The Dot suit has nine tiles, numbered 1 to 9, with four copies of each. American and Hong Kong players call them Dots or Circles, and Riichi players call them pinzu. You read each tile by counting the circles. Most people learn this suit first, since the number is right there. Designs vary from set to set, and many are quite ornate, but the count stays the same.
- One Dot American: 1 Dot
Hong Kong: 1 Dot
Riichi: 1-pin - Two Dot American: 2 Dot
Hong Kong: 2 Dot
Riichi: 2-pin - Three Dot American: 3 Dot
Hong Kong: 3 Dot
Riichi: 3-pin - Four Dot American: 4 Dot
Hong Kong: 4 Dot
Riichi: 4-pin - Five Dot American: 5 Dot
Hong Kong: 5 Dot
Riichi: 5-pin - Six Dot American: 6 Dot
Hong Kong: 6 Dot
Riichi: 6-pin - Seven Dot American: 7 Dot
Hong Kong: 7 Dot
Riichi: 7-pin - Eight Dot American: 8 Dot
Hong Kong: 8 Dot
Riichi: 8-pin - Nine Dot American: 9 Dot
Hong Kong: 9 Dot
Riichi: 9-pin
How to read them
Count the circles. At a glance, the patterns become familiar: the Five has one in the middle, the Seven has three on top and four below, and the Eight has two neat columns.
How the suit works in each style
- American: Dots appear in hands on the card. Their matching dragon is Soap, the White Dragon.
- Hong Kong: Dots form chows and pungs.
- Riichi: Pinzu form runs and sets. Some sets make one Five red.
- Mahjong Solitaire: Each tile matches only an identical tile.