Mahjong FAQ · Learn at the table

What is a pung, and how is it different from a chow?

A practical answer from Omaha Mahjong Club’s Chinese Mahjong learning library.

From the FAQ library

Chinese Mahjong

A pung is a set of three identical tiles, for example three 5-Bamboo or three East Wind tiles. A chow is a set of three consecutive number tiles from the same suit, for example 3-4-5 of Characters. Pungs can be formed with any tile type including honors, while chows can only be formed with number suit tiles. Pungs are generally harder to complete and carry more scoring potential in certain hands.

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Mahjong FAQ

What refreshments should I bring for Mahjong?

Good Mahjong deserves good refreshments. Every class includes access to our self-serve station: - Chinese tea - Light snacks, such as pretzels and candy - Bringing your own snacks and beverages (of any kind) are welcomed

How does seating and wind assignment work at the start of a game?

At the start of a game, seats are typically assigned randomly by rolling dice or drawing tiles. Each seat corresponds to a wind: East, South, West, and North, which determines each player's seat wind tile bonus for that round. East seat is the dealer for the first hand. After each hand, seats and wind assignments rotate, though the exact rotation method varies by ruleset. The game typically consists of at least one full East round and one South round.