Singaporean Mahjong

1 History and Origins

Singaporean Mahjong evolved from Cantonese (Hong Kong) rules brought by Chinese immigrants to colonial Singapore in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Over generations, Singaporean players adapted the game to local tastes, borrowing elements from Hokkien, Teochew, and Cantonese Mahjong traditions that coexisted in the multicultural city-state.

The most distinctive innovation is the inclusion of four animal bonus tiles: the Cat, Mouse, Rooster, and Worm (also called the Centipede in some sets). These tiles add a fun, semi-random bonus element to the game and give Singaporean Mahjong its instantly recognizable character compared to other variants.

Singaporean Mahjong is the dominant form played in Singapore and Malaysia, and is common among Singaporean diaspora communities. The rules blend Hong Kong-style scoring (faan/farn) with additional local hands and the animal tile system.

2 The Tiles (148 Total)

Standard tiles (144): 108 suited tiles (Bamboo, Circles, Characters 1-9, four each), 16 wind tiles, 12 dragon tiles, 8 bonus tiles (4 flowers, 4 seasons).

Animal tiles (4): The unique Singaporean addition:

• Cat (猫): Paired with Mouse. If a player holds both Cat and Mouse, they receive a bonus payment from each opponent when they draw or claim the second animal.
• Mouse (鼠): Cat's partner. The cat chases the mouse.
• Rooster (鸡): Paired with Worm/Centipede. Same pairing bonus applies.
• Worm/Centipede (蜈蚣): Rooster's prey. The rooster eats the worm.

Animal tiles are bonus tiles: when drawn, set aside face-up and draw a replacement tile from the dead wall. Unlike flower/season tiles, animals have special pairing bonuses described below.

3 Setup

Setup follows Hong Kong-style rules: shuffle 148 tiles, build walls (37 tiles per player, 2 high, adjusted for 148), assign seat winds, break wall by dice roll, deal 13 tiles each (dealer gets 14), replace bonus tiles (including animals) from dead wall, dealer discards to begin.

Dead wall: typically the last 16 tiles, to accommodate potential multiple animal/flower replacement draws.

4 Turn Structure

Identical to Hong Kong Mahjong: draw from live wall, check for bonus tiles (replace from dead wall), win or discard. After each discard, opponents may claim for win (highest priority), kong, pong, or chow (left neighbor only).

Claiming rules match Hong Kong: any player may claim for win, kong, or pong; only the next player may claim for chow. Winning by claimed chow is generally not allowed (like Hong Kong rules, though house rules vary).

Minimum faan requirement: typically 3 faan, same as Hong Kong. A hand worth less is a chicken hand and cannot win.

5 Scoring

Scoring uses faan (also called "farn" in Singapore). The system is very similar to Hong Kong Mahjong with the same faan doubling mechanism and many of the same scoring hands, plus a few Singaporean additions.

Standard Faan Values

Payment

Discard win: only the discarder pays. Self-draw: all three opponents pay. Dealer pays and collects double. Standard payment formula: base unit x 2^faan. Limit typically set at 8 or 10 faan by house agreement.

Animal Tile Bonus Payments

See the Animal Tiles section below for the unique Singaporean bonus payment structure.

6 Animal Tile Rules

Animal tiles are the signature feature of Singaporean Mahjong. When drawn, they are set aside like flowers and replaced from the dead wall. But they have additional bonus payment mechanics:

Basic Animal Bonus

Each animal tile held at time of winning pays a small bonus from each opponent: typically 1 faan or a fixed unit amount (e.g., 1 unit per animal, collected separately from the main hand payment). This incentivizes holding animals and creates a secondary payment track.

Paired Animal Bonus

The key pairing rule:

• Cat + Mouse: If the same player holds both the Cat and Mouse tiles, they collect a paired animal bonus from each opponent immediately when they draw the second one. This bonus is typically 1 extra unit per opponent, paid immediately (not at the end of the hand).
• Rooster + Worm: Same rule. If the same player holds both Rooster and Worm, collect immediate bonus from each opponent when completing the pair.

In some house rules, the paired animal bonus is worth 1 faan added to the final hand, rather than an immediate side payment. Agree before play which system you are using.

All Four Animals

If a player holds all four animal tiles (Cat, Mouse, Rooster, Worm) at the time of winning, this typically earns a large bonus, sometimes treated as a limit hand bonus payment.

When Animals Are Claimed

Animals are never claimed from discards. They are always replaced when drawn. No player can "steal" another's animal tile.

7 Special Hands

Singaporean Mahjong recognizes the standard limit hands found in Hong Kong rules, plus some local additions:

• Thirteen Orphans: Maximum limit hand.
• Nine Gates: Maximum limit hand.
• All Honors: Four pungs of wind/dragon tiles plus honor pair.
• All Terminals: Pungs of only 1s and 9s.
• Four Concealed Pungs: Four concealed triplets plus a pair.
• All Four Animals: Holding all four animal tiles at time of win. Many groups pay this as a limit or near-limit hand bonus.
• Earthly Hand: Non-dealer completes their hand on the very first discard of the game (before drawing from the wall). Some groups recognize this as a limit hand.

9 Strategy

Animal tiles are free bonuses. Unlike flowers in Hong Kong, animals have paired bonuses. If you draw one animal, hope for its partner. Hold both animals in the same pair to collect the immediate side payment even if your hand is not the strongest.

Standard Hong Kong strategy applies. Build toward 3 faan minimum. Prioritize half-flush, all-pung, or combinations of dragon/wind pungs with matching flowers. Defensive play (tracking discards, avoiding dangerous tiles) is essential as in Hong Kong rules.

Animal pair timing. You collect the paired animal bonus the moment you draw the second paired animal. This is a side payment independent of the main hand. If the game has been long and the main hand is difficult to complete, the animal side payment can still make a round profitable.

Dead wall management. With 148 tiles (144 + 4 animals), the dead wall must be large enough for potential replacements. With many flowers and animals in play, the dead wall can shrink fast. Keep track of how many replacement draws have happened.

8 Singaporean vs Hong Kong Mahjong

10 Common Misconceptions

• "Animal tiles are just like extra flowers." Animals have unique pairing bonuses that flowers do not. Cat+Mouse and Rooster+Worm pairs generate immediate side payments when completed.
• "Singaporean Mahjong uses 16-tile hands like Taiwanese." No. Singaporean Mahjong uses 13-tile hands, the same as Hong Kong Mahjong.
• "You can claim animal tiles from discards." Animals are never discarded and cannot be claimed. They go directly to the bonus area when drawn.
• "Scoring is completely different from Hong Kong." The core faan scoring system is essentially the same. The animal tiles and their bonuses are the main additions.

11 Frequently Asked Questions

What are the four animal tiles in Singaporean Mahjong?

Cat, Mouse, Rooster, and Worm (Centipede). They come in two predator-prey pairs: Cat chases Mouse, Rooster eats Worm. Holding a complete pair earns an immediate bonus payment.

When do I collect the animal pair bonus?

Immediately when you draw the second tile of a paired set (Cat+Mouse or Rooster+Worm). Each opponent pays you the agreed animal bonus amount at that moment, regardless of the hand outcome.

Do animal tiles count toward the minimum faan?

In most house rules, animal bonuses are side payments separate from the main hand faan count. The main hand still needs 3 faan to win. Check house rules.

Can I win with less than 3 faan if I have animals?

No. Animals are side bonuses. Your hand must independently meet the 3 faan minimum. The animal bonus is collected separately.

How many tiles are in a Singaporean Mahjong set?

148 total: 144 standard tiles plus 4 animal tiles (Cat, Mouse, Rooster, Worm).

Is Singaporean Mahjong harder to learn than Hong Kong Mahjong?

Slightly. If you know Hong Kong rules, you only need to learn the animal tile mechanics. The core gameplay, faan scoring, and claim rules are essentially the same.

What happens if all four animals go to the same player?

Most groups award a large bonus, sometimes a limit hand payment from each opponent, for holding all four animals at time of winning.

Does the dealer pay double in Singaporean Mahjong?

Yes, same as Hong Kong. The dealer pays and collects double in all transactions including animal bonuses.