MAHJONG VARIATIONS
One game family, many traditions.
Mahjong is played through many regional rulesets, scoring systems and club traditions. Mahjong Radar lets players name the styles they play and lets hosts specify the format of each table.
American Mahjong
Often played with racks, jokers and an annually published card of hands. A table listing should state the card year and whether beginners are welcome.
Hong Kong and Cantonese styles
Popular social formats with relatively direct scoring. Local house rules can vary, so hosts should describe minimum points, flowers and special-hand expectations.
Japanese Riichi Mahjong
A four-player ruleset known for riichi declarations, yaku and detailed scoring. Listings can indicate whether red fives, open tanyao and other common options are used.
Mahjong Competition Rules (MCR)
An international ruleset with a broad catalogue of scoring patterns. Competitive tables should state timing, scoring software and tournament expectations.
Chinese Classical and regional styles
Chinese Classical, Sichuan, Taiwanese, Singaporean, Malaysian and other regional formats each have distinct rules. Mahjong Radar does not force one ruleset; it helps the host explain the table accurately.
House rules matter
Even players who use the same variation name may follow different local customs. Good listings mention the important differences before seats are confirmed. A short rules note can prevent confusion and make mixed-experience tables more welcoming.
Feature availability can vary by installation and administrator settings. Public pages never replace the private member controls used for exact locations, chats or personal contact details.