Editing Scoring in Mahjong (section)

=== Chinese Classical scoring ===

Scoring in the Chinese Classical system,<ref>Millington, A.D., ''Complete Book of Mah Jong''.  Weidenfeld & Nicolson: 1993. {{ISBN|0-297-81340-4}}.</ref> from which the Babcock system is derived, proceeds as follows.  When one player has won the hand by obtaining mahjong
* each player adds up basic points for their hand based on possession of certain melds, pairs and bonus tiles
* winner adds additional basic points for obtaining mahjong, and possibly for completing their hand in various special ways (for example, getting their last tile from the wall)
* each player doubles their basic points one or more times based on possession of certain rarer melds or combinations of melds (for example a set of the prevailing wind tiles)
* winner doubles their basic points one or more times based on their hand forming certain rarer patterns (for example, composed entirely of honour tiles) or being completed in a special way (for example, robbing an exposed kong)

The winner collects their total points from each of the three losers.  The losers pay each other the difference in their points.  East pays or receives double amounts in their transactions.

Various "Special Limit" hands exist which, if obtained (which is unlikely), give the holder the maximum permitted amount (the limit) of points for their hand.