Pure Straight

What Is Pure Straight

Pure Straight is a potent 16-fan hand in Chinese Mahjong characterized by a 1-to-9 straight (three consecutive chows) in one suit. Completing the remaining meld and pair can be done in the same suit or elsewhere, but the core of the hand—the 1–9 run—drives its high scoring potential. A successful “Pure Straight” often hinges on early recognition, careful tile discarding, and mindful calling of chows to secure the necessary tiles. Opponents may attempt to block your key ranks once they suspect your aim, but if you manage to finalize that unbroken run of 1 through 9, you secure one of the more rewarding standard patterns in the game.

The Tile Pattern of Pure Straight

Three Consecutive Chows in One Suit

The defining feature of “Pure Straight” is having:

• Chow 1: 1–2–3 (e.g., 1 B, 2 B, 3 B)
• Chow 2: 4–5–6 (e.g., 4 B, 5 B, 6 B)
• Chow 3: 7–8–9 (e.g., 7 B, 8 B, 9 B)

all in the same suit (Bams, Craks, or Dots).

A standard Mahjong hand requires:

• Four sets: These can be chows, pungs, or kongs. Three of these sets will be the 1–2–3, 4–5–6, and 7–8–9 (the “Pure Straight”) in one suit.
• One additional meld: Could be another chow, a pung/kong, or even in a different suit/honors.
• One pair: Any valid pair (could be the same suit or a different suit, or even honors).

Fan Value of Pure Straight

Under Chinese Mahjong rules, Pure Straight is worth 16 fan—a substantial reward. A 16-fan hand often exceeds the minimum 8-fan needed to declare a legal win at many tables, making “Pure Straight” a highly sought-after pattern.

Strategies and Considerations of Pure Straight

Assess Your Starting Tiles: If you see a natural progression in one suit (e.g., partial sequences like 1–2, 4–5, 8–9) at the outset, consider building toward “Pure Straight.”

Discard Rival Suits: Once you commit, aggressively discard extraneous tiles (especially from other suits) to focus your draws and meld calls on the chosen suit.

Calling Chows: You can “chow” from the player on your left to speed up collecting the 1–9 run, but it reveals your suit focus.

Concealment Benefits: If you keep the straight concealed, you might also combine with other concealed-hand bonuses (though that can be tough if you rely on discards to form the 1–9 run quickly).

Signaling: Once opponents see two consecutive chows in the same suit, they may guess you are going for a “Pure Straight” or a “Full Flush” (if everything is in one suit). They might withhold critical tiles like a 3 or 7 in that suit.

Tile Counting: Monitor how many crucial tiles (particularly 1, 2, 3, … 9) in your chosen suit have been discarded. If too many are gone, you might need to pivot to another pattern.

High Payoff: Completing “Pure Straight” yields a hefty 16 fan, which can often decide the outcome of a match.

Tile Dependence: You need all three consecutive chows from 1–9 in one suit, so if key tiles are heavily discarded or melded by others, it may be best to switch to a simpler pattern.