Taiwanese 16-Tile Mahjong
The dominant Mahjong form in Taiwan. Played with 144 tiles. Each player holds 16 tiles and forms five melds plus one pair, rather than the four melds plus one pair of Hong Kong Mahjong.
Taiwanese Mahjong — table layout
https://engine.moddable.games/play/?game=mahjong&variant=taiwanese
Key Differences from Hong Kong
| Rule | Hong Kong | Taiwanese 16-Tile |
|---|---|---|
| Tiles in hand | 13 (14 to win) | 16 (17 to win) |
| Hand structure | 4 melds + 1 pair | 5 melds + 1 pair |
| Multiple winners | No | Yes (multiple players can claim a single discard to win) |
| All 8 bonus tiles | 5+5 faan | Automatic win |
| Dealing | 13 tiles each + dealer draws first | 16 tiles each |
Dealing
Each player draws 16 tiles at the start. Bonus tiles are set aside immediately and replacements drawn. East begins with 17 tiles effectively (or draws first to reach 17).
Hand Structure
A winning hand consists of 5 melds + 1 pair = 17 tiles (16 in hand + the winning tile).
Multiple Winners
When a tile is discarded, multiple players may declare a win on that tile simultaneously. All winning declarations are honoured; the discarder pays each winner. Turn order does not restrict who can win.
Bonus Tiles
All 8 bonus tiles in hand is an automatic win. Seat-matching bonus tiles and partial sets score faan per Hong Kong rules.
Scoring
Faan-based scoring, similar to Hong Kong Mahjong but calibrated for five-meld hands. Full scoring tables are specific to the regional variant; the content builder should source from a Taiwanese-specific rulebook. The fundamental faan system (minimum threshold, limit hands) applies.
Attribution
Taiwanese 16-Tile Mahjong. Traditional game. Source: Wikipedia (Mahjong), Taiwanese variant section. Note: full scoring tables for this variant require a dedicated Taiwanese-specific source for complete accuracy.