Riichi Mahjong
Also known as: Japanese Mahjong / MahjongRiichi Mahjong is a tile game for 3 to 4 players that takes about 25 minutes. Draw and discard until your hand is complete — scoring is done for you. Free. In-browser. No account.
Joining is free, and no account is needed.Learn how to play (3 min)
Riichi Mahjong in 30 seconds
- Set upPlay with 4 players (3 in the settings). Deal 13 tiles to everyone once a dealer is set.
- Take turnsDraw one tile to hold 14, then discard one. Discards can be called for pon, chi or kan.
- Win a handComplete a hand such as four sets and a pair with at least one yaku, and the score is worked out for you.
- FinishAfter the chosen length (half-game by default), the highest total score wins.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 3–4 players |
| Play time | About 25 min |
| Type | Mahjong |
| Ranked play | Yes |
| Practice against the CPU | Yes |
| Price | Free (no account needed) |
| Rights holder | A public-domain classic game |
| Last updated | 2026-09-14 |
How to play Riichi Mahjong online
- Tap "Play with friends"A party is created with a 6-character code. No account is needed.
- Send a link or QR codeShare it on LINE, or just read the code aloud.
- Everyone opens it in a browserOnce 3–4 players have joined, the host taps "Start".
Rule highlights
Setup
- Three or four players. The set has 136 tiles; 14 of them stay unused in the dead wall all game.
- A dealer is chosen first, and the other players are given their own seat wind.
- Everyone, including the dealer, is dealt 13 tiles. Starting scores are 25,000 in a 4-player game and 35,000 with 3 players.
- Before play starts, a party can choose the red-fives count (0, 3 or 4 with 4 players; 0 or 2 with 3), and the game length: one hand, east-only, or a full half-game.
How to play
- Starting with the dealer, whoever's turn it is draws one tile to hold 14, then discards one tile to the discard row.
- Any player can call pon, chi or kan on a discard if they hold the matching tiles (chi is not available in a 3-player game). Calling reveals the set, and play continues from that caller.
- Once your hand is one tile from complete (tenpai), the screen shows which discard keeps you tenpai and how many of the winning tile are still unseen.
- With a fully concealed hand in tenpai and at least 1,000 points, you may declare riichi. After that you simply discard whatever you draw each turn.
- Passing up a tile you could have called ron on puts you in furiten — you cannot ron on your own until it clears — and the screen marks it for you.
- If the wall runs out before anyone wins, the hand ends in a draw and players who are tenpai collect points from those who are not.
Winning
- A hand is complete once it forms four sets and a pair (or seven pairs, or the rare thirteen orphans) with at least one yaku. Fu and han are counted automatically, so the score appears without you working it out.
- Winning off your own draw is tsumo; winning off another player's discard is ron, and more than one player can ron the same discard at once.
- Any leftover riichi sticks and honba counters go to the winner sitting closest, counter-clockwise, to the player who dealt into them.
- Once the chosen length is finished (half-game by default: East 1 through South 4), the game ends. Scores are converted to points with a fixed bonus for finishing position, and the highest total wins.
- A 3-player game removes the 2 through 8 of characters (108 tiles total) and has no chi, but on your turn you may instead set aside a north tile — each one you set aside is worth an extra han of dora, and you draw a replacement tile for it.
- A 3-player game starts everyone at 35,000 points, and the target score and finishing bonus are set slightly differently from the 4-player game (see “3-player rules” below).
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game length | Choose a single hand, an east-only game, or a full half-game. | Half-game | Yes |
| Red fives | Each red tile is worth an extra han. A 3-player game uses 0 or 2 instead. | 3 | Yes |
| Open tanyao | Allow winning on an all-simples hand even after calling. | On | Yes |
| Minimum han | The fewest han (not counting dora) a hand needs to win. | 1 | Yes |
FAQ
How many players?
Three or four. Whichever number a game starts with decides whether it plays as a 3-player or 4-player table.
Is there a 3-player mode?
Yes. Starting a game with 3 players switches automatically to a 108-tile table with no chi and an extra move for setting aside north tiles.
Can a beginner play?
Yes. The tutorial walks through drawing, discarding and winning a hand, and once you're playing the screen highlights the discard that keeps you tenpai and warns you about furiten, so you don't need to know every yaku to get started.
Is the scoring automatic?
Yes. You never count fu or han yourself — the screen works out the score for a win and who pays what.
How long does a game take?
About 25 minutes for the default half-game (East 1 through South 4). A party can choose an east-only or single-hand game to finish sooner.
Can I practise alone?
Yes. Press Play vs CPU to play against three computer opponents.
Can I play at school or work (unblocked)?
Yes. Mahjong runs entirely in your browser, with nothing to download or install, so it works on most school and work networks that block app stores or game downloads. If your network blocks the whole site, ask an administrator to allow boardgamejoin.com.
Is there a 2 player mode?
No. Mahjong needs at least 3 players, but you can play solo against the computer, which fills the other seats.
Can I play against the computer?
Yes. Press “Play vs CPU” on the Mahjong page to start right away against computer opponents — no waiting for other players.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. No app is needed — just open it in a browser. You can join the same party as people on a PC or tablet.
Can two people play?
Yes. This game supports 2 or more players.
Rights holder and physical edition
This is a public-domain classic game. The rules follow the standard reference rules.
Related games
Same type (Mahjong)
This is currently the only Mahjong game. More will appear here as they are added.
Same player count
Last updated 2026-09-14 · Run by Qdan, Inc.