Chinese Official Mahjong · 1 pt

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

In Chinese Official Mahjong, Closed Wait (嵌张) is worth 1 point: the winning tile goes in the middle of a chow — 2 between 1 and 3, 5 between 4 and 6 — and it is the only tile your hand waits on. As with Edge Wait, what counts is the single wait, not the look of the shape.

The rules for Closed Wait

• The winning tile is the middle of a chow (1-3 takes 2, 5-7 takes 6…)
• One wait only: the hand waits on exactly one kind of tile
• Discard or self-draw both count; concealed or open both fine
• Never stacks with Edge Wait or Single Wait

When it's not Closed Wait

• The hand waits on more tiles: the classic is 2-4-4-4, which waits on 2 (2-2 and 4-4-4) and on 3 (2-3-4 and 4-4); winning on 3 is not Closed Wait (second example below)
• Same for 1-3-3-3: waits on 1 (1-1 and 3-3-3) and on 2 (1-2-3 and 3-3)

Scoring Closed Wait

Closed Wait and the 8-point minimum

Like Edge Wait, it's often the last 1 point to 8. One short? Keeping 1-3 waiting on 2 beats a two-sided wait that can't reach 8. Already at 8? Prefer the wider wait.

In 4,000 simulated hands between the site's computer players, Closed Wait appeared in 22% of winning hands, averaging 14.5 points. Play MCR online — when you're ready, the game shows which waits reach 8.

Closed Wait in other mahjong styles

Taiwanese mahjong's "Single Wait" (独听) includes closed waits, also only when it's the one wait (Taiwanese mahjong Single Wait).

FAQ

How many points is Closed Wait?

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

Is 2-4-4-4 waiting on 3 a Closed Wait?

No. 2-4-4-4 waits on both 2 and 3; with two possible tiles there's no Closed Wait.

Can Closed Wait and Edge Wait both count?

No. The winning tile has one position in the hand's reading, so only one of the three wait fan can score.

Related fan

Edge Wait 1 pt 1-2 waiting on 3, 8-9 waiting on 7 — 1 point only if it's your one and only wait. 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.