Furiten Explained

Furiten is a Riichi rule that stops you from winning on another player’s discard. It applies if any tile that would complete your hand is in your own discards. It also applies if you passed on a winning tile since your last turn. You can still win by drawing the tile yourself. The rule exists because Riichi discards are public, so others can safely discard what you already threw.

The main rule

Suppose your hand is waiting on two tiles:

If a Four Crak is anywhere in your discards, you are in furiten for both tiles. You cannot win by ron, even if someone discards a One Crak, which you never threw away. This is the part that surprises people. The rule applies to your whole wait, and not only the tile you discarded.

You leave furiten by changing your hand so that none of your new winning tiles are in your discards.

Three kinds of furiten

Discard furiten

One of your winning tiles is in your discards. It lasts as long as your wait stays the same.

Temporary furiten

Another player discards a tile that would win your hand, and you do not claim it. You cannot win by ron until your next turn, when you draw and discard. This applies to any tile you passed on, for any reason.

Riichi furiten

If you have declared riichi and let a winning tile go by, you stay in furiten for the rest of the hand. You cannot change your hand, so you have no way out. You can still win by drawing the tile yourself.

Why you should care

You could lose a lot by calling a false win. Before you say “ron,” check these:

1. What are all my winning tiles?
2. Are any of them in my discards?
3. Did I pass on one of them since my last turn?

Most mistakes happen with hands that have many waits, because players do not see every tile they could win on. For example:

Here is a safer habit: spend a moment on your waits as you declare riichi. Our trainer builds that skill.

Using furiten against others

Furiten also gives you safe discards. If an opponent declares riichi, any tile in their discards is safe against them. They cannot win on it, by the rule above. Tiles they passed on since declaring are safe too. This is the first thing to learn about defense.

Choosing to stay in furiten

Sometimes you might stay in furiten on purpose, because your hand still has a chance by drawing the tile. That is a choice for later. While you are learning, it is simplest to avoid it.

Common beginner mistakes

• Thinking only the tile you threw is blocked. Your whole wait is blocked.
• Forgetting a tile you discarded early on. Scan your discards when you become tenpai, meaning one tile from winning.
• Passing on a win by accident. Temporary furiten then applies until your next turn.
• Calling ron anyway. It is a false win, and you pay a penalty under most rules.