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 (平糊) | 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 (對對糊) | 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 Quadruplets / Eighteen Arhats (十八羅漢) | Four kongs |
| 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 |
Note: All Terminals (清么九), listed under New 18 below, is also a limit hand; it just isn’t part of the Classic set.
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 exactly six patterns that reward more specific tile arrangements. These patterns are widely recognized and used in most regular games.
| Hand | Faan | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Concealed Hand (門前清) | 1 | Win with no revealed sets (all concealed) |
| Fully Concealed Self-Draw (門前清自摸) | 3 | Concealed hand won by self-draw: scores as one 3-faan pattern, not 1+1 |
| Single Wait (單釣) | 1 | Winning with only one possible tile to complete the hand |
| 258 Pair (二五八將) | 1 | The pair in your winning hand is a 2, 5, or 8 |
| All Simples (斷幺九) | 1 | No terminal tiles (1 or 9) and no honor tiles anywhere in the hand |
| Lacking a Suit (缺一門) | 1 | Your hand uses only two of the three numbered suits, with no honor tiles |
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 more patterns for players who want maximum scoring variety. These tend to be more specific and situational.
| Hand | Faan | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fully Exposed (全求人) | 2 | All four sets revealed, the pair completed by a discard |
| Double Chow (一般高) | 1 | Two identical chows in the same suit |
| Four into One (四歸一) | 1 | Four identical tiles split between one pung and one chow |
| Min-Max Chow (么九順) | 1 | A 1-2-3 chow and a 7-8-9 chow in the same suit |
| Min-Max Pung (么九刻) | 1 | A pung/kong of 1s and a pung/kong of 9s in the same suit |
| Three Sequence Pung (三連刻) | 2 | Three consecutive-number pungs/kongs in the same suit |
| Three Concealed Pungs (三暗刻) | 2 | Three of your four sets are self-drawn pungs/kongs |
| Three Suits Pung (三同刻) | 3 | Pungs/kongs of the same number across all three suits |
| Three Suits Chow (三同順) | 3 | Chows of the same sequence across all three suits |
| Four Sequence Pung (四連刻) | 8 | Four consecutive-number pungs/kongs in the same suit |
| Double Double Chows (雙龍抱) | 10 | Two separate pairs of identical chows |
| Mixed Orphans (混全帶么九) | 3 | Every set and the pair contains a terminal or honor tile |
| Pure Orphans (純全帶么九) | 5 | Every set contains a terminal tile, with no honor tiles |
| Snake Hand (一條龍) | 3 | A complete 1-9 run in one suit, plus one more set and a pair |
| All Concealed Triplets (坎坎糊) | 10 | Limit hand: all sets are concealed pungs |
| All Terminals (清么九) | 18 | Limit hand: every tile is a 1 or a 9 |
Seven Pairs (七對子) and All Green (綠一色) are house-rule hands in TileBuddy rather than part of New 18. See the complete faan guide for where they actually sit.
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 the Snake Hand, 一條龍) that don’t exist under Classic rules. Seven Pairs is a separate house rule in TileBuddy, so choosing New 18 alone doesn’t turn it on.
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.