Step 1: First Roll (Locating the Wall)
East (the dealer) begins with two dice, rolls them, and sums the total. Starting with themselves as 1, East counts counter-clockwise around the table to select a player's wall:

Step 2: Second Roll (Determining the Break)
The player whose wall was selected in Step 1 takes the two dice and rolls them for a second time. This player adds the value of their new roll to East’s original roll to get a final combined sum.

Step 3: Breaking the Wall
The player whose wall is chosen looks at their own wall of 18 stacks. Counting from the right-hand corner toward the left, they count out a number of stacks equal to that combined sum and physically push the wall apart at that exact point to create the break.

Step 4: Tile Distribution
The stacks to the right of the break are left intact, while the stacks to the left of the break are the live tiles to be dealt. East takes the first two stacks (4 tiles) to the left of the break. Moving counter-clockwise around the table, South takes the next two stacks, then West, then North. This continues until every player has 12 tiles (three sets of 4).

Moving in the same order, each player takes one final tile to bring their hand to 13. Finally, East takes a 14th tile from the top of the next stack to begin the first turn of the game.

Step 5: The Dead Wall
The final 14 tiles at the very end of the wall (the far right side of the original break) are separated. These 7 stacks form the static dead wall, reserved only for replacement tiles when a player declares a Kong or draws a Flower/Animal.

Step 1: Single Roll (Locating and Breaking)
East (the dealer) takes two dice and rolls them a single time. The total sum of this single throw determines both which wall is picked and exactly where it breaks.

Step 2: Find the Wall
Starting with East as 1, count counter-clockwise around the table using the total sum to locate the target wall:

Step 3: Breaking the Wall
Go to the target wall identified in Step 2. Counting from the right-hand corner toward the left, count out a number of stacks equal to that exact same dice roll. The wall is physically parted immediately after that stack.

Step 4: Tile Distribution
Players draw from the stacks to the left of the break, moving in a clockwise direction around the square wall to deplete it. The players take their tiles in a counter-clockwise seating rotation. East takes 2 stacks (4 tiles), then South takes 2 stacks, followed by West and North. This continues until everyone has 12 tiles.

Each player then takes 1 final tile to make a 13-tile hand, and East draws a 14th tile to initiate the first turn.

Step 5: No Dead Wall
Unlike Chinese Classical, there is no set of 14 tiles locked away at the tail end. Tiles are drawn continuously from the live wall right down to the very last stack. If no one wins on that final tile, the hand is a draw.

Step 1: Uneven Wall Setup
Because 148 tiles cannot be divided equally into four uniform walls, the walls are built with intentionally different lengths:

• East and West: Build walls that are 19 stacks long (38 tiles each).
• South and North: Build walls that are 18 stacks long (36 tiles each).

Step 2: Dice Rolling Options
Depending on local preference or house rules, Singaporean mahjong permits two completely distinct methods of rolling to determine how the wall is opened:

• Method A (Three-Dice System): East rolls three dice a single time. The higher maximum sum (up to 18) allows a single roll to naturally reach across the longer 19-stack walls.
• Method B (Two-Dice Wrap System): East rolls two dice a single time. Because a maximum roll of 12 cannot physically reach the far left end of a 19-stack wall, a mandatory second roll by East is triggered if the initial roll targets East's wall.

Step 3: Find the Wall
Using the total sum of the dice rolled in Step 2, count counter-clockwise, beginning with East as 1, to locate the target wall.

Step 4: Breaking the Wall
Go to the target wall identified in Step 3. Counting from the right-hand corner toward the left, count out a number of stacks equal to that final dice sum. The wall is physically parted immediately to the left of that stack. Three dice extend the maximum count to 18, making nearly the entire length of any wall mathematically accessible on a single throw.

Step 5: Tile Distribution
Moving clockwise from the break, players take turns drawing tiles in a counter-clockwise seating rotation (East first). Players pull 2 stacks (4 tiles) at a time until everyone holds 12 tiles. East takes 2 final tiles (the 1st and 3rd top tiles of the next stacks) to start with 14, while South, West, and North take 1 tile each to complete their 13-tile starting hands.

Step 6: The Back Tail (Replacement Draws)
Whenever a player draws a Flower, Animal, or Fly tile during the game, they must immediately reveal it and draw a replacement tile. In Singaporean rules, these replacements are strictly drawn from the very end of the wall (the tail end to the right of the original break point), working backward counter-clockwise.

Step 1: Uniform Setup
MCR uses the international standard 144-tile deck (136 suit/honor tiles + 8 Flower/Season tiles). Because 144 divides perfectly into four equal sides, all four players build identical walls exactly 18 stacks long (36 tiles per player).

Step 2: Dice Roll
To keep tournament play fast, standardized, and precise, MCR skips the old-style two-step double roll. East takes exactly two dice and rolls them a single time. This single throw provides a single sum that serves as the precise coordinate for both selecting the wall and finding the cut point.

Step 3: Find the Wall
Using the total sum of the two dice (ranging from 2 to 12), count counter-clockwise around the table, beginning with East as 1, to locate the target wall:

Step 4: Breaking the Wall
Go directly to the target wall identified in Step 3. Counting from the right-hand corner toward the left, count out a number of stacks equal to the exact sum of the dice roll. The wall is physically parted immediately to the left of that stack.

Step 5: Tile Distribution
Moving clockwise from the break point, players draw tiles in a counter-clockwise seating rotation (East first). Players pull 2 stacks (4 tiles) at a time on their turn until everyone holds exactly 12 tiles. Moving in the same player order, each player takes 1 single tile from the wall to bring their hand to 13. Finally, East draws a 14th tile from the top of the next available stack to begin the first turn of the game.

Step 6: No Dead Wall (100% Live Tiles)
Mechanically, MCR does not cordon off a static 14-tile dead wall. Every single tile in the square is playable. If a player declares a Kong or draws a Flower tile, they simply take their replacement tile from the very next available tile in the normal, clockwise line of play. If the wall is depleted down to the last tile without a winning declaration, the hand is a draw.

Step 1: Uniform Shorter Setup
Zung Jung emphasizes mathematical skill and clean, structural patterns by completely eliminating all 8 Flower and Season tiles, operating purely with the core 136-tile deck. Because 136 divides perfectly by four, all four players build identical, shorter walls exactly 17 stacks long (34 tiles per player).

Step 2: Dice Roll
Zung Jung utilizes a streamlined, fast-paced approach to initialization, completely discarding the traditional two-step double roll. East takes exactly two dice and rolls them a single time to find both the wall and the break point simultaneously.

Step 3: Find the Wall
Using the total sum of the two dice (ranging from 2 to 12), count counter-clockwise around the table, beginning with East as 1, to locate the target wall:

Step 4: Breaking the Wall
Go directly to the target wall identified in Step 3. Counting from the right-hand corner toward the left, count out a number of stacks equal to the exact sum of the dice roll. The wall is physically parted immediately to the left of that stack.

Step 5: Tile Distribution
Moving clockwise from the break point, players draw tiles in a counter-clockwise seating rotation (East first). Players take 2 stacks (4 tiles) at a time until everyone holds exactly 12 tiles. Moving in the same player order, each player takes 1 single tile from the wall to bring their hand to 13. Finally, East draws a 14th tile from the top of the next available stack to begin the first turn of the game.

Step 6: No Dead Wall (100% Live Tiles)
Because there are no Flowers or Seasons to substitute, the flow of the wall is perfectly linear. Zung Jung does not cordon off a dead wall. Tiles are drawn continuously from left to right until the wall is completely exhausted. If the last tile is drawn and discarded without a winning declaration, the hand is a draw.