Other styles
Riichi Mahjong (Japanese Mahjong)
Quick answer
Riichi mahjong is the Japanese style of mahjong. It uses 136 tiles and no flowers. Every winning hand needs at least one yaku, which is a scoring pattern. You can call riichi when you need one more tile and have taken no tiles from others. You bet 1,000 points and lock your hand.
At a glance
- Players: 4, or 3 in a version called sanma
- Tiles: 136, with no flowers or seasons
- To win: a full hand with at least 1 yaku
- Riichi bet: a 1,000-point stick
- Sanma tiles: 108
What is riichi mahjong?
Riichi mahjong is Japanese mahjong. The two names mean the same game.
The tiles and sets work much like Chinese mahjong. But three things stand out:
- There are no flowers or seasons, so it uses 136 tiles.
- Every win needs a yaku, which is a scoring pattern.
- You can bet on your hand by calling riichi.
To compare it with other styles, see the types of mahjong.
What do you need to play riichi mahjong?
You need 4 players, 136 tiles and 2 dice. The tiles are the 3 suits, the 4 winds and the 3 dragons, with 4 of each tile.
Each player builds a wall 17 stacks long and 2 tiles high. You also need point sticks, or some other way to keep score.
A 144-tile Chinese set works fine. Just take out the 4 flowers and 4 seasons. On Japanese sets, the 1 bam tile usually shows a peacock.
What are the riichi mahjong rules?
You play much like Chinese mahjong: take a tile, then throw one away. A tile you throw away is called a discard. These rules make riichi different.
Every win needs a yaku
A yaku is a scoring pattern. Every winning hand must have at least one. A full hand with no yaku cannot win, so learn a few yaku before you play.
How to call riichi
You can call riichi when your hand is closed and one tile from winning. Closed means you have not claimed any discards.
- Say it. Say "riichi" out loud.
- Turn your discard. Place the tile you throw away sideways.
- Bet. Put down a 1,000-point stick.
After that, you cannot change your hand. You wait for your winning tile.
Dora are bonus tiles
Dora are bonus tiles that add value to a winning hand. A tile called the dora indicator shows which tile is dora.
Furiten stops some wins
Furiten is a rule about your own discards. If you threw away a tile that would win your hand, you cannot win on a discard.
Han and fu
Riichi scoring counts two kinds of points, called han and fu. A riichi call adds 1 han. Ask a skilled player to keep score while you learn.
Hong Kong players count faan instead. See Hong Kong mahjong rules to compare.
Can 3 people play riichi mahjong?
Yes. The 3-player version is called sanma. It takes out the 2 through 8 craks (characters), which leaves 108 tiles.
Sanma also has no chii. A chii is a call that claims a discard to make a chow. A chow is 3 tiles in a row in one suit.
Want to play riichi at home?
Our 144-tile Chinese sets work for riichi once you set the 8 flowers and seasons aside.
Questions people ask
Does riichi mahjong use jokers?
No. Riichi uses the 3 suits, the winds and the dragons. There are no jokers, flowers or seasons.
What are red fives in riichi?
Red fives are special red 5 tiles found in many Japanese sets. They count as dora. They are optional, and some tournament rules leave them out.
How is riichi different from American mahjong?
American mahjong uses 152 tiles with 8 jokers, and hands must match a yearly card. Riichi uses 136 tiles and no jokers, and every win needs a yaku.
Where can you play riichi mahjong online?
Free options include Mahjong Soul, Tenhou and Riichi City.