Riichi mahjong is the main Japanese style of the game. Four players use 136 tiles, and some rule sets swap regular fives for red fives. You build four sets and a pair, and your hand must include at least one scoring pattern, called a yaku. You can declare riichi when your closed hand is one tile from winning. Rules like furiten add depth, and that depth is why many people love it.
What makes Riichi special
- The one-yaku rule. A complete shape is not enough. You need at least one yaku to win.
- Riichi itself. Declaring gives you a yaku and possible bonuses. In exchange, you bet 1,000 points and lock your hand.
- Furiten. You cannot win on a discard if one of your winning tiles is in your own discards.
- Dora. Bonus tiles add value, and you have to look for them each hand.
- Open and closed hands. Calling a tile opens your hand. Many yaku are lost or worth less if open.
The tile set
Riichi uses the 34 kinds of tiles, with four of each.
| Group | English first | Japanese name |
|---|---|---|
| Characters | 1 to 9 | manzu |
| Dots | 1 to 9 | pinzu |
| Bamboo | 1 to 9 | souzu |
| Winds | East, South, West, North | ton, nan, shaa, pei |
| Dragons | White, Green, Red | haku, hatsu, chun |
There are no flowers, seasons, or jokers. Some rule sets replace one or more fives with red fives, which act as bonus tiles. The European Mahjong Association’s 2016 rules do not use them, while many Japanese and online games do.
Lessons
- Basic rulesWall, turns, calls, and how to win.
- Beginner yakuThe patterns worth learning first, and a full table.
- Furiten explainedThe rule that surprises every new player.
- Reading waitsHow to see which tiles win your hand.
- Dora and red fivesHow to find bonus tiles, and what they add.
- Riichi compared with other stylesWhat carries over if you already play.
Practice
Try the Riichi Waits Trainer to read winning tiles, and solve the Daily Discard each day. The Scoring Quiz has a Riichi section. Use Tile Trainer in Riichi mode to learn the names.
Rule sets
Riichi has several rule sets. Japanese professional leagues, the World Riichi Championship, online games, and the European Mahjong Association differ on some details, including red fives. Our examples follow the EMA 2016 rules unless we say otherwise.
Questions people ask
What does riichi mean?
Riichi is the name of a declaration. It means your closed hand is one tile from winning. You bet 1,000 points and can no longer change your hand.
Is Riichi mahjong harder than other styles?
It has more to learn, mostly because of the scoring patterns. The basic turn is the same as in other styles, and you can start playing before you know every pattern.