Money doubles per faan
The usual money system: agree the minimum faan to win (three is common) and a base stake. The minimum pays one unit, and every faan above it doubles the money. Agree the cap (often five or six faan) before the first tile — big hands with no agreed cap are how tables blow up.
| Faan (3-faan minimum) | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| 3 | ×1 |
| 4 | ×2 |
| 5 | ×4 |
| 6+ | 按约定封顶 |
Who pays: self-draw versus discard
On a discard win, the discarder usually pays the full amount alone — the mainstream Cantonese way — though some tables split it three ways; agree first. On a self-draw all three pay a share, and many tables double a self-draw. Whether a no-faan “chicken hand” can win at all is another rule to settle before the first deal.
Regional note: Hong Kong mahjong doubles similarly with its own “spicy” ladder, while Taiwanese 16-tile mahjong counts tai on an entirely different system. Tallyo’s Cantonese scorekeeper implements the faan-doubling model — pick the faan and the money is automatic.