704
edits
Hordes
Joined 3 March 2024
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Riichi Mahjong Primer | Riichi Mahjong Primer | ||
This article will attempt to describe how to play riichi mahjong (Japanese Mahjong) online in a | This article will attempt to describe how to play riichi mahjong (Japanese Mahjong) online in a clear and concise way. Therefore, any instructions related to setting up the game are omitted for this guide. | ||
<div style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em;">__TOC__</div> | <div style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em;">__TOC__</div> | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
Each game is sorted into multiple rounds. For every round, only one player can win. A round ends when a player wins, when the tiles run out, or in certain specific conditions. | Each game is sorted into multiple rounds. For every round, only one player can win. A round ends when a player wins, when the tiles run out, or in certain specific conditions. | ||
The gameplay of riichi mahjong is largely similar to other Asia-originated variations of mahjong - for instance, if you know Hong Kong or Singaporean mahjong, riichi will not be difficult to learn. Compared to American Mahjong, "what you do in each turn" is roughly the same, but the types of winning hands are completely different between the two variations. Compared to mahjong solitaire ("single player mahjong", game where you match tiles with each other), the gameplay is completely different. | |||
==Turns== | ==Turns== | ||
| Line 52: | Line 54: | ||
*A winning shape. With two exceptions, winning hands are comprised of 4 "[[#Sets|sets]]" + 1 "[[#Pairs|pair]]". | *A winning shape. With two exceptions, winning hands are comprised of 4 "[[#Sets|sets]]" + 1 "[[#Pairs|pair]]". | ||
*A "[[yaku]]". Yaku are conditions or criteria that increase your hand's point value. '''In essence, a hand cannot win with 0 points, therefore a hand cannot win without any yaku'''. A yaku may rely on the tiles in the hand, or it may be based on how you win the hand. | *A "[[yaku]]". Yaku are conditions or criteria that increase your hand's point value. '''In essence, a hand cannot win with 0 points, therefore a hand cannot win without any yaku'''. A yaku may rely on the tiles in the hand, or it may be based on how you win the hand. | ||
**(Note: a hand | **(Note: a hand can also gain value via "[[dora]]" tiles, but if the hand has no value other than dora, it cannot win.) | ||
Both these conditions will be described below. | Both these conditions will be described below. | ||
| Line 167: | Line 169: | ||
A hand can technically gain points with [[dora]] tiles. But if a hand has only dora tiles, and no yaku, it still can't win. | A hand can technically gain points with [[dora]] tiles. But if a hand has only dora tiles, and no yaku, it still can't win. | ||
The simplest yaku is [[riichi]]. So long as you have not called an opponent's discarded tile (you haven't | The simplest yaku is [[riichi]]. So long as you have not called an opponent's discarded tile (you haven't done "[[chii]]", "[[pon]]", and haven't pressed "[[kan]]" when it's not your turn), you may declare riichi when you have a ready hand. | ||
More yaku will be covered later in the guide. | More yaku will be covered later in the guide. | ||
| Line 179: | Line 181: | ||
{{#mjt:34567p333m678s44z}} Waiting for: {{#mjt:2p}}, {{#mjt:5p}}, or {{#mjt:8p}} | {{#mjt:34567p333m678s44z}} Waiting for: {{#mjt:2p}}, {{#mjt:5p}}, or {{#mjt:8p}} | ||
Say you discarded the {{#mjt:2p}} in the past. You cannot win off ''any'' tile because you could've won with the 2 | Say you discarded the {{#mjt:2p}} in the past. You cannot win off ''any'' tile because you could've won with the discarded 2. If an opponent discards {{#mjt:8p}}, you cannot win. You did not discard the {{#mjt:8p}}, but you discarded a tile you could've won with - therefore, you cannot win with any tile. | ||
It does not matter if the discarded tile wouldn't give any yaku. If you could've completed a winning shape with the tile, you are in furiten. | It does not matter if the discarded tile wouldn't give any yaku. If you could've completed a winning shape with the tile, you are in furiten. | ||
| Line 282: | Line 284: | ||
During each round, 14 tiles are unable to be drawn (the round ends before they can be drawn). These 14 tiles are known as the dead wall. Because the dead wall exists, sometimes you will be unable to get a needed tile. | During each round, 14 tiles are unable to be drawn (the round ends before they can be drawn). These 14 tiles are known as the dead wall. Because the dead wall exists, sometimes you will be unable to get a needed tile. | ||
==Dora== | |||
At the start of each round, a [[dora]] indicator is revealed. The tile ''after'' the revealed dora indicator is the dora tile. For every dora tile in your hand, you gain 1 han. | At the start of each round, a [[dora]] indicator is revealed. The tile ''after'' the revealed dora indicator is the dora tile. For every dora tile in your hand, you gain 1 han. | ||
| Line 291: | Line 293: | ||
*Winds: {{#mjt:1z}} -> {{#mjt:2z}} -> {{#mjt:3z}} -> {{#mjt:4z}} -> {{#mjt:1z}} (the same as the player order) | *Winds: {{#mjt:1z}} -> {{#mjt:2z}} -> {{#mjt:3z}} -> {{#mjt:4z}} -> {{#mjt:1z}} (the same as the player order) | ||
For each [[kan]] a player makes, a new dora indicator is revealed. | For each [[kan]] a player makes, a new dora indicator is revealed. If the new dora indicator is the same as another, then the specified tile is worth aother han. | ||
'''Remember: A hand cannot win with no yaku, even if it has dora. A hand needs 1 yaku to win.''' | |||
===Uradora=== | ===Uradora=== | ||
| Line 297: | Line 301: | ||
There is no way to know uradora before winning, so yradora are essentially random bonuses for winning with riichi. In general, ~30% of winning riichi hands contain at least 1 uradora. | There is no way to know uradora before winning, so yradora are essentially random bonuses for winning with riichi. In general, ~30% of winning riichi hands contain at least 1 uradora. | ||
===Red Fives=== | |||
In most modern riichi mahjong websites, red fives are introduced. There is one red five in each suit (a red 5 of characters, a red 5 of bamboo, a red 5 in dots). | |||
Having the red five in your hand is worth +1 han, just like a dora tile. Unlike dora, the red five | |||
==Scoring== | |||
{{Main|Scoring}} | |||
The scoring system is very complex. New players should not worry about the scoring table, instead focusing on making a winning hands. | |||
Here is how the scoring system works. | |||
*A hand has a given value of "[[han]]" and a given value of "[[fu]]". | |||
**Han: Each [[yaku]] has a specified amount of han. A hand can gain han for multiple different types of yaku. Also, for every dora in the hand, gain +1 han. Add up the han from yaku and dora to get the total han value. | |||
**Fu is based on the hand's composition. For example, having more triplets may increase fu count. Fu is always rounded up to the next multiple of 10 fu. | |||
The more important factor, by far, is the amount of han. For most types of hands, fu remains roughly the same. | |||
While the hand value will vary based on fu, here are the ''rough'' point values for each number of han in the hand: | |||
*1 han: 1000 points | |||
*2 han: 2000 points | |||
*3 han: 4000 points | |||
*4-5 han: 8000 points | |||
*6-7 han: 12000 points | |||
*8-10 han: 16000 points | |||
*11-12 han: 24000 points | |||
*13+ han: 32000 points | |||
If you are the dealer, you gain x1.5 the points. | |||
As you can see, from 1-4 han, each han you have doubles the hand's score. Therefore, 4 han hands are both valuable and efficient. | |||
==Basic Strategy== | |||