout, North Wind winning, scores 416; West Wind 64; South Wind 10, and East Wind 56; North Wind then takes 832 from East Wind, and 416 from West and South Winds. West Wind collects 54 from South Wind and 16 from East Wind; East Wind then collects 46 doubled or 92 from South Wind.
In this game both North and West Winds played for all dot hands; North Wind foreseeing this early in the game filled in his hand with winds and dragons, in this way winning out over West Wind; East Wind starting with a pair of green dragons kept them until he had all characters except the pair. Then came the time for him to decide on whether he would discard the pair and try to fill an all character hand, or use the dragons. He decided on the latter because looking at North Wind's exposed tiles he saw that North Wind was dangerously near to winning. He filled his dragons and attempted to win as quickly as possible, almost succeeding and needing only one tile to complete his hand.
NORTH WIND MAH-JONGGS
North Wind "Mah-Jongged," collects [304 from East and 152] from West and South respectively. Then—East Wind collects 16 doubled or 32 from West and 32 doubled or 64 from South. West Wind wins 16 from South who is the loser all around. East Wind's difficulty above was that he decided on all bamboo hand at the start of the game without having a sufficient number of pairs in that suit. The result was that by the time that he drew the pairs and was ready to pung discards the other players had already discarded a number of tiles which he needed in his hand. They were then dead. The result of all this can be seen in his hand above; he has still two pairs and a sequence to fill and the particular tiles needed to do this (the 4, 5 and 8 of bamboo) have probably all been discarded early in the game by the other players. The point thus illustrated being: It is not advisable to attempt the completing of a suit which all the other players are discarding unless sufficient pairs are held from the start to withstand their attacks.