Learn riichi mahjong
Riichi is Japanese mahjong: four players, 136 tiles, and a hand of fourteen tiles to complete before the others. Its rules fit in a few pages; its scoring looks scary, but you can learn it by following a method.
- Guide 1 The tiles The three suits, the honours, the red fives and the dora.
- Guide 2 How a game goes The goal, a turn at the table, calls, riichi and the end of a hand.
- Guide 3 Scoring basics Yaku, han, dora, fu and points: the method, with a hand scored from start to finish.
- Guide 4 Glossary The Japanese words you hear at the table, explained in a sentence.
Riichi in three sentences
- You win with fourteen tiles: four sets (runs or triplets) and a pair.
- You need at least one yaku, a recognised combination: the simplest is to declare riichi with a closed hand, one tile away from winning.
- The winning hand is worth han (its yaku and dora) and fu (its composition); together, they give the points the other players pay.
Learn by playing
The beginner level deals hands with no quads and no rare situations. Each step is checked and explained.
Score an easy hand Practise the waits