Pure Shifted Pungs

What Is Pure Shifted Pungs

Pure Shifted Pungs is a rare but highly rewarding 24-fan hand in Chinese Mahjong. Achieving it requires forming three consecutive-rank pungs (e.g., 3, 4, 5) all within the same suit, plus one additional meld and a pair. The constraints of collecting three sets of three identical tiles in tight ranks put this pattern among the more challenging high-fan hands. However, if your opening draw aligns well—especially with pairs in close consecutive ranks—an aggressive push for “Pure Shifted Pungs” can reap substantial points and deliver a memorable victory.

The Tile Pattern of Pure Shifted Pungs

In Chinese Mahjong, Pure Shifted Pungs requires you to form three separate pungs (triplets) in one suit (Craks, Bams, or Dots), where each pung is exactly one rank higher than the previous one. This creates a “stepped” progression of ranks, but all within the same suit.

For example:

• Pung of 3 Bams (3 B, 3 B, 3 B)
• Pung of 4 Bams (4 B, 4 B, 4 B)
• Pung of 5 Bams (5 B, 5 B, 5 B)

Fan Value of Pure Shifted Pungs

Under Chinese Mahjong rules, Pure Shifted Pungs is awarded 24 fan. This high reward recognizes the difficulty of finding three consecutive-rank pungs all within the same suit—especially since you need to collect three identical tiles for each rank in a tight range (for example, 3, 4, 5 or 6, 7, 8).

Strategies and Considerations of Pure Shifted Pungs

Assess Your Opening Hand: If you notice multiple pairs or partial pungs in close consecutive ranks of a single suit—e.g., you already hold pairs of 3 B and 4 B—consider pursuing “Pure Shifted Pungs.”

Commit to One Suit: Since the stepping pungs must be in the same suit, aggressively discard tiles outside that suit to increase your draws in the targeted suit.

Calling Pungs: You can call “pung” on discards from any opponent to quickly secure the sets. However, each exposure reveals that you have a pung in a specific rank, helping opponents guess your plan.

Concealed Route: If you keep everything hidden, you might combine with additional bonuses for a fully concealed hand. But this can slow you down, as you cannot claim discards.

Tile Counting: Carefully observe if the necessary ranks are heavily discarded or melded. If a critical rank (e.g., 5 Bams) is nearly gone, it may be too risky to continue forcing the pattern.

Potential Combinations

• All Pungs: If your fourth meld is also a pung (and your pair is anything), you might add an “All Pungs” bonus. However, whether you can stack that with 24 fan depends on local rule interpretations—often, the higher-value pattern supersedes smaller ones.
• Seat Wind / Round Wind / Dragons: If your extra meld or pair is an honor tile pung, you can gain small additional fan.
• Concealed Hand: If you somehow remain fully concealed, you can earn extra fan from a self-drawn win. This is difficult but not impossible.