Last Tile Draw

What Is Last Tile Draw

Last Tile Draw is an 8-fan scoring pattern in Chinese Mahjong. It occurs when a player wins by self-drawing the very last tile from the wall during the final draw of the game. This dramatic move symbolizes "fishing the moon from the bottom of the sea," reflecting its rarity and strategic significance.

The Tile Pattern of Last Tile Draw

To achieve this pattern, the following conditions must be met:

• Last Tile in the Wall: The game must reach the point where only one tile remains in the live wall (excluding dead wall tiles used for flowers/kong).
• Self-Draw Win: The player must draw this final tile and use it to complete a legal winning hand.
• No Prior Win: No player has declared a win earlier in the round.

Fan Value of Last Tile Draw

Under Chinese Mahjong scoring, Under the River yields 8 fan. This is a substantial bonus, especially since you can often combine it with additional fan from other patterns in your hand (e.g., All Pungs, Mixed One Suit, Fully Concealed, etc.), as long as those conditions are also fulfilled.

Strategies and Considerations of Last Tile Draw

Track the Wall: Skilled players count remaining tiles to predict when the game might enter the "Under the River" phase (usually when ~14 tiles remain).

Delay or Speed Up: Adjust your playstyle:

• Defensive Approach: Slow down discards to avoid triggering opponents’ wins.
• Offensive Approach: Force opponents into a "tile shortage" by rapidly depleting the wall.

Flexible Waiting: Maintain a multi-sided wait (e.g., 3-4-5 waiting for 2 or 6) to maximize chances of using the last tile.

Avoid Dependency on Flowers/Kongs: Since flowers/kan tiles reduce the live wall, prioritize non-kan hands in late-game stages.

Sacrifice Small Wins: If your hand has low fan potential, consider ignoring early win opportunities to chase the 8-fan "Under the River" bonus.

Bluffing: Discard safe tiles to mislead opponents into thinking you’re not close to winning.

Pressure Opponents: Aggressive discards in the late game may force opponents to panic and discard useful tiles.

Observe Reactions: Watch for opponents’ hesitation when the wall nears depletion—it may indicate they’re also aiming for "Under the River."