Chinese Official Mahjong · 1 pt

Edge Wait in Chinese Official Mahjong (MCR): Points, Examples and the Only-Wait Rule

In Chinese Official Mahjong, Edge Wait (边张) is worth 1 point: you win on an edge tile — 3 to complete 1-2, or 7 to complete 8-9 — and that tile is the only one your hand waits on. What matters isn't the shape but the single wait: if the same hand could also win on another tile, there is no Edge Wait.

The rules for Edge Wait

• The winning tile is the 3 completing 1-2, or the 7 completing 8-9
• One wait only: the hand waits on exactly one kind of tile (all four copies count as one kind)
• Discard or self-draw both count; concealed or open both fine
• Edge Wait, Closed Wait and Single Wait never stack: only the winning tile's position in the chosen reading counts

When it's not Edge Wait

• The hand waits on more tiles: 1-2-3-4-5 characters waits on 3 and 6, so winning on 3 is not Edge Wait (second example below)
• A different reading scores more: the scorer always picks the highest-scoring way to read the hand

Scoring Edge Wait

Edge Wait and the 8-point minimum

Its 1 point is often the one you're missing: Half Flush (6 points) plus one terminal pung is only 7, so keeping 1-2 waiting on 3 beats switching to a two-sided wait that can't reach 8. The other way round, when you already have 8, don't give up a wider wait just to get an edge.

In 4,000 simulated hands between the site's computer players, Edge Wait appeared in 7.3% of winning hands, averaging 14.9 points. Play MCR online — when you're ready, the game shows which waits reach 8.

Edge Wait in other mahjong styles

Taiwanese mahjong groups edge, closed and single waits as "Single Wait" (独听), also only when it's the one wait (Taiwanese mahjong Single Wait).

FAQ

How many points is Edge Wait?

1 point in Chinese Official Mahjong, on a discard or self-drawn.

Does 8-9 waiting on 7 count too?

Yes. 8-9 waiting on 7 is the same edge as 1-2 waiting on 3, and it also has to be your only wait.

Can Edge Wait combine with All Chows?

Yes. All Chows doesn't exclude Edge Wait; both count.

Related fan

Closed Wait 1 pt Waiting on the middle tile — and only that tile — for 1 point: how to tell, the common fake closed waits, and using it to reach 8. Single Wait 1 pt Waiting on one tile for the pair — and only that tile — for 1 point: fake single waits, which fan drop it, and using it to reach 8. All Chows 2 pt Four chows and a suited pair for 2 points: looser than in Taiwanese or Riichi mahjong, but it always needs Mixed Straight, Pure Straight or Concealed Hand to reach 8.