Tile Hog (四歸一)
All four copies of a single non-honor tile appear in the hand, distributed across different sets rather than as a kong.
How Tile Hog (四歸一) works
Holding all four copies of one number tile in the hand without declaring them as a kong.
A tile hog occurs when the hand uses all four identical tiles spread across sets — for instance a pung plus the same tile inside a chow, or split between groups — instead of melding them as a four-of-a-kind. The four tiles must serve in ordinary sets rather than being declared a kong. Each separate group of four such tiles earns the pattern.
- •The four identical tiles must not be declared as a kong; doing so removes the tile-hog credit.
- •It typically arises when one tile feeds both a pung and an adjacent chow.
- •Multiple distinct four-of-a-kind holdings can each qualify.
Tile Hog (四歸一) — FAQ
Why isn't a kong a Tile Hog?
Tile Hog specifically rewards keeping all four copies within normal sets; once they are declared as a kong, they form a meld and no longer count as a tile hog.
How does a single tile end up in two sets?
For example, three copies form a pung while the fourth sits in a chow of the same suit, so all four of that number are used without a kong.