Master Japanese Riichi Mahjong: The Complete Rules Guide for Competitive Play

Learn the fast-paced, strategically intense world of Japanese riichi mahjong—from basic mechanics and yaku to the riichi declaration that defines this thrilling variant

If you’ve ever watched a Japanese mahjong anime, walked past a jansou (mahjong parlor) in Tokyo, or seen competitive mahjong tournaments online, you were witnessing Japanese riichi mahjong—arguably the most strategically complex and psychologically intense variant of the game.

With its lightning-fast pace, intricate yaku system, defensive tile reading, and the dramatic riichi declaration that gives the style its name, Japanese riichi mahjong has captivated competitive players worldwide. It’s the variant that transformed mahjong from a social pastime into a legitimate mind sport.

But riichi mahjong has a reputation for complexity. The scoring system seems impenetrable. The yaku list is lengthy. The rules around furiten and defense feel Byzantine to newcomers.

Here’s the truth: riichi mahjong IS more complex than American or casual Chinese variants. But it’s also learnable, deeply rewarding, and surprisingly accessible once you understand its core concepts.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to play Japanese riichi mahjong—from basic setup and turn structure to yaku you must know, the riichi declaration mechanics, scoring fundamentals, and the defensive strategy that separates beginners from skilled players.

Ready to enter the world of competitive mahjong? Let’s begin.

What Is Japanese Riichi Mahjong?

Japanese riichi mahjong (often called “riichi mahjong” or simply “riichi”) is a standardized variant that emerged in Japan during the early 20th century and became the dominant Japanese style by the 1960s. Unlike regional Chinese variants with house rules, riichi mahjong follows strict, unified rules codified by organizations like the Japan Mahjong League.

The defining features of Japanese riichi mahjong

Japanese riichi mahjong distinguishes itself through several unique elements:

• The riichi declaration: A bet that locks your hand but increases value and unlocks special bonuses
• Yaku requirements: You cannot win without at least one valid yaku (scoring pattern)
• Dora system: Bonus tiles that dramatically increase hand value but don’t count as yaku
• Defensive play emphasis: Reading discards and folding to dangerous hands is fundamental strategy
• Standardized scoring: The han/fu system provides consistent point calculations across all play
• No jokers or wild tiles: Every tile matters; no substitutions allowed
• Furiten rule: Complex restrictions on what tiles you can win with based on your discards

Think of riichi mahjong as mahjong’s competitive athlete—lean, precise, unforgiving, and thrilling when mastered.

A brief history

Mahjong arrived in Japan from China in the early 1900s. Throughout the 20th century, Japanese players refined and standardized the rules, eliminating regional variations and adding unique elements like the riichi declaration and dora system.

The Japan Professional Mahjong League (established 1981) and other professional organizations formalized competitive riichi mahjong, creating the ruleset used in tournaments, parlors, and online platforms today.

Riichi mahjong exploded in global popularity through:

• Digital platforms: Tenhou, Mahjong Soul, and other online clients brought riichi to international audiences
• Manga and anime: Series like “Akagi,” “Saki,” and “The Legend of Koizumi” dramatized competitive play
• International tournaments: The World Riichi Championship and similar events established competitive scenes worldwide

Today, riichi mahjong is the most internationally played competitive variant, with thriving communities across Asia, Europe, and North America.

Who plays riichi mahjong today?

Riichi mahjong attracts players seeking:

• Competitive challenge: Tournament players and serious strategists
• Online play: Digital platforms make riichi the most accessible variant globally
• Strategic depth: Players who enjoy tile efficiency, probability calculation, and reading opponents
• Community: Active international communities with forums, Discord servers, and local clubs
• Anime culture: Fans discovering mahjong through Japanese media

Unlike American mahjong’s social club atmosphere, riichi culture often emphasizes focused concentration, strategic discussion, and competitive improvement.

From Game Nights to Global Championships: Mahjong Festivals Today

Setting Up a Japanese Riichi Mahjong Game

Japanese riichi mahjong uses a streamlined tile set and follows precise setup procedures. Understanding proper setup ensures smooth gameplay.

What you need to play

The tiles: A riichi mahjong set contains 136 tiles:

• 36 Bamboo tiles (four each of 1-9)
• 36 Character tiles (four each of 1-9)
• 36 Dot tiles (four each of 1-9)
• 16 Wind tiles (four each: East, South, West, North)
• 12 Dragon tiles (four each: White, Green, Red)

Note what’s missing: No jokers, no flower tiles. Riichi uses the purest tile set.

Additional equipment

• Point sticks: Used for score tracking (10,000, 5,000, 1,000, and 100-point sticks)
• Riichi sticks: Special 1,000-point sticks placed when declaring riichi
• Dice: Two dice for determining wall break
• Optional: Scoring calculator or reference chart

Many riichi sets include aka-dora (red fives)—one red 5 in each suit that acts as an automatic dora. This is optional but common in casual play.

The deal and initial setup

1. Building the walls: Each player builds a wall 17 tiles long and two tiles high (34 tiles per player). Walls are pushed together, forming a square.
2. Determining dealer (East): Players draw winds randomly or roll dice. The highest roll becomes East. Positions proceed counter-clockwise (East, South, West, North).
3. Breaking the wall: East rolls both dice. The total determines where to break the wall (counting counter-clockwise from the East wall, then counting that many tiles from the right end).
4. Dealing tiles: Starting from the break, each player draws tiles in groups of four, rotating counter-clockwise, until everyone has 12 tiles. Then each player draws one more tile (13 total). East draws one additional tile (14 to start).
5. Revealing dora indicator: Flip one tile from the dead wall (the last 14 tiles of the wall, separated and not drawn during normal play). This tile indicates which tile is dora.

Understanding positions and their significance

Unlike American mahjong, where positions are largely procedural, riichi positions carry strategic weight:

• East (dealer): Pays and receives 1.5x points, retains dealership if winning or maintaining tenpai (ready hand), acts first
• South, West, North (non-dealers): Standard point payments

The dealer advantage is significant—experienced players adjust their strategy when East versus non-East.

Understanding Yaku: The Heart of Riichi Mahjong

Here’s the fundamental truth about riichi mahjong: you cannot win without at least one yaku. Even if you have a complete hand of four sets and a pair, if it contains no valid yaku pattern, you cannot declare a win.

This yaku requirement is what makes riichi strategically rich and distinguishes it from simpler variants.

What are yaku?

Yaku are specific patterns or conditions that give your hand value. Think of them as “scoring qualifications”—you must meet at least one to win.

Each yaku has a han value (typically 1-6 han, though some are worth 13+ han). Your total han determines your hand’s base score.

Essential beginner yaku (must-know patterns)

Riichi (1 han)

• Declare riichi when tenpai (one tile away from winning) with a concealed hand
• Pay 1,000 points to the pot, place a riichi stick sideways
• Your hand is locked—you cannot change tiles or abandon
• Most common yaku in riichi mahjong

Tanyao / All Simples (1 han)

• Hand contains only 2-8 tiles (no 1s, 9s, or honor tiles)
• Can be open or closed, depending on the rule set
• Easy to build, very common

Yakuhai / Value Tiles (1 han each)

• A pung (three of a kind) of dragons, seat wind, or round wind
• Can be open or closed
• Stackable—multiple yakuhai pungs add han
• Example: Three green dragons = 1 han

Pinfu / All Sequences (1 han)

• Four sequences (chii) and one pair
• Must be closed (no called tiles)
• Waiting pattern must be a two-sided wait
• Common and valuable

Iipeikou / Pure Double Sequence (1 han)

• Two identical sequences in the same suit
• Must be closed
• Example: 234 and 234 of bamboo

Honitsu / Half Flush (3 han closed, 2 han open)

• Tiles from one suit plus honor tiles
• Moderately difficult but high-scoring

Chinitsu / Full Flush (6 han closed, 5 han open)

• All tiles from a single suit (no honors)
• Difficult to achieve but extremely valuable

Intermediate yaku to know

Chanta / Outside Hand (2 han closed, 1 han open)

• Every set and pair contains at least one terminal (1/9) or honor tile
• Terminals and honors appear in every group

Toitoi / All Pungs (2 han)

• Four pungs and a pair (no sequences)
• Can be open or closed

San Ankou / Three Concealed Pungs (2 han)

• Three pungs that were not called by other players
• Common secondary yaku

Chiitoitsu / Seven Pairs (2 han)

• Seven different pairs (special hand structure)
• Always closed, always 25 fu
• Cannot combine with most other yaku

Special situation yaku

Ippatsu (1 han)

• Win within one turn cycle after declaring riichi
• Before anyone calls a tile
• Bonus yaku that appears with riichi

Haitei / Houtei (1 han)

• Win on the very last tile drawn from the wall (haitei) or discarded (houtei)
• Timing-based bonus

Rinshan Kaihou (1 han)

• Win on the replacement tile drawn after making a kan (four of a kind)
• Rare but exciting

Chankan (1 han)

• Win by robbing someone’s added kan (when they add a fourth tile to an exposed pung)
• Very rare

Yakuman: The ultimate hands

Yakuman are special hands worth maximum points (usually 32,000 for non-dealer, 48,000 for dealer):

• Kokushi Musou / Thirteen Orphans: One each of all terminals and honors plus a pair
• Suuankou / Four Concealed Pungs: Four concealed pungs (incredibly rare)
• Daisangen / Big Three Dragons: Pungs of all three dragons
• Shousuushii / Little Four Winds: Pungs of three winds and a pair of the fourth
• Tsuuiisou / All Honors: Hand entirely of wind and dragon tiles

Yakuman are exceedingly rare—many players go years without achieving one.

The Riichi Declaration: Risk, Reward, and Commitment

The riichi declaration is Japanese mahjong’s signature mechanic—a high-stakes bet that defines the variant’s strategic character.

What is riichi?

Riichi is both a game mechanic and a yaku. When you’re tenpai (one tile from winning) with a concealed hand, you can declare riichi by:

1. Announcing “riichi” clearly
2. Placing a 1,000-point stick horizontally in front of your discards
3. Discarding a tile sideways to mark the declaration
4. Playing with your hand locked for the rest of the round

When you can (and cannot) declare riichi

You CAN declare riichi when

• Your hand is completely concealed (no called tiles)
• You’re tenpai (one tile from winning)
• At least four tiles remain on the wall
• You have at least 1,000 points to pay the riichi bet

You CANNOT declare riichi when

• Your hand contains called tiles (exposed sets)
• You’re not tenpai
• Fewer than four tiles remain on the wall
• You don’t have 1,000 points

What riichi gives you

Immediate benefits

• +1 han: Riichi itself is worth 1 han, increasing your hand value
• Ippatsu opportunity: If you win within one turn cycle (before anyone calls a tile), you gain ippatsu (+1 han)
• Intimidation factor: Opponents often play defensively against riichi declarations

If you win

• Ura-dora: You flip additional dora indicators equal to the number of regular dora, potentially adding massive han
• Riichi bet collection: You collect your 1,000-point stick back plus any riichi sticks from previous rounds

If you don’t win

• Lost riichi bet: Your 1,000 points stay on the table for the next winner
• Potential point loss: If someone else wins, you pay them normally

The strategic decision: To riichi or not to riichi?

Riichi is NOT automatic—it’s a calculated risk:

When to riichi

• Your hand is cheap (1-2 han without riichi)—you need the extra han
• You have a strong wait (multiple tile types, good ukeire)
• Early in the round, when tiles are fresh
• You’re ahead in points and can afford the risk
• Your tenpai is well-hidden

When to consider dama (silent tenpai)

• Your hand is already expensive (3+ han)
• You have a weak wait (single tile type)
• Late in the roun,d with dangerous discards visible
• You’re behind and desperate to win anything
• Multiple opponents might be tenpai

The riichi decision is where psychology meets mathematics—every declaration is a statement of confidence and calculated risk.

Riichi penalties and furiten

Once you declare riichi, you’re locked in:

• You CANNOT change your wait
• You MUST discard whatever you draw (unless it completes your hand)
• If you discard a tile that could complete your hand, you enter furiten and cannot win by ron (claiming someone else’s discard) for the rest of the hand

Note on furiten: This is riichi mahjong’s most complex rule, governing when you can and cannot win. Full furiten mechanics (temporary furiten, permanent furiten, discard furiten) are beyond this introductory guide’s scope. For detailed furiten explanations, consult resources like Riichi Mahjong Wiki (arcturus.su/wiki) or Barticle’s Riichi Mahjong guide. Understanding furiten deeply is essential for advanced play, but can be learned gradually.

The Dora System: Bonus Tiles That Boost Value

Dora is one of riichi mahjong’s most exciting and misunderstood elements. They dramatically increase hand value but come with a critical caveat.

What is dora?

Dora are bonus tiles that add 1 han each to your winning hand. Crucially: dora is NOT a yaku. You still need at least one actual yaku to win—dora only increases the value of an already-valid hand.

At the start of each hand, one tile is flipped from the dead wall as the dora indicator. The next tile in sequence is dora.

How dora indicators work

The indicator shows which tile is dora using this sequence:

For numbered tiles (1-9)

• Indicator 1 → dora is 2
• Indicator 2 → dora is 3
• Indicator 8 → dora is 9
• Indicator 9 → dora wraps to 1

For wind tiles: East → South → West → North → East (circular)

For dragons: White → Green → Red → White (circular)

Example: If the dora indicator is 5 of bamboo, then 6 of bamboo is dora. Each 6 of bamboo in your hand adds 1 han.

Types of dora

Omote-dora (regular dora)

• The dora indicator visible from the start
• Everyone can see it and plan accordingly

Ura-dora (reverse dora)

• Only available if you win with riichi
• Hidden beneath the regular dora indicator
• Flipped when you win
• Each ura-dora works like regular dora (adds 1 han)
• Creates dramatic “score explosion” moments

Aka-dora (red fives)

• Optional rule where one 5 in each suit is red
• Red fives are automatically dora (worth 1 han each)
• Visible in your hand, making them strategic considerations

Kan-dora (quad dora)

• When someone declares kan (four of a kind), an additional dora indicator is revealed
• Increases dora possibilities mid-hand

Strategic considerations with dora

Dora awareness

• Track how many dora are visible (in discards, exposed tiles, your hand)
• Remaining dora tiles become more dangerous/valuable

Dangerous dora

• Tiles near dora (suji) are statistically more likely to be in opponents’ hands
• Discarding dora tiles themselves is extremely dangerous

Dora concentration

• Hands with multiple dora become extremely valuable
• But remember: dora alone cannot win—you still need yaku

Ura-dora gambles

• Ura-dora can turn a modest hand into a massive payment
• Riichi becomes more tempting when you have dora already

Advanced Mahjong Tactics: Elevate Your Game Through Strategic Mastery and Warfare

How to Play: Basic Game Flow and Turn Structure

With setup complete and yaku understood, let’s walk through actual gameplay turn-by-turn.

Turn structure

On your turn, you must:

1. Draw: Take one tile from the wall
2. Decision: Decide whether to keep it or discard it
3. Optional calls: Declare kan, riichi, or tsumo (self-draw win) if applicable
4. Discard: Place one tile face-up in your discard row
5. Announcement: Clearly state which tile you’re discarding

Play proceeds counter-clockwise: East → South → West → North → East…

Calling tiles: Chi, pon, and kan

Unlike American mahjong’s liberal calling, riichi mahjong restricts calls:

Chi (sequence call)

• Call ONLY from the player immediately to your left
• Complete a sequence (e.g., call 5 to complete 456)
• Expose the sequence face-up
• Opens your hand (cannot riichi, reduces some yaku han values)

Pon (pung call)

• Call from ANY player
• Complete a set of three identical tiles
• Expose the set face-up
• Takes priority over chi

Kan (quad call)

• Declare four of the same tile
• Can be closed (all four self-drawn) or open (calling someone’s discard)
• Draw a replacement tile from the dead wall
• Reveals an additional dora indicator
• Risky, but can increase hand value

Call priority: Kan > Pon > Chi > Ron (winning call)

Calling tiles opens your hand, preventing riichi and reducing several yaku values. The decision to call versus stay closed isa constant strategic tension.

Winning: Ron vs. tsumo

Ron (winning on discard)

• Someone discards your winning tile
• Call “ron!” immediately
• That player alone pays your entire hand value
• Cannot ron if you’re in furiten

Tsumo (self-draw win)

• You draw your winning tile from the wall
• Call “tsumo!”
• All three opponents split payment (dealer pays more)
• Can tsumo even if in furiten

Tsumo adds 2 fu to your hand value and is often strategically safer than relying on ron.

When the hand ends

A hand ends when:

1. Someone wins (ron or tsumo)
2. Wall exhausts (ryuukyoku / draw): Players in tenpai split points from players not tenpai
3. Multiple ron calls (triple/quadruple ron): Varies by ruleset, often redeals

If the dealer wins or stays tenpai during a draw, the dealer continues. Otherwise, the dealership rotates.

Japanese Riichi Scoring: Understanding Han and Fu

Riichi mahjong scoring has a reputation for complexity. The truth? The system is logical once you understand its two components: han and fu.

The two-part scoring system

Your hand’s point value depends on:

1. Han: Your hand’s “rank” based on yaku and dora (1-13+ han)
2. Fu: Your hand’s “minipoints” based on composition details (20-110 fu, typically 25-40)

These combine on a scoring table to determine final points. Don’t worry—you don’t need to memorize the table. Digital platforms calculate automatically, and physical play uses reference charts.

Understanding han

Han accumulates from:

• Yaku: Each yaku contributes its han value (1-6+ han)
• Dora: Each dora adds 1 han
• Multiple yaku: Stack additively

Examples:

• Riichi (1) + Tanyao (1) + 2 dora = 4 han
• Pinfu (1) + Riichi (1) + Ippatsu (1) + Tsumo (1) + Ura-dora (3) = 7 han

Han thresholds

• 1-2 han: Cheap hands
• 3-4 han: Medium hands (mangan when fu is high enough)
• 5 han: Mangan (guaranteed minimum value)
• 6-7 han: Haneman
• 8-10 han: Baiman
• 11-12 han: Sanbaiman
• 13+ han: Yakuman

Once you reach 5+ han, fu becomes largely irrelevant—you’ve hit limit hands with fixed values.

Understanding fu

Fu measures your hand’s complexity through small details:

Base fu

• Every hand starts at 20 fu
• Winning adds 10 fu (30 total)
• Closed ron adds another 10 fu (40 total)
• Tsumo typically results in 30 fu
• Fu rounds up to the nearest 10

Additional fu from

• Closed pung: 4 fu (terminals/honors), 2 fu (simples)
• Open pung: 2 fu (terminals/honors), 1 fu (simples)
• Closed kan: 16 fu (terminals/honors), 8 fu (simples)
• Open kan: 8 fu (terminals/honors), 4 fu (simples)
• Pair composition: 2 fu for dragon, seat wind, or round wind pairs
• Wait type: 2 fu for certain difficult waits (edge, closed, pair)

Special cases

• Pinfu + tsumo: Always 20 fu (no rounding)
• Chiitoitsu (seven pairs): Always 25 fu
• Open tanyao or yakuhai: Minimum 30 fu

Practical scoring approach for beginners

Don’t try to calculate exactly at first. Instead, develop intuition:

Cheap hands (1-3 han, ~30-40 fu)

• Non-dealer ron: 1,000-3,900 points
• Non-dealer tsumo: 300-1,000 from non-dealers, 500-2,000 from dealer

Medium hands (4-5 han)

• Mangan: 8,000 (non-dealer ron), 12,000 (dealer ron)

Expensive hands (6+ han)

• Haneman: 12,000 (non-dealer), 18,000 (dealer)
• Baiman: 16,000 (non-dealer), 24,000 (dealer)

Yakuman

• 32,000 (non-dealer), 48,000 (dealer)

Use scoring calculators or reference charts during learning. Understanding comes with exposure, not memorization.

Defensive Play: Reading Danger and Folding

Here’s what separates riichi mahjong from other variants: defense is as important as offense. Skilled players win by avoiding paying others as much as by winning themselves.

Why defense matters in riichi

Riichi’s point structure punishes careless dealing:

• A single mangan deal-in (8,000 points) requires winning two cheap hands to recover
• Expensive hands can swing matches dramatically
• Unlike American mahjong’s fixed payments, riichi payments scale exponentially

The philosophy: It’s better to fold safely than to deal into an expensive hand while chasing your own cheap win.

Reading dangerous situations

Riichi declarations

• Immediate danger signal—opponent is tenpai
• Note their riichi discard tile and timing
• All tiles become riskier, especially tiles similar to their discard

Early discards

• Tiles discarded in the first 1-2 turns are relatively safe
• Opponents haven’t committed to a strategy yet

Suji (interval tiles)

• Based on which tiles are safe relative to discards
• If someone discarded 4, then 1 and 7 of that suit become safer (they can’t have 23 or 56 waits)
• Intermediate concept requiring deeper study

Kabe (tile walls)

• When all four of one tile are visible (discarded, exposed, in your hand), related waits become impossible
• Example: If all four 5s of bamboo are visible, 34 and 67 waits in bamboo are impossible

Betaori: Folding safely

When danger is great (riichi declared, expensive hands probable), betaori means abandoning your hand to play defensively:

Safe tile priority

1. Genbutsu (definitely safe): Tiles the riichi player has already discarded
2. Suji tiles: Statistically safer based on discard analysis
3. Guest winds: Wind tiles that aren’t round wind or anyone’s seat wind
4. Early discards: Tiles discarded before turn 6-7
5. Honor tiles: Generally safer than numbered tiles late in hands

When to fold

• You have a cheap hand (1-2 han) versus a likely expensive opponent
• Multiple players appear tenpai
• You’re far ahead in points (preserve lead)
• Late in the game, with devastating consequences

Balancing offense and defense

Pure defense loses games—you must balance:

Push when

• Your hand is expensive (4+ han)
• You’re far behind and need big wins
• It’s early in the round (safer tiles available)
• You have good waits (high-probability tiles)

Fold when

• Your hand is cheap (1-2 han)
• Multiple riichi declarations present
• You’re ahead and protecting the lead
• Late in the round with dangerous discards

This push-fold dynamic creates riichi’s psychological tension. Reading opponents and making correct decisions under pressure defines mastery.

Key Differences: Japanese Riichi vs. Chinese vs. American Mahjong

Understanding how riichi mahjong differs from other variants helps clarify its unique strategic character.

Direct comparison table

Feature	Japanese Riichi	Chinese Mahjong	American Mahjong
Tile count	136 tiles	144 tiles	152 tiles (8 jokers)
Jokers/wild tiles	None	None	8 jokers
Winning requirements	At least 1 yaku required	Flexible patterns	Must match card hand
Yaku system	30+ specific patterns	Variable by region	Fixed card patterns
Riichi declaration	Central mechanic	Not present	Not present
Dora system	Yes, multi-layered	Not standard	None
Calling restrictions	Chi only from left, limited calls	Regional variations	Call from anyone
Defensive play	Fundamental strategy	Varies by region	Less emphasized
Scoring complexity	Han/fu system (complex)	Variable, often complex	Fixed point values (simple)
Game pace	Fast, intense	Moderate	Social, conversational
Concealment emphasis	Very high (riichi requirement)	Bonus points	Optional for most hands
Furiten rule	Strict and complex	Not present	Not present
Strategic focus	Tile efficiency, defense, probability	Flexibility, pattern building	Card reading, social play
Learning curve	Steep	Moderate to steep	Moderate
Competitive scene	Highly developed	Regional	Limited

Philosophical differences

Japanese riichi is about calculated risk and perfect information warfare. Every discard reveals information. Defense prevents losses as much as offense gains wins. It’s mahjong as a competitive mental sport—chess with tiles.

Chinese mahjong emphasizes flexibility and adaptation. Build whatever makes sense. It’s mahjong as improvisation with regional flavor.

American mahjong focuses on social connection and puzzle-solving. The card provides structure; the Charleston adds trading. It’s mahjong as community bonding.

When riichi mahjong shines

Japanese riichi is ideal if you:

• Seek deep strategic complexity and competitive challenge
• Enjoy probability calculation and tile efficiency
• Want standardized rules across all play
• Prefer fast-paced, focused gameplay
• Are drawn to the psychological elements of hidden information
• Want to play online with international communities
• Enjoy games where mastery is clearly measurable

Which Mahjong Style Should You Learn First? Regional Variants Compared

Getting Started: Your First Riichi Mahjong Games

Riichi mahjong is complex, but don’t let that intimidate you. Here’s how to begin without drowning in information.

Before your first game

Learn the absolute essentials

1. Basic hand structure (4 sets + 1 pair)
2. The 5-7 most common yaku (riichi, tanyao, yakuhai, pinfu)
3. How to declare riichi
4. What dora is (without overthinking it)
5. Turn structure (draw, discard, repeat)

Don’t worry initially about

• Complex yaku combinations
• Exact fu calculations
• Advanced defensive techniques
• Furiten details
• Ura-dora calculations

You’ll learn these through play. Start simple.

Choose your learning platform

Digital platforms (recommended for beginners)

Mahjong Soul

• Beautiful interface, tutorial mode
• Automatic scoring and rule enforcement
• International player base
• Free to play

Tenhou

• Most competitive platform
• Faster pace, less forgiving
• Standard for serious players
• Steeper learning curve

Kemono Mahjong

• Excellent tutorial and practice modes
• Slower pace for learning
• Clear explanations

Digital play is ideal initially—the software handles scoring, enforces rules, and lets you focus on strategy.

Hand selection strategy for beginners

When starting, prioritize these approachable hands:

Easiest yaku to build

1. Riichi: Just get tenpai with concealed hand
2. Tanyao: Keep only 2-8 tiles, discard terminals/honors early
3. Yakuhai: Build one pung of dragons or your seat wind
4. Pinfu: Build sequences naturally, avoid pungs

Avoid initially

• Chinitsu/Honitsu (flushes)—too restrictive for beginners
• Chiitoitsu (seven pairs)—special structure
• Toitoi (all pungs)—requires calling, opens hand

Focus on “natural” hands—whatever develops from your dealt tiles plus one simple yaku.

Common beginner mistakes

Mistake 1: Not having yaku

• The #1 beginner error: completing a hand with no yaku
• Always identify which yaku you’re building toward
• When in doubt, riichi guarantees yaku

Mistake 2: Calling everything

• Opening your hand prevents riichi and reduces some yaku values
• Call only when it significantly advances your hand or prevents others from winning

Mistake 3: Ignoring defense

• Beginners focus purely on their own hand
• After riichi declarations, consider folding cheap hands

Mistake 4: Riichi without thinking

• Riichi isn’t mandatory—sometimes dama (silent tenpai) is smarter
• Consider hand value, wait quality, and round situation

Mistake 5: Dora chasing

• Dora is sexy but meaningless without yaku
• Build yaku first, dora is bonus

Managing the learning curve

Expect this progression

Games 1-10: Confusion. You’ll make illegal moves, forget yaku requirements, and feel overwhelmed. This is normal.

Games 11-30: Recognition. Common yaku become familiar. You start recognizing dangerous situations.

Games 31-60: Competence. You can build basic hands consistently and defend against obvious danger.

Games 61-100: Strategy. You begin understanding tile efficiency, reading opponents, and making calculated push-fold decisions.

Games 100+: Mastery begins. Deep pattern recognition, probability intuition, and psychological reading develop.

Riichi rewards persistence. Every player went through the same learning curve.

Resources for Continued Learning

Riichi mahjong has excellent English-language resources for learners.

Essential websites and tools

Riichi Mahjong Wiki (arcturus.su/wiki)

• Comprehensive rule explanations
• Detailed yaku listings with examples
• Strategy articles
• The best single reference for rules clarification

Barticle’s Riichi Mahjong Guide

• Clear beginner-friendly explanations
• Strategy fundamentals
• Great complement to wiki

Riichi Mahjong subreddit (r/Mahjong)

• Active community for questions
• Strategy discussions
• Tournament information

Books worth reading

“Riichi Book 1” by Daina Chiba

• Excellent beginner foundation
• Clear explanations of fundamentals
• Highly recommended first book

“Japanese Mahjong: Guide for Beginners” by Gemma Sakamoto

• Comprehensive beginner’s introduction
• Cultural context

“The Mahjong Guide” (riichi.wiki/The_Mahjong_Guide)

• Free online comprehensive guide
• Regularly updated

YouTube channels and video content

Several English-language channels offer tutorials, game analysis, and strategy discussion:

• Mahjong Time: Game commentary and analysis
• Riichi Mahjong Central: Tournament coverage
• Various streamers on Twitch are playing Mahjong Soul and Tenhou

Practice approaches

Solo study

• Play against AI on Mahjong Soul or Kemono Mahjong
• Study yaku flashcards
• Watch recorded games with commentary

Community engagement

• Join Discord servers (Mahjong Soul community, regional clubs)
• Participate in beginner-friendly online tournaments
• Find local riichi clubs (growing in major cities worldwide)

Analytical improvement

• Study probability tables for tile efficiency
• Review your played hands
• Identify mistakes and alternative plays

Level Up Your Game: The Complete Guide to Digital Mahjong Helper Tools

Next Steps…

You’ve absorbed the fundamentals—here’s how to continue developing as a competitive player.

Setting practice goals

First 20 games: Focus solely on building valid hands with basic yaku. Don’t worry about winning percentage.

Games 21-50: Add defensive awareness. Start folding against riichi declarations with cheap hands.

Games 51-100: Work on tile efficiency. Learn to evaluate which tiles to keep versus discard based on future possibilities.

Games 100+: Develop opponent reading. Track discards, recognize patterns, and make informed push-fold decisions.

Measuring improvement

Track these metrics:

• Deal-in rate: How often you deal winning tiles to opponents (lower is better, target <15%)
• Win rate: How often you win hands (target 20-25%)
• Average hand value: Are you building expensive hands or cheap ones?
• Riichi success rate: When you riichi, how often do you win?

Digital platforms track these automatically in your statistics.

Joining the competitive scene

Once comfortable with fundamentals:

• Online tournaments: Many platforms host beginner-friendly events
• Local clubs: Search for riichi mahjong clubs in your city
• League play: Organizations like EMA (European Mahjong Association) host regular competitions
• World Riichi Championship: The ultimate competitive goal for serious players

Advanced concepts to explore later

After mastering fundamentals, deep-dive into:

• Tile efficiency (ukeire): Mathematical optimization of tile choices
• Suji and kabe: Advanced defensive reading techniques
• Complex furiten scenarios: When you can and cannot win
• Atozuke: Building hands where yaku isn’t guaranteed until the winning tile
• Tempo control: Manipulating game speed through calls and discards
• Score situation strategy: Adjusting play based on tournament standing

These concepts build on fundamentals—don’t rush into them prematurely.

Conclusion: Why Riichi Mahjong Captivates Competitive Players

Japanese riichi mahjong represents the pinnacle of mahjong as a competitive mind sport. Its complexity isn’t arbitrary—every rule creates strategic depth. The yaku system rewards pattern recognition. The dora system adds calculated gambling. The riichi declaration forces risk assessment. The defensive play demands psychological reading.

Yes, riichi mahjong has a steep learning curve. But that’s precisely why it’s rewarding. Every session teaches something new. Every hand presents unique decisions. Every opponent reveals different patterns.

Riichi mahjong respects intelligence, rewards study, and punishes carelessness. It’s unforgiving but fair. Transparent but deceptive. Mathematical but psychological.

Whether you’re drawn to riichi for its competitive scene, its perfect-information strategic depth, or simply because you saw an anime that made it look cool, you’re entering a global community of players who share your passion for this intricate, beautiful game.

The tiles are waiting. The wall is built. Your opponents are ready.

It’s time to declare riichi.