Robbing The Kong

What Is Robbing a Kong

Robbing a Kong is an exciting, momentum-shifting 8-fan bonus in Chinese Mahjong. It happens when you are waiting on the exact tile that an opponent attempts to use in upgrading their exposed Pung to a Kong. The stolen tile completes your hand, and you gain a valuable 8-fan windfall. While you cannot fully plan around “Robbing a Kong” from the outset—due to its reliance on an opponent’s actions—staying attentive to exposed melds and counting remaining tiles can help you seize the opportunity. When it works in your favor, it’s both a strategic triumph and a significant boost to your final score.

The Tile Pattern of Robbing a Kong

The Specific Condition

• Another player shows a Pung on the table (face-up).
• They acquire (through draw or from another player’s discard) the fourth matching tile for that Pung and attempt to add it, turning the Pung into a Kong.
• In that moment, you can call “Hu” (win) if that tile is exactly what you need to complete your 14-tile hand.

Fan Value of Robbing a Kong

Under Chinese Mahjong scoring, Robbing a Kong is awarded 8 fan. You can combine this bonus with other scoring patterns (e.g., All Pungs, Mixed One Suit, etc.) if your hand meets those criteria.

Strategies and Considerations of Robbing a Kong

Opponent’s Melds: Watch carefully when an opponent has exposed a Pung. If you’re one tile away from winning and you know the tile you need is that “fourth copy,” you may have a chance to “rob the Kong.”

Rare Opportunity: Robbing a Kong depends on your opponent having the precise tile you need and upgrading a Pung at the right time. You typically cannot plan your entire hand around it, but you can remain alert for the chance.

Offensive Timing: If you suspect the player with the Pung might soon pick up or draw the fourth tile, prepare to declare your win. You must be in a ready state (waiting for that tile) before the upgrade is announced.

Defensive Play by Opponents: The player holding a Pung might hesitate to upgrade to a Kong if they suspect someone is waiting on that tile. They might also track discards to guess if “robbing the Kong” is likely.

Fan Stacking: If your hand is also “All Pungs” or “Full Flush,” for instance, you still get those fan points plus the 8 fan from Robbing a Kong. This can turn a potential mid-range hand into a very high scorer.

Minimum Points: Even if your hand had few or no other scoring patterns, the 8 fan from Robbing a Kong automatically qualifies you to win (assuming an 8-fan minimum table).

Keep Counting Tiles: Know how many copies of each tile remain. If an opponent has shown a Pung of 7 Bamboos, for example, you can guess whether the fourth 7 Bamboo is still out.

Maintain winning tile: Ensure you are in a ready position. You cannot call “Robbing a Kong” if you are not already waiting for that tile to complete your hand.

Opponent’s Hesitation: Skilled players might avoid upgrading a Pung to a Kong if it’s risky, especially near the end of the game. Sometimes they prefer to keep it as a Pung to prevent a potential robbery.