How to Call Riichi in Mahjong: Rules & Winning Steps

For beginners learning mahjong, riichi is the very first yaku to aim for. The basic goal of mahjong is to assemble your hand and win, but mastering how to call riichi in mahjong allows you to pursue a win with confidence even when you do not yet have another yaku.

Conditions and Basic Steps for Calling Riichi

In this diagram, 2 characters and 3 characters are highlighted, forming a two-sided wait where 1 more tile completes a sequence. To declare riichi, you must reach tenpai—the state where you are just 1 tile away from a win.

Calling riichi requires meeting several clear rules. Review these conditions beforehand so you never feel lost during a match.

• Keep a closed hand: You must build your hand entirely on your own without calling chii, pon, or an open quad on an opponent's discard.
• Be in tenpai: Your hand must be just 1 tile away from completion.
• Have at least 1,000 points: You cannot declare riichi if you lack points, as a 1,000-point deposit is placed upon declaration.
• Tiles must remain in the wall for your draw: You cannot call riichi unless at least 4 draws remain in the round.

To carry out the declaration, state "Riichi" when discarding while in tenpai, place your discard sideways, and put a 1,000-point stick in the center of the table. In digital games on smartphones and other devices, a button appears once requirements are met, so you can simply select it with composure.

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Why Open Hands Cannot Call Riichi and Yaku Basics

In this diagram, 1 characters was claimed via chii and exposed, breaking the closed hand. In mahjong, once you call on an opponent's discard to build a set, you forfeit the right to declare riichi even if you are in tenpai.

Winning in mahjong requires at least 1 yaku. Beginners who call tiles often fall into the "no yaku" trap and cannot win. Keeping your hand closed guarantees a 1-han yaku simply by declaring riichi once your hand is ready, making it an exceptionally safe and accessible strategy.

The quickest way to improve is to avoid calling recklessly and work toward riichi with a closed hand.

Rules After Calling Riichi and Path to Winning

Declaring riichi brings strong advantages alongside mandatory restrictions. Once declared, you must perform tsumogiri on newly drawn tiles that do not complete your hand, meaning you cannot alter your hand structure. If an opponent discards your winning tile, call "Ron"; if you draw it yourself, call "Tsumo" to win.

A major perk of riichi is eligibility for ura dora. When you win, you check the indicator directly beneath the dora indicator, and any matching tiles increase your score. In addition, winning within 1 turn without anyone calling tiles earns the extra yaku Ippatsu.

In shorter formats such as an East-only game running from East 1 to East 4, the score gained from a single riichi can heavily decide the final standings.

While matches against people often impose strict turn timers, playing solo against computer opponents with no time limit lets you think at your own pace. Take time to inspect tile combinations and your wait, steadily getting used to calling riichi. In the mahjong RPG Jankokushi, you can practice everything from declaration to winning entirely at your own pace against AI.

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Join heroes across the realm at the table and test your newfound yaku and riichi tactics in the mahjong RPG Jankokushi.

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