Chinese Official Mahjong · 1 pt

Two Terminal Chows in Chinese Official Mahjong (MCR): Points, Examples and Rules

In Chinese Official Mahjong, Two Terminal Chows (老少副) is worth 1 point: your winning hand has 1-2-3 and 7-8-9 of the same suit — the "old" and the "young" ends. It often appears alongside Mixed Straight and Outside Hand, and it is the building block of the Terminal Chows hands.

The rules for Two Terminal Chows

• A 123 chow and a 789 chow of the same suit
• Claimed chows count; the hand doesn't need to be concealed
• Different suits (123 characters + 789 dots) don't count
• Each chow combines with only one other chow once more (account once)

When Two Terminal Chows is not counted

• Pure Straight (123, 456, 789 of one suit), 16 points, already includes it
• Pure Terminal Chows (two 123 and two 789 of one suit, pair of 5 of that suit), 64 points
• Three-Suited Terminal Chows (one Two Terminal Chows in each of two suits, pair of 5 in the third), 16 points: neither is counted
• Account once: in the first example below, 789 characters could pair with 123 characters (Two Terminal Chows) or with 789 bamboo (Mixed Double Chow), but only one of them scores

Scoring Two Terminal Chows

Two Terminal Chows and the 8-point minimum

By itself it's a top-up. It also feeds Outside Hand: 123 and 789 both contain a terminal, so if every set and the pair contain a terminal or honor you get Outside Hand (4 points). One in each of two suits with a pair of 5 in the third is Three-Suited Terminal Chows, 16 points.

In 4,000 simulated hands between the site's computer players, Two Terminal Chows appeared in 4.0% of winning hands, averaging 13.6 points. Play MCR online and try it.

FAQ

How many points is Two Terminal Chows?

1 point in Chinese Official Mahjong; claimed chows count.

Do 123 characters and 789 bamboo count?

No — both chows must be the same suit.

Does a Pure Straight also score Two Terminal Chows?

No. Pure Straight (16 points) already includes Two Terminal Chows and Short Straight.

Related fan

Short Straight 1 pt Two same-suit chows forming a run of six (1–6, 4–9…) for 1 point — and not counted once it becomes a Pure Straight. Pure Terminal Chows 64 pt 123, 123, 789, 789 and a pair of 5, all one suit, for 64 points. Full Flush, All Chows, Seven Pairs and the chow combinations are absorbed. Outside Hand 4 pt Every set and the pair holds a 1, 9 or honor, for 4 points — half of the 8-point minimum, topped up with Concealed Hand, Two Terminal Chows and honor pungs.