Special Hands for Mah-Jongg

This section illustrates the special hands recognized by Shanghai: Dynasty. There are many other special hands recognized by players around the world; we wanted to allow for the most widely recognized or most "logical" patterns. And we have also added one new special hand in recognition of the history of Hong Kong, which has been very important to the history of Mah-Jongg.

Special hands are used most widely in the Western game. The Chinese game recognizes a small number of special hands. In the West, some players require special hands - that is to say, a normal legal hand of chows and pongs and a pair does not qualify for a win. When playing "special hands required," it is recommended to play with the Jokers (otherwise, most players believe that Jokers make the game too easy). Some players prefer to play without special hands. Most players allow their use and just award bonus points when one is attained.

Sometimes you can find a special hand described one way in one book, and find a different description of that hand in a different book - or find the same hand with two different names. And sometimes even different spellings. Sometimes "honors" are considered as including only Winds and Dragons - sometimes as including Winds and Dragons and Terminals. Mah-Jongg players have to be flexible! The hands are shown here in their natural state (without Jokers). By their very nature, many special hands must be concealed. It is not possible to meld (expose) a pair or a single "unconnected" tile during the course of play, and "knitted" pongs or pairs also cannot be melded. Each of the hands below is marked as to whether it is Concealed or Exposed, and how much it earns.