Mahjong FAQ · Learn at the table

What refreshments should I bring for Mahjong?

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

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Chinese 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

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Mahjong FAQ

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.

How many fans do you need to win a hand?

In standard Mahjong Competition Rules (MCR), the minimum is 8 fans to declare a winning hand. Each fan roughly doubles the base point value, so higher-fan hands pay out significantly more. Local rules vary; some groups play with a minimum of 4 fans, others require no minimum at all. The Chicken Hand (0 fans) is technically a valid win in some rulesets but is usually penalized or restricted to discard wins only.