Classic vs New 6 vs New 18 Hand Sets: Which to Play
One of the first decisions your Hong Kong Mahjong group needs to make is which hand sets to play with. The three options — Classic, New 6, and New 18 — add progressively more scoring patterns to the game. Here’s what each includes and how to choose.
What Are Hand Sets?
In Hong Kong Mahjong, your hand is scored based on the patterns (combinations of tiles) it contains. Over time, the mahjong community has recognized different collections of valid patterns:
- Classic — The traditional core patterns that everyone plays with
- New 6 (新六番) — Six additional patterns added to expand scoring options
- New 18 (新十八番) — Eighteen more patterns, used in more modern play
These build on each other. New 6 includes everything in Classic plus 6 more. New 18 includes everything in Classic and New 6 plus 18 more.
Classic Hands
The Classic hand set is the foundation. These are the patterns that every Hong Kong Mahjong player should know.
Common Classic Patterns
| Hand | Faan | Description |
|---|---|---|
| All Chows (平和) | 1 | Four chows and a pair, no flowers |
| Self-Drawn (自摸) | 1 | Win by drawing the tile yourself |
| Dragon Pung | 1 | Pung of any dragon tile |
| Seat Wind Pung | 1 | Pung of your seat wind |
| Round Wind Pung | 1 | Pung of the round wind |
| All Pungs (對對和) | 3 | Four pungs and a pair (see faan guide) |
| Mixed One Suit (混一色) | 3 | One suit plus honor tiles |
| Small Three Dragons (小三元) | 5 | Two dragon pungs, one dragon pair |
| Full Flush (清一色) | 7 | One suit only, no honors |
| Big Three Dragons (大三元) | 8 | Pungs of all three dragons |
Classic Limit Hands
| Hand | Description |
|---|---|
| Thirteen Orphans (十三幺) | One of each terminal and honor + pair |
| All Honors (字一色) | Entirely honor tiles |
| All Terminals (清么九) | Entirely 1s and 9s |
| Nine Gates (九蓮寶燈) | 1-1-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-9-9 + one in same suit |
| Great Winds (大四喜) | Pungs of all four winds |
| Heaven’s Blessing (天糊) | Dealer wins on initial deal |
| Earth’s Blessing (地糊) | Non-dealer wins on first discard |
Classic is sufficient for most casual games. If you’re just starting out or playing with mixed experience levels, Classic hands are all you need.
New 6 Hands (新六番)
The New 6 set adds six patterns that reward more specific tile arrangements. These patterns are widely recognized and used in most regular games.
| Hand | Faan | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed Terminals (混么九) | 1 | All sets contain 1s, 9s, or honor tiles |
| All One Suit Chows (清龍) | 1 | Chows of 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 7-8-9 in one suit |
| Three Concealed Pungs (三暗刻) | 1 | Three pungs formed without claiming discards |
| Concealed Hand (門前清) | 1 | Win with no revealed sets (all concealed) |
| Small Three Winds (小三風) | 1 | Two wind pungs plus a wind pair |
| Small Four Winds (小四喜) | 6 | Three wind pungs plus a wind pair |
These patterns add more ways to reach the minimum faan without dramatically changing gameplay. Classic + New 6 is the most popular combination for regular Hong Kong Mahjong.
New 18 Hands (新十八番)
The New 18 set adds eighteen more patterns for players who want maximum scoring variety. These tend to be more specific and situational.
| Hand | Faan | Description |
|---|---|---|
| All Concealed with Self-Draw | 1 | Concealed hand won by self-draw |
| Melded Hand (全求人) | 1 | All four sets revealed, win by discard |
| Two Concealed Kongs | 1 | Two kongs, both concealed |
| Robbing a Kong (搶槓) | 1 | Win by taking a tile from an opponent’s kong |
| Last Tile Draw (海底撈月) | 1 | Win on the last tile from the wall |
| Last Tile Claim (河底撈魚) | 1 | Win on the last discard |
| Kong on Kong (槓上槓) | 1 | Win on a replacement tile after declaring kong |
| Two Identical Chows | 1 | Two chows with identical tiles in one suit |
| Five Pairs and Dragon | Special | Specific pair-based pattern |
| Bonus Tile Match (正花) | 1 | All your matching flowers/seasons |
| Triple Pung | 2 | Three pungs of the same number across suits |
| Three Kongs | 2 | Three kongs in one hand |
| Mixed Lesser Terminals | 2 | Every set includes a terminal or honor |
| Four Kongs | Limit | Four kongs in one hand |
| All Green (綠一色) | Limit | Only tiles with green coloring |
| Seven Pairs (七對子) | 4 | Seven pairs instead of sets |
New 18 is for experienced players who want maximum variety. These hands come up less frequently but add exciting rare possibilities.
Which Set Should You Play?
Classic Only
Best for:
- Brand new players still learning the game
- Quick casual games where simplicity is preferred
- Groups with mixed experience levels
- Games where you want faster scoring discussions
Classic + New 6
Best for:
- Most regular game groups (this is the standard)
- Players comfortable with the basics who want a bit more variety
- Games where you want more paths to the minimum faan
- Competitive but friendly play
Classic + New 6 + New 18
Best for:
- Experienced players who’ve mastered the other sets
- Groups that play frequently and want maximum variety
- Players who enjoy recognizing rare patterns
- Longer, more detailed game sessions
Transitioning Between Sets
If your group decides to add New 6 or New 18:
- Print a reference sheet — Have the new patterns visible for the first few sessions
- Start with Classic + New 6 — The six new patterns are easy to learn incrementally
- Add New 18 later — Once New 6 feels natural, introduce the expanded set
- Use a scoring app — An app that knows all the patterns catches hands you might miss
Most groups that start with Classic eventually move to Classic + New 6. Fewer adopt the full New 18, but those that do appreciate the added depth.
FAQ
Can different players at the same table use different hand sets?
No — everyone at the table must agree on which hand sets are in play. A hand that’s valid under New 18 might not be recognized by players using only Classic rules.
Do the hand sets affect strategy?
Yes. More recognized patterns means more paths to a winning hand, which generally makes it slightly easier to reach the minimum faan. With New 18, you might aim for patterns (like Seven Pairs) that wouldn’t exist under Classic rules.
Which hand set do tournaments use?
It varies. Some tournaments use Classic + New 6, others include all three. The specific hand set is always specified in tournament rules before play begins.
How does TileBuddy handle different hand sets?
TileBuddy lets you select which hand sets to include in your game settings: Classic only, Classic + New 6, or all three. The faan calculator only considers hands from your selected sets, so the scoring matches your table’s rules exactly.
Whatever hand set your group plays, TileBuddy has it covered. Download it free on the App Store and configure your preferred hand sets right in the app.