Hong Kong vs MCR
Hong Kong (Cantonese / 港麻) and MCR (Chinese Official / 国标) are both Chinese-origin mahjong variants — but they could hardly score more differently. HK is the casual family game; MCR is the international tournament code.
Casual Cantonese rules with exponential 2^faan payouts.
81 fan patterns with strict exclusion rules and 8-fan minimum.
Hong vs MCR — every axis
| Axis | Hong | MCR |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Traditional Cantonese — predates 1900 | China, formally codified in 2002 |
| Hand size | 14 tiles | 14 tiles |
| Scoring unit | Faan (1–13) — exponential 2^faan | Fan (1–88) — additive |
| Pattern count | ~27 distinct faan patterns | 81 fan patterns |
| Minimum to declare | 3 faan (table-dependent) | 8 fan strict |
| Exclusion rules | Loose, family-table conventions | Strict canonical table |
| Payout scaling | Doubles per faan (huge swings) | Linear in fan total |
| Limit hands | 13 faan (Great Three Dragons, etc.) | 88 fan limit (Big Four Winds, etc.) |
| Where played | HK, Guangdong, Cantonese diaspora | World championships, China comp circuit |
| Difficulty | Beginner-friendly | Steeper learning curve |
Strengths
- •Simpler rule set — most beginners can learn in 30 minutes
- •Exponential payouts mean every big hand feels rewarding
- •Universally played at Cantonese family tables
- •Less argument about edge cases — table house rules win
- •Eliminates table disputes via canonical patterns
- •More patterns = more strategic variety per hand
- •8-fan minimum forces meaningful hand-building
- •International recognition for tournament play
Which should you play?
Pick Hong Kong if you're playing casually with friends or family, especially in a Cantonese-speaking context. Pick MCR if you want a consistent rulebook that won't shift between tables, or you're aiming for tournament play.
Common questions
Do MCR and HK count the same patterns?+
Many patterns overlap by name (All Pungs, Great Three Dragons, Thirteen Orphans) but with totally different point values. A 6-faan HK All Pungs becomes 6-fan in MCR — same name, but in MCR it's a baseline pattern, while in HK it nearly doubles your score.
Why does Hong Kong feel more luck-based?+
Exponential 2^faan payouts mean a 5-faan hand pays 32 base units while an 8-faan hand pays 256. One lucky draw can swing the entire game. MCR's linear fan addition makes scores more predictable.
Is Hong Kong easier to win in?+
Generally yes — the 3-faan minimum is much easier to clear than MCR's 8-fan minimum. Casual HK games may even allow 0-faan 'chicken hand' wins for a fixed payout.