Edge Wait

What Is Edge Wait

Edge Wait is a 1-fan pattern in Chinese Mahjong awarded when you win on the 3 (completing 1–2–3) or the 7 (completing 7–8–9) in a specific suit. While it provides a small but useful bonus, it constrains your final wait to a single rank. As with all specialized waits, it can be a risk-reward scenario—balancing the extra fan against the likelihood of drawing or claiming your needed tile.

The Tile Pattern of Edge Wait

Specific Sequence Gaps: Edge Wait occurs if your partial sequence is at the extreme low or high end of the suit, specifically:

• (1-2) + waiting on 3
• (8-9) + waiting on 7
• For example, if you hold 1 Bam, 2 Bam, 1 Bam, 2 Bam and you are waiting for the 3 Bam to finish a chow, that is an edge wait.

Single-Sided: Unlike a more flexible wait (e.g., 2-3 waiting on 1 or 4), edge wait only has one possible tile rank to complete the sequence.

Part of Your Winning Hand: You only get this 1-fan bonus if your final winning tile is exactly that needed edge tile (7 or 3, in the examples above).

Fan Value of Edge Wait

Under Chinese Mahjong rules, an Edge Wait is worth 1 fan. This bonus is awarded if your winning tile completes a chow specifically via the “edge” scenario described. It stacks with any other applicable patterns.

Strategies and Considerations of Edge Wait

Natural Formation: Edge waits often occur naturally when you are close to completing low-end (1–2) or high-end (8–9) sequences. If you notice you have 1–2 or 8–9 early, you might keep them in hopes that they evolve into a potentially valuable edge wait.

Balancing Speed vs. Extra Fan: While an edge wait can yield +1 fan, the downside is fewer possible winning tiles (only four copies of that tile exist in the entire set). Consider whether switching to a more flexible waiting pattern might help you finish faster.

When to Commit: If your hand is already strong or close to completion, an edge wait might be worth locking in for the bonus fan. However, if you can switch to a 2-sided or closed wait for a faster or more certain win, weigh that option carefully.

Reduced Information for Opponents: An edge wait can be trickier for opponents to spot if they do not see obvious partial sequences. If you’re concealed or only partially melded, opponents might not easily guess you are waiting on a single tile at the edges (7 or 3).

Monitoring Discards: Pay attention to how many 3s or 7s (in your specific suit) have been discarded. If several are already visible on the table, your edge wait odds could be too low to justify continuing.

Overvaluing the Extra Fan: One extra fan is beneficial, but not if it severely reduces your chance of winning. Evaluate whether a more flexible “2-sided wait” might secure a faster or more certain victory.