Chinese Official Mahjong · 24 pt

Pure Shifted Pungs in Chinese Official Mahjong (MCR): Points, Examples and Odds

In Chinese Official Mahjong, Pure Shifted Pungs (一色三节高) is worth 24 points: when you win, you have three pungs (or kongs) of the same suit whose numbers follow each other, for example pungs of 5, 6 and 7 bamboo. On its own it is far above the 8-point minimum.

The rules for Pure Shifted Pungs

• Three pungs or kongs: same suit, consecutive numbers (e.g. 333, 444, 555 characters)
• Honors can't do it: only suited tiles have numbers
• The fourth set and the pair are free; pungs and kongs may be claimed, no concealed hand needed
• Four in a row is Four Pure Shifted Pungs, 48 points

What Pure Shifted Pungs does not combine with

• Pure Triple Chow (24 points): 111-222-333 can also be split into three 1-2-3 chows; only one of the two readings scores

The pungs still earn everything else they qualify for: concealed ones count towards Two or Three Concealed Pungs, a pung of 1s or 9s is a Pung of Terminals or Honors, and one more pung makes All Pungs.

How Pure Shifted Pungs is scored

The points below are calculated live by this site's scoring engine — the same one the game uses — including the fans dropped under the non-repeat rule.

Common combinations:

Related fans

• Four Pure Shifted Pungs: four consecutive pungs, 48 points; Pure Shifted Pungs is then not counted.
• Pure Triple Chow: the other reading of the same nine tiles; only one scores.
• Mixed Shifted Pungs: consecutive numbers spread over three suits, 8 points.
• All Pungs: one more pung makes All Pungs, and the points add up.
• Three Concealed Pungs: all three shifted pungs concealed in hand.

How often does Pure Shifted Pungs happen?

Pure Shifted Pungs is one of the routes this site's AI actively plans for, but it needs three of each of three consecutive tiles in one suit, so chances are slim: in 3,849 AI wins it appeared 3 times, about 0.08%. The sample is too small for more than "rare".

Pungs grow from pairs and pungs. A 13-tile opening hand already contains a pung (three of a kind) about 8.7% of the time, and has 3 or more pairs about 15%; they would also need to be one suit and consecutive.

Source: 1,000,000 random 13-tile deals (flowers already replaced).

When to go for Pure Shifted Pungs

• Adjacent pairs or pungs in one suit, such as 55, 66 and 777 bamboo: one pung call and the shape is there.
• Pung freely: no concealed hand is required.
• Don't rush to chow from 111-222-333: kept concealed it scores as shifted pungs plus concealed pungs.
• Go for All Pungs too: with three pungs already, making the fourth set a pung adds 6 points.

When to give up: two copies of the middle tile are already visible and the run is broken; switch to All Pungs or Three Concealed Pungs. To try it yourself, play Chinese Official Mahjong online — the scoring is automatic.

FAQ

How many points is Pure Shifted Pungs?

Pure Shifted Pungs is worth 24 points in Chinese Official Mahjong. Pure Triple Chow is not counted on top.

Can I claim pungs for Pure Shifted Pungs?

Yes. Claimed pungs and kongs count; no concealed hand is needed.

Can honor tiles make shifted pungs?

No. Shifted pungs need consecutive numbers, and only characters, dots and bamboo have numbers.

Is 111-222-333 characters Pure Shifted Pungs or Pure Triple Chow?

Either reading is possible and the engine keeps the higher total. Concealed, the three concealed pungs add Three Concealed Pungs, so it usually scores as Pure Shifted Pungs; if all three were claimed as chows, it can only be Pure Triple Chow.

Related fan

Four Pure Shifted Pungs 48 pt Four consecutive pungs of one suit for 48 points, e.g. 333 444 555 666. Pure Shifted Pungs, Pure Triple Chow and All Pungs are absorbed; Full Flush and concealed pungs often stack. Mixed Shifted Pungs 8 pt Pungs stepping up by one across the three suits (say 3, 4, 5) — exactly 8 points. Claimed pungs count; stacks with All Pungs and concealed pungs. Pure Triple Chow 24 pt Three identical chows of one suit for 24 points: rules, what it absorbs, how it differs from Pure Shifted Pungs, and how a fourth chow scores.