How to Play Sichuan Mahjong
Sichuan mahjong (四川麻将, "blood battle to the end") is one of the most played mahjong styles in China: three suits only, no chows, and the hand goes on until three players have won. kawu keeps score in points only.
Tiles and deal
- 108 tiles: Characters, Bamboo and Dots, 1 to 9, four of each. No winds, dragons or flowers.
- Four players, 13 tiles each; the dealer starts with 14. Play goes to the right.
The void suit
At the start, everyone picks one suit as their void. Those tiles must be discarded first, and you can't win while holding any.
Your turn
Draw a tile, then discard one (void-suit tiles first). Instead of discarding you may:
- win on your own draw (self-draw),
- make a concealed kong with four of a kind, or
- add a kong to a pung you made. Someone who wins on that tile may rob the kong.
Claiming a discard
When someone discards, any other player may:
- win with it (several players can win on one discard),
- pung it with a pair (then discard), or
- kong it with three of a kind (then draw a replacement).
A win beats a pung or kong. There are no chows.
Winning hands
- Four sets and a pair: a set is three of a kind (pung) or three in a row of one suit; declared pungs and kongs count.
- Seven pairs (four of a kind counts as two pairs).
You can't win while holding void-suit tiles.
Kong payments
| Kong | Paid by |
|---|---|
| Concealed | Everyone still in the hand, 2 each |
| Added to a pung | Everyone still in the hand, 1 each |
| On a discard | The discarder, 2 |
Winning
A win scores 2 to the power of its fan (see scoring), capped at 5 fan (32). On a discard, the discarder pays; on a self-draw, everyone still in the hand pays.
Blood battle
A winner leaves the hand and the others play on, until three have won or the wall runs out. Then:
- a player still holding void-suit tiles pays 32 to each other player left;
- a player who isn't ready pays each ready player the most that player could have won.
A match
4 or 8 hands; the highest total wins. The first winner of a hand deals the next.
kawu simplifications: no three-tile exchange, no refunds of kong payments, and no pung or kong of a void-suit tile.
Play Sichuan mahjong against three computers, or open an online table for friends. See the strategy tips.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't you chow in Sichuan mahjong?
Sichuan rules only allow pungs and kongs from discards. Runs (chows) must be drawn yourself.
What is the void suit?
At the start each player names one of the three suits. Those tiles must be discarded first, and you can't win while holding any.
Last updated 2026-10-19