Basic Riichi Online Mahjong Rules for Beginners

Riichi mahjong is a fun Japanese variation of the classic game of mahjong. Up to four players can enjoy this tabletop game both offline and online. Riichi mahjong may be a somewhat complex game for beginners to pick up. Mahjong’s rules are simple, but it takes time to learn them all. This guide will help you get started with the basics of Riichi mahjong.

Rules of Riichi Mahjong

Playing Riichi Mahjong online is easy once a player has found a reputable online casino, but first, you need to know its rules. In this section, we’ll go over some of the most important ones.

There are two types of tiles: regular and special. Standard tiles have numbers on them that correspond to their value in points. Special tiles do not have any numerical values assigned to them.


Each player has five tiles at their disposal. These tiles are called hands. A hand consists of three sets of tiles. Also, one set is used as a reserve tile. Another one is used for winning. And the last set is used to discard.

• When playing Riichi mahjong, each player must use their hand; therefore, it can’t be shared among other players.
• Tiles are placed face down on the table. Then, players take turns picking up tiles from the pile until they run out of tiles or reach the end of the game.
• At the start of the game, there are no tiles on the board. Therefore, as soon as a player picks up a tile, they place it face down on the table and immediately discard it.
• Once a player runs out of tiles, they lose. However, if a player wins by reaching the end of the game without losing, they get the opportunity to place a special tile on the board.
• After placing a special tile, a player can choose to either keep it or discard it. Discarding a tile means that the player loses the game. However, if a player keeps the tile, they get another turn.
• To win, a player needs to achieve a score higher than their opponent’s.
• Points are scored based on color, number, and suit. Color refers to the color of the tile itself, while number refers to the numerical value of the tile. Finally, suit refers to the type of suit the tile belongs to.

Play Online Riichi Mahjong Games

Now that you know the basics of Riichi Mahjong, you may want to try a few rounds online. Online casinos offer Riichi Mahjong, but you can download mobile apps if you are not in the mood for risks. The rules stay the same regardless of where you play, so it’s a bright idea to learn them before going online.

Final thoughts on Riichi Mahjong rules

Many more rules govern Riichi mahjong. But these should offer you an idea about what you need to know before starting your journey into the world of Riichi mahjong!