The short answer: riichi mahjong is the Japanese version of the game and the most competitive variant in the world: 136 tiles, four players, and you need at least one yaku — a recognized scoring pattern — to win. Declare riichi with a closed hand and a 1,000-point stick; dora add bonus points. Strict, deep, fast.
Seen mahjong in anime or esports? That’s riichi — the version where a player slaps a tile down sideways, shouts “riichi!”, and the table goes quiet. It looks dramatic because it is: every discard matters.
What makes riichi different from other mahjong?
- 136 tiles — no flowers or seasons
- At least one yaku to win — melds alone aren’t enough
- Riichi declaration: closed hand, 1,000-point stick, hand locked from then on
- Dora add value but don’t count toward your yaku
- Furiten: no winning on a tile you’ve already discarded
That yaku requirement is the big one. In Chinese mahjong, almost any complete hand wins. In riichi, four melds and a pair might be worth nothing without a yaku — so beginners build toward a pattern and check before going.
How do you actually win a hand in riichi?
- Start with 13 tiles; draw a 14th on your turn
- Discard one tile face up in front of you
- Claim a discard with chi, pon, or kan
- Declare riichi with a closed hand and 1,000 points to bet
- Win with a complete hand worth at least one yaku
Scoring uses fan and fu — Japanese names for multipliers and base points. The east player deals first, seats rotate each hand, and a standard game ends when someone passes 30,000 points. A “hanchan” is the full set of east and south rounds.
Want to see how riichi stacks up? Read what is mahjong for the big picture, and how to play mahjong for the basics every variant shares.
Related Questions
Is riichi mahjong harder than other variants?
It’s the most demanding, thanks to the yaku minimum and furiten. Chinese mahjong lets you win with almost anything; riichi makes you build toward patterns. And reading other players’ discards takes years.
What is a yaku in riichi mahjong?
A yaku is a recognized hand pattern — all triplets, a pure straight in one suit, or only winds and dragons. You need at least one to win. Dora add points but never count as your yaku.
Can you play riichi mahjong online?
Yes — and it’s the best way to learn. Popular apps handle scoring, enforce furiten, and show your yaku as you build. Against a computer you can practice tenpai judgment without slowing a table of humans.