Riichi Mahjong Strategy Theory 20200306
Channel: Michele Frizzell #MAHJLIFE
Date: 2020-03-06

Riichi mahjong is relatively easy to learn but it takes a lifetime to master.  Join me on a journey of learning how to play Japanese style.

PADAWAN OBJECTIVES
Recognize patterns to identify potential yaku
Reach tenpai (ready to win) in six discards
Improve waits
Don't deal in!  

The Riichi Quick Reference that I use is aligned with the World Riichi Competition rules. It is not comprehensive but includes commonly used Riichi terms and scoring elements that I find helpful as a teacher and intermediate player.  Click to download:  https://goo.gl/tiBP7N 

If you missed the tutorials, you can find them here: https://goo.gl/4ao3e7 

Yellow Mountain Mahjong Set https://goo.gl/DpdkyF 

FURITEN:  Furiten means “sacred discard” and is described in Riichi as a “thrown-away tenpai”.  It is a situation that occurs when a player is ready to win (tenpai) but cannot win by discard (ron) because of an earlier decision to not use a winning tile or discarding their winning tile earlier in the game.  A player who is furiten can still win by self-pick (tsumo).  A player can also be furiten temporarily if they do not ron on a discarded tile.  When this occurs, the temporary furiten is lifted their next turn.  To enforce the furiten rule, tiles are discarded in rows of six in front of each player (river [kawa]) and claimed discards are turned in exposures to indicate which player discarded the tile to complete the block.  All players need to be intentional with each of their discards and they need to plan their wait to avoid being furiten. 

UMA Bonus/Penalty:  At the end of a session, bonuses and penalties are applied to the scores - this is called Uma.  The player in 4th place pays 15k, the player in 3rd place pays 5k, the player in 2nd place receives 5k, and the player in 1st place receives 15k.  If there is a tie for 1st place, each player gets 10k.

RECOMMENDED READING
Riichi Mahjong, The Ultimate Guide to the Japanese Game Taking the World by Storm by Scott D. Miller https://goo.gl/BRW2RL

Riichi Book I, a Mahjong Strategy Primer for European Players by Daina Chiba https://dainachiba.github.io/RiichiBooks/

Osamuko's Japanese Mahjong Blog https://goo.gl/Np9z4H

RECOMMENDED VIDEOS
Daina Chiba Seminar https://goo.gl/aP2BSg
Light Grunty Yaku and Scoring http://bit.ly/34BntNw 

MUSIC 
Apprehensive at Best by Biz Baz Studio
Ecstasy by Audionautix
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Between now and the next video, may all your picks be keepers!

Michele Frizzell
Instructor, Author, Speaker
michele@mahjlife.com
6175 Hickory Flat Hwy Ste 110-335
Canton, GA 30115