Big Three Dragons

What Is Big Three Dragons

Big Three Dragons stands at the pinnacle of Chinese Mahjong scoring, awarding 88 fan for forming pungs/kongs of all three Dragons. Because each Dragon has only four copies in the set, collecting them all can be a fierce battle against defensive opponents. Nevertheless, the reward is colossal if you manage to produce three distinct Dragon pungs, plus an extra meld and pair to fill out your 14-tile hand. Spotting early multiples of Red, Green, or White Dragons—and deciding whether to quickly meld or stay concealed—are key strategic elements, culminating in one of the most dramatic and celebrated achievements in Mahjong.

The Tile Pattern of Big Three Dragons

In Chinese Mahjong, Big Three Dragons refers to a winning hand in which you collect pungs (or kongs) of all three Dragon tiles:

• Red Dragon
• Green Dragon
• White Dragon

Example:

• Pung of Red Dragon
• Pung of Green Dragon
• Pung of White Dragon
• Chow of 4–5–6 Bams (4 B, 5 B, 6 B)
• Pair of East Wind

Fan Value of Big Three Dragons

Under Chinese Mahjong rules, Big Three Dragons is worth 88 fan—the highest tier of fan in standard scoring (alongside a few other extremely rare hands). Because 88 fan far exceeds the usual 8-fan minimum to declare Mahjong, achieving Big Three Dragons typically yields a massive win, often deciding the course of the entire round or match.

Strategies and Considerations of Big Three Dragons

Evaluate Your Opening Dragons: If you start the hand with pairs of two or all three Dragons, you have a strong foundation for Big Three Dragons.

Discard Minimally: Avoid discarding any Dragon tile that might let you complete a pung. Decide quickly if you want to chase all three pungs.

Calling Pungs: You can call “pung” on a Dragon if someone discards it and you already have two copies. This is often crucial for completing Big Three Dragons more quickly. However, once you expose two Dragon pungs, opponents will strongly suspect you aim for the third.

Fully Concealed Approach: You may attempt to self-draw your Dragons, but this can be slow and risky. If you miss discards for that third pung, you might not complete in time.

High Alert: Once you reveal pungs of two different Dragons, other players generally realize you are aiming for “Big Three Dragons” (or at least “Little Three Dragons”). They will likely hold any remaining Dragon tiles or discard them only if it’s absolutely safe.

Tile Counting: Each Dragon tile has four copies total. Keep track of how many Red, Green, and White Dragons have been discarded or melded. If too many copies of the third Dragon vanish, you might have to settle for a lesser pattern like “Little Three Dragons” if you only have a pair of that Dragon.

Flexibility: After forming your three Dragon pungs, you just need one more meld (possibly a chow/pung/kong in suits or honors) plus any pair. The pair can be a leftover suit tile or another honor tile.

Potential Blocking: Opponents often do everything they can to avoid discarding the final Dragon you need. The success of Big Three Dragons depends on your luck and ability to self-draw or coax out that tile. If you secure Big Three Dragons, the 88 fan typically gives you a commanding lead or outright game win.