Lesson 4 · Winning Hands

Know what complete looks like.

A winning hand is more than a pile of useful tiles. Learn the basic structure first, then recognize the special patterns worth pursuing.

Most hands are built from groups plus a finishing pair. Special patterns can change that structure, so a player should know which pattern they are pursuing before the middle of the hand.

01

Standard hand

Five groups + one pair

A 16-tile hand of Chows, Pongs, or Kangs, finished by exactly one pair.

02

Seven Pairs

Seven pairs + one Chow or Pong

A special shape checked separately by the app. A concealed four-of-a-kind may count as two pairs.

03

All Pong

Matching sets + one pair

A hand built from triplets or quads rather than numbered sequences.

04

Full Flush

One numbered suit

A completed hand using numbered tiles from only one suit.

05

1-to-9 Straight

1–2–3 · 4–5–6 · 7–8–9

A complete one-through-nine run in one suit, plus the remaining required shape.

Before calling a win

Check the whole hand, not only the last tile.

  1. 01

    Count the structure. Confirm every tile belongs to the declared pattern.

  2. 02

    Check exposed groups. Make sure earlier calls still fit the hand you are claiming.

  3. 03

    Separate Flores. Winds, dragons, flowers, and seasons never become groups in the hand.

  4. 04

    Confirm the table rule. Special patterns and awards must match the rule set in use.

How many groups are in a standard Pinoy Mahjong winning hand?
Reviewed July 25, 2026Pinoy Mahjong Rules Handbook · Version 1.0