Last Tile

What Is Last Tile

Last Tile in Chinese Mahjong is a 4-fan bonus awarded when you claim or draw the fourth and final copy of a tile to complete your winning hand, after the other three identical tiles have already been revealed on the table. Achieving this pattern can be quite dramatic, as it hinges on pinpoint tile tracking and a bit of luck. It does not alter your hand’s structure or meld requirements—rather, it focuses on the rarity of securing the lone remaining tile. While you cannot reliably plan an entire hand around “Last Tile,” staying alert to the possibility when three copies of your needed tile appear can yield a significant 4-fan reward if you manage to capture that precious final copy.

The Tile Pattern of Last Tile

No Specific Meld Requirement

• “Last Tile” does not change how your hand is structured; you still need the standard 4 sets (chows/pungs/kongs) plus 1 pair to declare Mahjong.
• You can be melded or concealed—this pattern focuses only on the final tile you take.

Final Copy: Your winning tile must be the fourth copy of that rank/suit. The other three are already accounted for on the table.

Example Scenario: You are waiting on 7 of Dots to finish your hand. You see that there are already three 7 of Dots discarded/exposed. If you draw or claim the lone remaining 7 of Dots, you fulfill the Last Tile condition.

Fan Value of Last Tile

Under standard Chinese Mahjong rules, Last Tile is worth 4 fan. This high value reflects the unlikelihood and difficulty of waiting on (and obtaining) the single remaining copy of your needed tile.

Strategies and Considerations of Last Tile

Tile Tracking: To recognize a possible “Last Tile” situation, you must keep careful track of discards, opponents’ melds, and any visible tiles. If you notice three out of four identical tiles are already on the table, the final copy becomes a potential “Last Tile.”

Balancing Risk and Reward: Waiting for the single last copy of a tile is high risk: if someone else discards or uses it first, or if it’s already in another player’s concealed hand, you lose. However, the payoff of 4 fan is substantial if you succeed.

Endgame Decisions: In late-game scenarios, if you are one tile away (tenpai) and realize your needed tile is the sole remaining copy, you might choose to keep waiting in hopes of a big score. Alternatively, if an opponent is close to winning, you might prefer a safer or broader wait.

Hand Composition

• “Last Tile” applies purely to how you obtain your final winning tile. It does not restrict your sets or suits, so you can combine it with patterns like All Pung, Full Flush, or Concealed Hand.
• If your final tile also completes an Edge Wait or Single Wait, you can layer that wait-based bonus—subject to the usual rules about whether multiple wait-based patterns can apply simultaneously.

Self-Drawn vs. Discard: You can win “Last Tile” by either drawing it yourself or claiming it from an opponent’s discard—both routes qualify if it’s indeed the fourth copy.

Opponent Awareness: If your opponents see three identical tiles on the table, they might guess someone could be waiting on the last copy for a big pattern. They might avoid discarding that tile or might track it carefully.

Luck vs. Planning

• “Last Tile” opportunities can appear spontaneously, rather than being a deliberate goal from the start. Often, it’s a late realization when you see three of a tile already out.
• Trying to force a “Last Tile” situation is risky. It’s more commonly a bonus you capitalize on if it aligns with your final wait.

No Guarantee: Even if you suspect the fourth copy is still in the wall, another player might draw and discard it (or use it to win themselves). The final copies of tiles in Mahjong are always uncertain.