How to Keep Score in Mah Jongg

Award each player 2,000 points to start the game.

Count the sets you have complete with pungs showing face-up as well as any sets concealed in your hand.

Earn 2 points for each melded triplet, each pair of any color, or a pair from your wind (East, for example).

Score 4 points for concealed triplets or pungs (sets of three) of the following: ones, nines, red, white, green, or any of the winds. All other pungs get 2 points each. Double these scores if the winning tile was drawn from the wall.

Collect 16 points for kongs (sets of four) of the following: concealed, ones, nines, red, white, green, or any of the winds. All other kongs get 8 points each. Double these scores if the winning tile was drawn from the wall.

Award 20 points for winning. The winner of a hand receives points equal to his or her score - each of the other players pays this amount from his own point pool. Only the winner collects points.

Pay the winner (in points) if he or she won by using a discard and you were the player who put that tile down. If the winner drew from the wall, he or she earns 2 points, and all three players pay the winner.

Pay double if you were the dealer and lost. Conversely, you are paid double if you win.

If you drew a season or flower tile during the hand, you earn 1 point. If it matched your direction and you're the winner, your score doubles. The designations are Winter/bamboo for North, Summer/orchid for South, Spring/plum for East and Autumn/chrysanthemum for West.