What is a Kong in Mahjong?

A Kong is a group of four identical tiles. For example, four 3 Dots or four South Winds. Kongs can include Jokers in American Mahjong and are more valuable than Pungs in many hands.

A Kong is a tile group of four identical tiles, one step above a Pung. You form a Kong in three ways: by drawing all four natural copies yourself (concealed Kong), by calling an opponent's discard when you already hold three matching tiles (exposed Kong), or by adding a fourth natural tile to an existing exposed Pung (extended Kong). In American Mahjong, Jokers can substitute for natural tiles in a Kong, so combinations like three naturals plus one Joker are valid. Kongs show up in many NMJL hands and pull their weight: four tiles, one tile type to track.