Chinese Official Mahjong · 1 pt

Short Straight in Chinese Official Mahjong (MCR): Points, Examples and Rules

In Chinese Official Mahjong, Short Straight (连六) is worth 1 point: your winning hand has two chows of the same suit that join end to end, six tiles in a row — for example 1-2-3 plus 4-5-6 of characters. It's often part of a Pure Straight; when the straight doesn't come, you keep this 1 point.

The rules for Short Straight

• Two chows of one suit whose numbers differ by three: 123 + 456, 234 + 567, 345 + 678, 456 + 789
• Claimed chows count; the hand doesn't need to be concealed
• Across suits (123 characters + 456 dots) it doesn't count — that's part of a Mixed Straight
• Each chow combines with only one other chow once more (account once)

When Short Straight is not counted

• Pure Straight (123, 456, 789 of one suit), 16 points: the Short Straights and Two Terminal Chows inside it are not counted
• Four Pure Shifted Chows (e.g. 123, 234, 345, 456), 32 points: the Short Straight between the outer chows is not counted
• When three chows could each pair into Short Straights, account-once still limits how many you score

Scoring Short Straight

Short Straight and the 8-point minimum

On its own it's a top-up, but its real value is that it's one chow away from a Pure Straight: with 123 and 456 in a suit, watch for that suit's 789. Completing it jumps to 16 points; if it never comes, the Short Straight still helps you reach 8.

In 4,000 simulated hands between the site's computer players, Short Straight appeared in 13% of winning hands, averaging 13.2 points. Play MCR online and watch where straights and short straights turn up.

FAQ

How many points is Short Straight?

1 point in Chinese Official Mahjong; claimed chows count.

Do 123 characters and 456 dots make a Short Straight?

No — it must be one suit. One each of 123, 456, 789 across the three suits is a Mixed Straight, 8 points.

Does a Pure Straight also score Short Straight?

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

Related fan

Pure Straight 16 pt 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 7-8-9 in one suit for 16 points — enough on its own. What it excludes and what the fourth chow can still add. Two Terminal Chows 1 pt 1-2-3 plus 7-8-9 of one suit for 1 point: when it isn't counted, how account-once limits it, and its link to Outside Hand. Pure Double Chow 1 pt Two identical chows in one suit for 1 point: how to spot it, when it isn't counted, and how it grows into Pure Triple Chow.