Singapore Mahjong
Play Singapore mahjong online for free — 152 tiles, 8 animal tiles with instant payouts, and Hong Kong-style faan scoring against smart AI. No download needed.
Mahjong Rules Guide
Select your preferred variant and learn its unique rules
Singapore Mahjong Rules
Hong Kong-style play with 152 tiles, plus animal tiles that pay out instantly
OOverview
Singapore mahjong is the style played in Singapore and Malaysia. It keeps the Hong Kong-style core — four melds and a pair, faan scoring, flowers — and adds a set of animal tiles that make every draw exciting.
TTiles
152 tiles: the standard 136, plus 8 flower and season tiles and 8 animal tiles (cat, mouse, chicken and centipede — two of each).
WWinning
Complete four melds and a pair, or the Thirteen Orphans. Animal tiles are set aside when drawn and never count toward your hand.
SScoring
Faan scoring follows the Hong Kong tradition. Animal sets pay separately and instantly: both copies of one animal, or a predator with its prey, collects 1 unit from each opponent.
Special Rules
Instant animal payouts: completing a pair of the same animal pays 1 unit from all three opponents, and the predator combinations (cat + mouse, chicken + centipede) pay the same the moment they are completed. Payouts happen whether or not you win the hand.
Singapore mahjong is played across Singapore, Malaysia and Southeast Asian communities worldwide. The core is Hong Kong-style: build four melds and a pair, score in faan, set flowers aside. The twist is the 8 animal tiles — collect a matching pair or a predator with its prey and you get paid on the spot, win or lose.
How to Play Singapore Mahjong
If you know Hong Kong mahjong you already know 90% of this game — here is the flow:
- 1
Build the wall
Four players use 152 tiles: the standard set plus 8 flowers/seasons and 8 animal tiles (cat, mouse, chicken, centipede — two of each). Each player draws 13 tiles; flowers and animals are set aside and replaced from the wall end.
- 2
Draw, discard, claim
On your turn draw and discard. Claim discards for chows (left player only), pungs and kongs (anyone). Every animal you draw is revealed immediately — and starts counting toward instant payouts.
- 3
Collect animals for instant payouts
Both copies of the same animal pay 1 unit from each opponent. The predator pairs — cat + mouse and chicken + centipede — pay the same the moment they are completed, even mid-hand.
- 4
Win with four melds and a pair
Hands score in faan like Hong Kong style: dragon and seat-wind pungs, flowers, all-pungs, one-suit hands, up to limit hands like Thirteen Orphans. Animal payouts are settled separately, on top of any win.
Singapore Mahjong Rules
Hong Kong-style play with 152 tiles, plus animal tiles that pay out instantly
Overview
Singapore mahjong is the style played in Singapore and Malaysia. It keeps the Hong Kong-style core — four melds and a pair, faan scoring, flowers — and adds a set of animal tiles that make every draw exciting.
Tiles
152 tiles: the standard 136, plus 8 flower and season tiles and 8 animal tiles (cat, mouse, chicken and centipede — two of each).
Winning
Complete four melds and a pair, or the Thirteen Orphans. Animal tiles are set aside when drawn and never count toward your hand.
Scoring
Faan scoring follows the Hong Kong tradition. Animal sets pay separately and instantly: both copies of one animal, or a predator with its prey, collects 1 unit from each opponent.
Special Rules
Instant animal payouts: completing a pair of the same animal pays 1 unit from all three opponents, and the predator combinations (cat + mouse, chicken + centipede) pay the same the moment they are completed. Payouts happen whether or not you win the hand.
This table plays Singapore style with 152 tiles, instant animal payouts at 100 points per opponent, and Hong Kong-style faan scoring with a fixed cap. Real Singapore tables vary in payout sizes and may add bonus faan for animals at the end of a hand. Most real Singapore tables seat three players — switch on the 3-player table to play that way (the wall drops the four North wind tiles); by default this table seats four.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
How many tiles does Singapore mahjong use?
152: the standard 136 tiles, plus 8 flower and season tiles and 8 animal tiles. The animal tiles are cat, mouse, chicken and centipede, with two copies of each.
What are the animal tiles in Singapore mahjong?
Cat, mouse (rat), chicken (hen) and centipede — two copies of each, 8 in total. They are bonus tiles: when drawn, you reveal them, set them aside and take a replacement tile. They never join your hand.
How do animal payouts work?
Collect both copies of any animal and each opponent pays you 1 unit instantly. The predator combinations — cat with mouse, chicken with centipede — pay the same the moment you hold both. Payouts are settled immediately, whether or not you go on to win the hand.
Is Singapore mahjong the same as Hong Kong mahjong?
The core is the same Hong Kong-style game — four melds, a pair, faan scoring. Singapore adds the 8 animal tiles with instant payouts, and tables commonly use slightly different faan schedules. This site plays the shared core with Singapore's animal tiles on top.
Can I play Singapore mahjong online for free here?
Yes — this page runs Singapore mahjong directly in your browser against three AI opponents, with no download and no sign-up. The rules panel inside the game explains each scoring pattern as you play.
