Chinese Official Mahjong · 2 pt
Dragon Pung in Chinese Official Mahjong (MCR): Points and Examples
In Chinese Official Mahjong, Dragon Pung (箭刻) is worth 2 points: you win with a pung or kong of Red, Green or White Dragon. Each such pung scores once, whether claimed or self-drawn.
On this page
The rules for Dragon Pung
- Three (or a kong of four) of Red, Green or White Dragon
- Claimed pungs, concealed pungs, melded and concealed kongs all count
- A dragon pair (the eyes) is not a Dragon Pung
- One dragon pung scores once; two are not "two Dragon Pungs" but Two Dragon Pungs, a separate fan
What Dragon Pung does not combine with
- Pung of Terminals or Honors: the dragon pung does not also score that 1 point (1)
And these bigger fan already include it, so Dragon Pung is not counted with them:
- Two dragon pungs: Two Dragon Pungs (6)
- Two dragon pungs plus a pair of the third: Little Three Dragons (64)
- Three dragon pungs: Big Three Dragons (88)
Scoring examples
Won on a discard
| Dragon Pung | 2 |
| Total | 2 pt |
|---|
Below 8 points — not allowed to win.
Won on a discard
| Mixed Straight | 8 |
| Dragon Pung | 2 |
| Melded Kong | 1 |
| Single Wait | 1 |
| Total | 12 pt |
|---|
Reaches the 8-point minimum — a legal win.
Using Dragon Pung to reach 8
Dragon Pung is MCR's most common 2-point top-up: honors can't be chowed, so a dragon pair turns into 2 points the moment someone discards the third. On its own it is 6 short, so pair it with a main route:
| Combination | Points |
|---|---|
| Dragon Pung + All Pungs | 8 |
| Dragon Pung + Half Flush | 8 |
| Dragon Pung + Mixed Shifted Chows | 8 |
| Dragon Pung + All Types | 8 |
| Dragon Pung + Mixed Straight | 10 |
All Pungs, Half Flush, Mixed Shifted Chows and All Types are all 6 points — exactly one dragon pung short of 8.
Related fan
- Two Dragon Pungs: two dragon pungs, 6 points, replaces Dragon Pung.
- Little Three Dragons and Big Three Dragons: more dragons.
- Half Flush: dragons are honors, so one suit plus a dragon pung is a Half Flush.
- Prevalent Wind and Seat Wind: only your own wind and the round wind score among winds; every dragon scores.
Odds
In a 13-tile opening hand, at least one dragon is already a pair about 13% of the time. In 4,000 hands of the site's AI playing normally, wins with a (single) Dragon Pung were 6.6%, and with Two Dragon Pungs 1.1%.
In other mahjong styles
- Taiwanese mahjong calls it "San Yuan Pai" (dragon pung), 1 tai each (Dragon Pung in Taiwanese Mahjong)
FAQ
How many points is a Dragon Pung?
2 points per pung in Chinese Official Mahjong, without the extra Pung of Terminals or Honors.
What do two dragon pungs score?
Not two Dragon Pungs but Two Dragon Pungs, 6 points; with a pair of the third dragon it becomes Little Three Dragons (64).
Does a dragon pair count?
No. A Dragon Pung needs three (or four) tiles; a pair is only the eyes and scores nothing. To practise when to pung honors, play MCR online.
Related fan
Two Dragon Pungs 6 pt
Pungs of two dragons for 6 points, replacing Dragon Pung; a pair of the third makes Little Three Dragons. Concealed Hand closes the 2-point gap.
Little Three Dragons 64 pt
Two dragon pungs plus a pair of the third dragon for 64 points. Dragon Pung and Two Dragon Pungs are absorbed; Half Flush and Outside Hand often join in.
Half Flush 6 pt
One suit plus honors for 6 points — short of the 8-point minimum. How to top it up with dragon and wind pungs, and when to go for it.
Try it at the table
Chinese Official Mahjong — Play Chinese Official Mahjong (Mahjong Competition Rules, MCR) free in your browser against three computer opponents. 8-point minimum, all 81 fan scored automatically with the official non-repeat rules. No sign-up, works on phone and desktop.