RIICHI~SENSEI
立直麻雀総合学院
A Comprehensive Riichi Mahjong Study Academy

Course Overview

RIICHI~SENSEI is a comprehensive, in-depth educational resource for the study of Japanese riichi mahjong (立直麻雀 / リーチ麻雀). This academy covers 37 major topics spanning fundamentals, hand analysis, scoring, strategy, special rules, mental discipline, practical knowledge, and advanced play. Each topic is treated as a substantial module with detailed explanations, examples in tile notation, diagrams, annotated plays, quiz questions, and cross-references to related concepts.

The content has been developed with reference to Japanese-language instructional sources, Japanese strategy literature, and cross-checked against multiple references to ensure factual reliability. Where rules vary by ruleset or platform, these variations are explicitly noted. Where strategic advice is debated among strong players, competing viewpoints are presented. See the Methodology page for detailed information on the research and fact-checking process.

This academy assumes standard Japanese riichi mahjong rules (Riichi Competition Rules / common online rules) unless explicitly noted. Key default assumptions include: kuitan ari (open tanyao allowed), aka dora ari (red fives enabled), no kiriage mangan, and standard abortive draw rules. Variations are flagged throughout with the ⚙ RULESET VARIANT marker.

Foundations — Modules 1–6

These modules cover the absolute core of the game. If you are new to riichi mahjong, start here and work through them in order.

MODULE 01
Core Objective of Riichi Mahjong
What you are trying to accomplish, how the game is structured, and what winning actually means in the context of a full match.
MODULE 02
Tiles and Suits
The 136-tile set, three numbered suits, honor tiles, composition, and how to read and identify every tile.
MODULE 03
Table Flow and Turn Structure
Dealing, drawing, discarding, turn order, wind rotation, round progression, and how a complete game unfolds.
MODULE 04
Winning Hand Structure
The 4-mentsu-1-jantai pattern, special winning forms, what constitutes a complete hand, and structural requirements.
MODULE 05
Calls and What They Do (Naki / 鳴き)
Chi, pon, kan—how open melds work, priority rules, strategic costs of calling, and when calls help or hurt.
MODULE 06
Furiten (振聴)
The critical furiten rule, temporary vs permanent furiten, why it exists, how it constrains play, and common mistakes.

Hand Analysis — Modules 7–9

Understanding hand readiness, efficiency, and wait quality is the bridge between knowing the rules and playing well.

MODULE 07
Tenpai, Shanten, and Ukeire
Measuring hand readiness with shanten count, understanding tenpai, and calculating acceptance (ukeire) for each discard.
MODULE 08
Tile Efficiency (牌効率)
The systematic study of which discards maximize your hand's potential, covering theory, heuristics, and practice drills.
MODULE 09
Wait Types (待ち)
All wait patterns—ryanmen, kanchan, penchan, shanpon, tanki, nobetan, and complex multi-sided waits.

Scoring & Yaku — Modules 10–13

MODULE 10
Yaku (役)
Complete reference of all standard yaku, with conditions, han values, open/closed status, examples, and frequency data.
MODULE 11
Dora and Bonus Tiles
Dora indicators, ura dora, aka dora, kan dora, how dora affects hand value and strategy.
MODULE 12
Scoring Basics
Han-fu system, score tables, dealer vs non-dealer, tsumo vs ron payments, honba, and riichi deposits.
MODULE 13
Fu Calculation (符計算)
How to count fu from base fu, melds, waits, win method, and pair—with worked examples and common patterns.

Riichi & Strategy — Modules 14–20

MODULE 14
Riichi Rules and Implications
Declaring riichi, point deposit, ippatsu, ura dora, restrictions after declaration, and strategic considerations.
MODULE 15
Dama Play (黙聴)
When and why to stay silent in tenpai without declaring riichi, tactical advantages, and common scenarios.
MODULE 16
Opening Strategy
First few discards, reading starting hands, balancing speed and value, and early-game tile efficiency priorities.
MODULE 17
Defense Fundamentals
Safe tile theory, suji, kabe, no-chance, one-chance, and defensive discard priority systems.
MODULE 18
Threat Assessment
Reading danger levels from opponents' actions, riichi timing, call patterns, and discard reading for defense.
MODULE 19
Push/Fold Judgment
The central decision of riichi mahjong: when to continue attacking versus when to abandon your hand for defense.
MODULE 20
Reading Hands
Deducing opponents' likely holdings from discards, calls, timing, and game context.

Game Strategy — Modules 21–24

MODULE 21
Placement Strategy (着順)
Why finishing position matters more than raw points, placement bonuses, and how to optimize for rank.
MODULE 22
Seat and Round Importance
Wind assignments, dealer advantage, repeat dealer rounds, and how your seat affects your strategy.
MODULE 23
Endgame and All-Last Strategy
Critical decisions in the final round, point-gap calculations, and how placement pressure changes play.
MODULE 24
Common Hand-Building Plans
Recognizable hand shapes and development paths—pinfu, tanyao, honitsu, toitoi, and combined approaches.

Special Rules — Modules 25–27

MODULE 25
Special Draws and Edge Rules
Abortive draws (kyuushu kyuuhai, suufon renda, etc.), nagashi mangan, and uncommon game situations.
MODULE 26
Kans (槓)
Ankan, daiminkan, shouminkan—mechanics, dora implications, rinshan draws, and strategic considerations.
MODULE 27
Efficiency versus Value
The fundamental tradeoff between speed and hand value, and how to balance the two in real play situations.

Mental Game — Modules 28–30

MODULE 28
Psychological Discipline
Tilt control, variance management, emotional stability, and maintaining focus across long sessions.
MODULE 29
Review Skills
How to review your own games effectively, identify mistakes, track improvement, and learn from replays.
MODULE 30
Statistical Intuition
Key probabilities and statistics every player should internalize, from draw rates to expected values.

Practical Knowledge — Modules 31–34

MODULE 31
Ruleset Awareness
How rules differ across platforms, tournaments, and regions—and why you must know which rules you're playing under.
MODULE 32
Practical Platform Literacy
Navigating Tenhou, Mahjong Soul, M-League viewing, and other platforms for practice and study.
MODULE 33
Japanese Terminology (日本語用語集)
Essential Japanese vocabulary for mahjong, organized by category—tiles, calls, yaku, scoring, strategy.
MODULE 34
Study Resources and Training Methods
Books, websites, tools, practice methods, and a structured study plan for continuous improvement.

Advanced & Practice — Modules 35–37

MODULE 35
Advanced Topics and High-Level Play
Concepts from top-level play: flow reading, meta-strategy, exploit-based adjustments, and advanced theory debates.
MODULE 36
Quizzes and Practice Systems
Comprehensive practice hub with quizzes across all difficulty levels and topic areas—the central practice portal.
MODULE 37
Visual Examples and Annotated Plays
Detailed annotated game sequences, decision walkthroughs, and visual teaching diagrams—the central examples hub.

Reference Pages

Glossary
Complete Japanese-English mahjong glossary with readings and definitions.
Notation Guide
How tile notation works throughout this academy—suit codes, examples, and reading conventions.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about riichi mahjong and about using this academy.
References
Bibliography of Japanese and English sources consulted.
Methodology
How research and fact-checking were conducted for this academy.

RIICHI~SENSEI is an educational resource developed with reference to Japanese-language mahjong instructional materials, strategy literature, and rule references. It is not affiliated with any specific mahjong platform or organization. Content is provided for educational purposes. See Methodology for details on the research process.