Four Concealed Pungs

What Is Four Concealed Pungs

Four Concealed Pungs is a coveted 64-fan hand in Chinese Mahjong, defined by four fully self-drawn pungs (or kongs) plus a pair. The inability to call discards for those pungs makes it a difficult and often stealthy pattern, but the resulting reward can be game-changing. By patiently collecting all copies of each tile you need—while never exposing your melds— you can surprise opponents who fail to realize how close to victory you are. Once achieved, “Four Concealed Pungs” yields one of the largest possible point swings in a single hand, showcasing the drama and excitement of high-level Mahjong.

The Tile Pattern of Four Concealed Pungs

Four Concealed Pungs hand must have:

• Four separate concealed triplets (or quads), all self-collected,
• One pair to complete the 14-tile structure

Example

• Concealed Pung of 2 B
• Concealed Pung of East Wind
• Concealed Pung of 7 D
• Concealed Kong of Red Dragons – or leave it as a concealed pung if you do not reveal the fourth tile
• Pair of 5 C (5 C, 5 C)

Fan Value of Four Concealed Pungs

Under Chinese Mahjong rules, Four Concealed Pungs is worth 64 fan. This is among the highest-valued hands—reflecting the difficulty of self-drawing four separate triplets/quads—especially when opponents might hold onto tiles to block you. Because 64 fan is far above the usual 8-fan minimum to declare Mahjong, completing “Four Concealed Pungs” typically results in a massive score swing.

Strategies and Considerations of Four Concealed Pungs

No Pung Calls: You must not call “pung” on any discard. Doing so would expose that pung, disqualifying it from being “concealed.”

Self-Draw for Each Set: You either draw all needed copies from the wall or get them via Kong replacement draws. If you do reveal a kong, it must be declared from within your concealed hand (i.e., you already hold all four copies).

• All Four Melds Are Pungs/Kongs: No chow melds allowed, because forming a chow from a discard would break the concealment of that meld.
• Pair Formation: The pair can be formed by self-draw or possibly from a discard, depending on your local interpretation of whether picking up a single tile for the pair still preserves “concealed” status. (Under standard Guobiao rules, claiming a single tile to complete a pair typically does not ruin the “concealed pung” aspects for the other melds, but check specific tournament guidelines.)

Secrecy vs. Speed: Because you cannot claim discards to form pungs, you rely on luck (or skillful defense/offense) to self-draw the needed tiles. Opponents may sense your potential if they see you discarding strong tiles while never calling.

End-Game Surprises: Fully concealed hands often remain hidden threats until they suddenly declare Mahjong. This can be advantageous if opponents underestimate your progress.

Compatible Patterns

• All Pungs: Since your melds are indeed pungs/kongs, you also meet “All Pungs.” But “Four Concealed Pungs” at 64 fan supersedes that smaller pattern under most scoring interpretations.
• Additional Bonus for Self-Drawn Win: If you also draw your final winning tile from the wall, many rules give a minor extra fan. The 64 fan from “Four Concealed Pungs” is the main highlight, though.

Dependence on Draws: You cannot speed up your sets by calling discards. If the needed tiles appear in opponents’ hands or discards, you miss out. “Four Concealed Pungs” works, 64 fan can drastically change the match’s outcome.