Start with these ideas

  • Three wind types are sets; the fourth is the pair. One more set completes the hand.
  • HKMA lists a 10-faan limit; our calculator returns 8 without adding ordinary wind bonuses.

Reference values below follow the Hong Kong Mahjong Association (HKMA) rules. Worked calculator examples use our browser game’s house rules; check the differences before comparing results.

What makes Little Four Winds?

Three different winds must each form a Pung or Kong, and the missing fourth wind must be the pair. The remaining set may be a Chow, Pung or Kong. Open wind sets are allowed.

The example uses East, South and West Pungs, a North pair and 1–2–3 Characters. Count all four sets and the pair, not just the wind tiles.

Set
Set
Set
Set
Pair

10 or 8 faan? Check the table rules

The HKMA reference treats Little Four Winds as a 10-faan limit hand. Street Corner uses an 8-faan limit, so the linked example returns 8. These are different scoring conventions.

In our game, the limit replaces ordinary bonuses. Do not add Seat Wind, Round Wind, Half Flush, Concealed Hand or self-draw to the displayed 8.

Check the complete faan table

The pair must be the fourth wind

Three wind Pungs plus a dragon pair do not make Little Four Winds. Four wind Pungs instead make Big Four Winds; that hand still needs its own pair.

Try changing the North pair

Load the example and replace both Norths with Red Dragons. The ordinary house breakdown is now Half Flush 3 + Concealed Hand 1 + Seat Wind 1 + Round Wind 1 = 6. The pair itself adds no dragon-Pung bonus.

Load this exact example Practise the winning minimum

Sources

A hand to try

Set
Set
Set
Set
Pair

Win: discard · Seat: East · Round: East · Minimum: 3. Declared melds and special draw context are loaded with the hand.

With the saved win method, seat wind and round wind, this example is expected to score 8 final faan under sc_hk13_v1_2. The calculator also shows every contributing pattern and whether the hand reaches the selected minimum.

Try this in the calculator

Check your understanding

Which statement matches our house rules?

Choose a statement to see the explanation.

A few things to know

Can Little Four Winds be open?

Yes. Open Pungs and Kongs can satisfy the wind sets. The fourth wind must remain the pair, and the complete winning shape is still required.

CHECK THE RULES

See what this hand scores under our house rules

Reference values below follow the Hong Kong Mahjong Association (HKMA) rules. Worked calculator examples use our browser game’s house rules; check the differences before comparing results.

Try this in the calculator Compare table rules Mobile app →