# Kongs (Hong Kong mahjong, lesson 5)

Three ways to make a kong, the extra tile, and robbing a kong. Interactive version: https://learnmahjongquick.com/learn-hong-kong-mahjong/kongs

### 1. Exposed kong

You hold 3 matching tiles. Someone discards the 4th. Say "Kong" and take it.

- In your hand: 9 Crak, 9 Crak, 9 Crak
- Discarded (By any player): 9 Crak
- Exposed kong (Face up): 9 Crak, 9 Crak, 9 Crak, 9 Crak

### 2. Concealed kong

You draw all 4 yourself. On your turn, you can lay them down as a kong.

- Concealed kong (The 2 end tiles go face down): East, East, East, East

Note: It still counts as concealed, because you called no tiles for it.

### 3. Adding to a pung

You have an exposed pung. You get the 4th tile. On your turn, add it to make a kong.

- Exposed pung: 2 Bam, 2 Bam, 2 Bam
- You draw this: 2 Bam
- Kong: 2 Bam, 2 Bam, 2 Bam, 2 Bam

Note: Only a tile from your own hand can be added. You can't call a discard for it.

### 4. The extra tile

- A kong has 4 tiles, but it counts as one set.
- So after any kong, draw one extra tile from the back end of the wall.
- Then discard as usual.
- If that extra tile wins your hand, you get 1 more faan. Faan are scoring points. Lesson 7 covers them.

### 5. Robbing a kong

- When a player adds a tile to a pung, another player can take that tile, but only to win.
- This is called robbing the kong.
- The kong is not made. The robber wins the hand.
- Robbing a kong scores 1 faan.

### 6. Make the kong

You have an exposed pung of 2 Bams. You just drew another 2 Bam.

Try it: Pick 4 tiles that make the kong. Tiles to pick from: 2 Bam, 2 Bam, 3 Bam, 2 Dot, 2 Bam, 2 Crak, 2 Bam.

### 7. Quiz: Kongs

- Q: You hold these. Anyone discards a 9 Crak. Can you call it? [9 Crak, 9 Crak, 9 Crak] A: Yes. You can call a kong from any player.
- Q: You make a kong. What do you do next? A: Draw an extra tile
- Q: You drew all four yourself. What is this? [7 Dot, 7 Dot, 7 Dot, 7 Dot] A: Concealed kong
- Q: This pung is exposed. Someone discards a North. Can you add it? [North, North, North] A: No. You can add only a tile from your own hand, not a discard.
- Q: A player adds a 5 Dot to a pung. It's your winning tile. Can you take it? A: Yes. That's robbing a kong.
- Q: How many sets does a kong count as? A: 1

## What this lesson teaches

- Make a kong from a discard, from 4 tiles you drew, or by adding to a pung.
- After any kong, draw an extra tile from the back of the wall.
- Another player can rob a kong you add to, if the tile wins for them.