Pure Double Chow

What Is Pure Double Chow

Pure Double Chow is a relatively straightforward 1-fan pattern in Chinese Mahjong, achieved by having two identical chows in the same suit. It often appears naturally in hands that incorporate multiple suits and multiple chows. While it provides only a small scoring boost, it can blend nicely into broader chow-based or multi-suit strategies. As always, keep your hand flexible, stay aware of tile flow, and be ready to pivot to better scoring opportunities if the situation calls for it.

The Tile Pattern of Pure Double Chow

Pure Double Chow means having two identical chows in the same suit within your winning hand.

• A chow is a sequence of three consecutive tiles in one suit, such as 3-4-5 of Dots.
• To satisfy Pure Double Chow, these two chows must have the exact same numbers in the same suit (for example, 3-4-5 of Bams + 3-4-5 of Bams).

Fan Value of Pure Double Chow

In Chinese Mahjong scoring, Pure Double Chow is a 1-fan pattern. If you have exactly one instance of it, you add +1 fan to your final score calculation. If you manage to include multiple pairs of identical chows, you might earn additional fans, depending on the rules for repeated patterns.

Strategies and Considerations of Pure Double Chow

• Look for Potential Duplicate Sequences. If you notice you have partial sequences (e.g., 2-3, 4-5) that could lead to the same chow, consider holding onto them. This pattern can be formed naturally if the tiles keep aligning.
• Balancing Speed vs. Score. A single fan boost can be helpful, but don’t rigidly force it if it slows your hand down significantly. Sometimes discarding extra tiles to pursue an identical sequence might hurt your tempo or other, higher-value patterns.
• Monitoring Discards. If an opponent discards many tiles relevant to a particular chow you need, forming two identical chows might become difficult or impossible. Stay flexible and consider switching plans if essential tiles are gone.
• Open vs. Concealed Hand. You can form identical chows in either melded (exposed) or concealed sets. However, remember that exposing melds informs other players about your suits and potential waits.
• Caution. Avoid overcommitting solely for +1 fan. If tiles aren’t coming your way, it might be more efficient to aim for a different pattern or simply secure a faster win. Be aware of rules around “double counting” patterns. Some events or clubs restrict how many times you can count the same pattern in one hand.