ALBAN GLOBAL Riichi Guide
Four friends playing Riichi mahjong together on an ALBAN Slim Voice SCORE table in a dark library room
Free Riichi lessons · Written by ALBAN in Tokyo

Learn Riichi.
Join the table.

A visual path from your first tile to your first winning hand—built for people who want to play, not memorize a rulebook.

Start with how to play Explore every yaku
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  • WRC 2025 rules
Choose your seat

Your way into Riichi.

Start with the flow of a hand. Add yaku. Learn scoring when you are ready.

  1. 01 Play your first hand Tiles, setup, turns, calls, riichi, and winning—in a clear order.
  2. 02 See the yaku patterns Every winning pattern illustrated, with beginner priorities first.
  3. 03 Understand the points Use shortcuts first, the calculator second, and fu only when you need it.
The first pattern

Four sets.
One pair.

Most standard winning hands begin with this shape. See it once as tiles and the rest of the game becomes easier to read.

Learn the basic structure
Mahjong hand: 2 of characters, 3 of characters, 4 of characters — 5 of characters, 6 of characters, 7 of characters — 4 of circles, 5 of circles, 6 of circles — 9 of circles, 9 of circles — 6 of bamboo, 7 of bamboo, 8 of bamboo
The shape of most standard winning hands: four sets and a pair.
The questions everyone asks

Get unstuck fast.

Riichi in one minute

What is riichi mahjong?

Short answer: riichi is Japanese mahjong, where four players race to complete a 14-tile hand of four sets and a pair with at least one yaku, and declaring “riichi” one tile from winning is the signature move.

A first winning hand, counted

Mahjong hand: 2 of characters, 3 of characters, 4 of characters — 5 of characters, 6 of characters, 7 of characters — 4 of circles, 5 of circles, 6 of circles — 9 of circles, 9 of circles — 6 of bamboo, 7 of bamboo, winning tile: 8 of bamboo
Closed and tenpai on 6s-7s. You declare riichi, then draw the 8s yourself.

This hand is 234m, 567m, 456p, a 99p pair, and 67s waiting on 5s or 8s. Declare riichi, draw the 8s, and it scores riichi, menzen tsumo, and pinfu: 3 han, 2,700 points for a non-dealer. The beginner course builds up to exactly this moment.

Three mistakes almost every beginner makes

Four friends smiling and playing Riichi mahjong on an ALBAN table in a bright modern living room
Why this guide exists

More players.
Better tables.

ALBAN has worked with mahjong tables in Tokyo since 1990. This free guide is our contribution to Riichi finding new players around the world—clear lessons, illustrated hands, and no ads.

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