Upper Four

What Is Upper Four

Upper Four is a distinctive 12-fan hand in Chinese Mahjong. It requires all 14 tiles to be ranked 6 through 9 (no 1–5, no honors) while still forming four melds plus one pair. Though restrictive—permitting only the two upper chows (6–7–8 and 7–8–9) plus pungs/kongs in those ranks—it offers a substantial 12-fan reward once completed. Skilled players will assess early if the draw leans heavily toward high-suit tiles, aggressively discard lower ranks, and leverage the potentially powerful synergy with patterns like All Pungs or (Half) Flush. When it comes together, “Upper Four” can deliver a decisive and satisfying victory.

The Tile Pattern of Upper Four

Four Melds + One Pair

Although you are restricting yourself to tiles 6–9, the hand must still follow the standard 14-tile structure of four sets (melds) plus one pair. These sets can be:

• Chows (e.g., 6–7–8, 7–8–9)
• Pungs/Kongs (e.g., three or four of the same 6, 7, 8, or 9)

No other ranks or honor tiles can appear in your winning combination.

No Tiles from 1–5, No Honors

• Ranks 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in any suit
• Any Wind tile (East, South, West, North)
• Any Dragon tile (Red, Green, White)

If even a single tile falls outside 6–9, the pattern is invalid.

Fan Value of Upper Four

In Chinese Mahjong scoring, Upper Four is worth 12 fan. This high reward reflects the constraint of using only the highest ranks in the suits:

• Being forced to rely on 6, 7, 8, 9 means fewer combinations for easy chows like 1–2–3 or 4–5–6.
• You also lose the potential fan from using honor tiles.

Strategies and Considerations of Upper Four

Look at Your Opening Hand: If you are initially dealt many tiles ranked 6–9, consider committing to “Upper Four.”

Discard Lower Ranks Quickly: The moment you decide to pursue only 6–9, start discarding any 1–5 tiles (and any honors) to shape your hand efficiently.

Meld Choices: Chows in the Upper Range: The only possible chow sequences here are 6–7–8 or 7–8–9. Because these are your only chow options, you must decide if pungs (triplets) might be easier.

Single-Suit or Half-Flush: If most or all your 6–9 tiles are in one suit, you might combine “Upper Four” with Full Flush or Half Flush. These combinations can yield very high total fan.

Tile Shortages: If you notice many 6, 7, 8, or 9 tiles from a particular suit have been discarded or melded by others, you might run short of your key tiles. Adjust your plan accordingly.

Signaling: Discarding all 1–5 ranks can tip off observant opponents that you might be going for “Upper Four” or another high-rank pattern. They may try to hold back certain 6–9 tiles to block you.

High-Risk, High-Reward: Committing to “Upper Four” can be challenging if you do not draw enough 6–9 tiles. Yet its 12-fan payout can be game-winning.

No Honors Safety: By design, you avoid seat/round winds or dragons, so you will not inadvertently gain or lose small fan from them. Your focus remains on maximizing the big 12-fan reward.

Stay Flexible: If you find yourself picking up too many 5s (or lower), or if crucial 6–9 tiles seem scarce, consider switching to a different pattern (e.g., “All Pungs” with some lower ranks).