The starting player gets 15 tiles because they begin the hand by discarding first, which brings them back to 14.

Every other player holds 14 tiles and must draw before they can discard, but the appointed starter is dealt one extra so they can open play immediately. Their first move is simply to throw away a tile, giving the next player a choice to draw it or take from the pile. After that opening discard, everyone holds 14 and the normal draw-and-discard rhythm continues around the table.