Riichi mahjong league

Basic settings

• Four-player matches are played as East–South games.
• Each player starts with 25,000 points.
• Open tanyao is allowed.
• Atozuke is allowed.
• Four-player matches use three red fives:
  • One red 5-man
  • One red 5-pin
  • One red 5-sou
• A valid yaku is required to win.
• Dora and red fives do not count as yaku by themselves.

Three-player matches

Three-player matches use the same rules as four-player matches wherever possible, with these differences:

• The 2-man through 8-man tiles are removed, leaving 108 tiles.
• Chi is not allowed.
• Nuki-dora is allowed. A North tile may be declared and set aside as one dora, then replaced with a draw from the dead wall. North may also be kept and used as an ordinary honour tile.
• Two red fives are used: one red 5-pin and one red 5-sou.
• The manzu dora cycle runs directly between 1-man and 9-man: 1-man indicates 9-man, and 9-man indicates 1-man.
• Matches are East–South games consisting of East 1–3 and South 1–3.
• Ron scoring uses the normal four-player formulas.
• For tsumo, each opponent makes their normal four-player payment. The absent fourth player’s share is not compensated.
• Honba payments remain 300 points for ron and 100 points from each opponent for tsumo.
• Standard 3,000-point noten payments apply:
  • One tenpai player receives 1,500 points from each opponent.
  • Two tenpai players each receive 1,500 points from the noten player.
• All yaku, fu, limits, riichi rules, dealer repeats and other table rules remain unchanged unless physically impossible with three players.

Draws and calls

• Subject to the three-player differences above, standard chi, pon, kan, riichi, tsumo and ron rules apply.
• Kan-dora is used. After an open kan, the new dora indicator is revealed after the kan declarer draws their replacement tile and discards. If the replacement tile wins by rinshan kaihou, the new indicator is not revealed. After a concealed or added kan, the new indicator is revealed immediately.
• Abortive draws are not used.
• Nine terminals and honours does not end the hand.
• Four first-turn wind discards do not end the hand.
• Four riichi declarations do not end the hand.
• The final discard may be won by ron, but cannot be called for chi, pon or kan.
• Multiple ron is allowed. Each valid winner receives the normal ron payment from the discarder, and each receives the full honba payment. Riichi sticks go to the valid winner closest to the discarder in turn order.

Dealer and match progression

• The dealer continues after winning a hand.
• The dealer continues after an exhaustive draw when tenpai.
• One honba is added after each dealer repeat or exhaustive draw.
• Riichi sticks remain on the table until collected by the next winner.
• Four-player matches normally end after South 4.
• Three-player matches normally end after South 3.
• The leading dealer may choose to end the match after winning the final scheduled hand.

Exhaustive draws

• Standard 3,000-point noten payments apply.
• Players may choose whether to reveal a tenpai hand.
• A player who declares tenpai must show a valid tenpai hand.
• The dealer continues only if tenpai.

Scoring

• Standard Japanese hand scoring is used.
• Kiriage mangan is not used.
• Thirteen or more han counts as one yakuman.
• Nagashi mangan is allowed.
• Pao applies to Daisangen and Daisuushii.

When players are unsure about scoring, the table may use a trusted scoring app or ask the organiser for help.

Mistakes and disputes

This is a friendly community league, and many players are still learning.

• Minor mistakes should be corrected where possible without disrupting the hand.
• Players should point out errors politely.
• Serious errors may result in a dead hand or a replay of the hand.
• The organiser may decide the fairest solution based on the situation.
• Where the rules are unclear, the organiser’s decision is final.
• Honest mistakes should be treated as learning opportunities, not reasons for arguments.

Table conduct

• Calls and win declarations should be made clearly.
• Discards should remain in order.
• Players should not reveal concealed information.
• Spectators should not comment on active hands.
• No collusion, signalling or intentional stalling.
• Please be patient with newer players.