Prevalent Wind

What Is Prevalent Wind

A Prevalent Wind Pung in Chinese Mahjong is a 2-fan pattern formed by collecting three copies of the current round’s wind. Whether melded or concealed, it adds valuable points to honor-heavy or pung-based hands, and it can synergize nicely with Seat Wind Pung or Dragon Pung for even bigger scoring opportunities. Keep track of wind tile availability, weigh how early to commit if you only have one or two of them, and be mindful that exposing a Prevalent Wind Pung reveals a portion of your hand’s strength to watchful opponents.

The Tile Pattern of Prevalent Wind

Three Identical Wind Tiles

• You must have three copies of the round’s wind tile (e.g., East-East-East in the East Round).
• This pung can be concealed (all drawn by you) or melded (formed by claiming a discarded wind tile).

Separate from Seat Wind

• Note that the seat wind is personal to each player, while the prevalent wind is the same for everyone during that round.
• If your seat wind and the prevalent wind happen to be the same, you may be able to claim both patterns on a single pung—depending on the tournament rules about stacking patterns. This can yield additional fan.

Fan Value of Prevalent Wind

Under standard Chinese Mahjong rules, a Prevalent Wind Pung is worth 2 fan. If your seat wind is different from the round wind, making a second pung of your seat wind tile would also be worth 2 fan (though that would be a separate pattern, called “Seat Wind Pung”).

Strategies and Considerations of Prevalent Wind

Early-Game Holding: Many players discard honors (winds, dragons) early if they don’t see an immediate benefit. If you pick up multiple copies of the round wind, holding them can net a quick and valuable 2-fan bonus.

Synergy with Other Honor Pungs: Honor-oriented or pung-based hands (e.g., All Pungs can easily integrate a Prevalent Wind Pung. You might also combine it with a Dragon Pung or your Seat Wind Pung if the tiles cooperate.

Track All Four Copies: There are only four copies of each wind tile. Keep an eye on discards and other players’ melds. If too many round wind tiles appear on the table, you may not be able to form a pung.

Information Revealed: Once you meld a Prevalent Wind Pung, opponents see that you have at least 2 additional fan guaranteed and might play more cautiously (e.g., not discarding certain tiles that could help you complete other sets).

Risk of Overcommitment: If you only have one tile of the round wind and time is passing, it may not be worth gambling on picking up the other two. Consider discarding that lone wind if it becomes a dead-end.

Seat Wind Matches Round Wind: If your seat wind is the same as the round wind (e.g., you are East during the East Round), a single pung of that wind could qualify for both Seat Wind Pung and Prevalent Wind Pung (subject to the event’s stacking rules), netting potentially 4 fan for one pung.