3Game play

The object of play is to form a complete hand. The ultimate object of the game is to accumulate the most points from the winning hands. It doesn’t matter how many hands each player has won, the accumulated score determines the winner.

3Game play

The object of play is to form a complete hand. The ultimate object of the game is to accumulate the most points from the winning hands. It doesn’t matter how many hands each player has won, the accumulated score determines the winner.

3.1Phases of the game

A player’s turn begins when a tile is acquired and ends when a tile is discarded. During a normal set of turns all players have their turn once. A normal set of turns is interrupted if a tile is claimed for kong, pung or chow, or a concealed kong is declared. A hand lasts until a player has completed a hand and won, or a drawn game occurs. During a round all players are East in turn. A complete game consist of two rounds: the east round and the south round.

3.1Phases of the game

A player’s turn begins when a tile is acquired and ends when a tile is discarded. During a normal set of turns all players have their turn once. A normal set of turns is interrupted if a tile is claimed for kong, pung or chow, or a concealed kong is declared. A hand lasts until a player has completed a hand and won, or a drawn game occurs. During a round all players are East in turn. A complete game consist of two rounds: the east round and the south round.

3.2Mahjong hand

A complete mahjong hand is composed of four sets and a pair. A set may be either a chow, a pung or a kong. In addition, a complete hand must have at least one yaku (double). A player who is furiten, is not allowed to win on a discard.
A chow is three consecutive tiles of the same suit. Chows cannot be made with dragons or winds. 8-9-1 in the same suit is not a chow. A pung is composed of three identical tiles. A kong is composed of four identical tiles. A pair is composed of two identical tiles.
Chow 4man5man6man Pung 4pin4pin4pin Kong easteasteasteast
Two special hands exist in riichi which are not composed of four sets and a pair: Seven Pairs and Thirteen Orphans.

3.2Mahjong hand

A complete mahjong hand is composed of four sets and a pair. A set may be either a chow, a pung or a kong. In addition, a complete hand must have at least one yaku (double). A player who is furiten, is not allowed to win on a discard. A chow is three consecutive tiles of the same suit. Chows cannot be made with dragons or winds. 8-9-1 in the same suit is not a chow. A pung is composed of three identical tiles. A kong is composed of four identical tiles. A pair is composed of two identical tiles.
Chow 4man5man6man Pung 4pin4pin4pin Kong easteasteasteast
Two special hands exist in riichi which are not composed of four sets and a pair: Seven Pairs and Thirteen Orphans.

3.3A player’s turn

Players take their turns in order. East begins, and the turn order proceeds counterclockwise.
A player begins his turn by drawing a tile. However, since East begins with fourteen tiles, East doesn’t draw a tile on his first turn. If the player can’t or won’t declare a win or a kong, the player ends his turn by discarding one of his concealed tiles.
East should wait until all players have seen and sorted their tiles before making the first discard.
Players should take care to discard tiles without covering them with the hand.
Discards are placed in an orderly fashion, left to right and six tiles to a row, in front of each player and within the wall, so that it is clear who discarded which tiles and in which order.

3.3A player’s turn

Players take their turns in order. East begins, and the turn order proceeds counterclockwise.
A player begins his turn by drawing a tile. However, since East begins with fourteen tiles, East doesn’t draw a tile on his first turn. If the player can’t or won’t declare a win or a kong, the player ends his turn by discarding one of his concealed tiles.
Discards are placed in an orderly fashion,
six to a row, in front of each player and within the wall, so that it is clear who discarded which tiles and in which order.

3.3.1Precedence and timing when claiming a tile

The most recent discard can be claimed by any player for a pung or kong until the next player draws. The most recent discard can be claimed for a win by any player until the next player discards, except in case of tsumo.
A claimed kong or pung may result in players losing their turn, as play continues from the claiming player, not from the discarding player. If a player claims a tile for winning, any concurrent claim for kong, pung or chow is ignored. It is possible for several players to win on the same discard. The player about to begin his turn can claim the most recent discard for a chow. If the player doesn’t want to claim the discard, he begins his turn by drawing a tile from the wall.

playsetsright.jpg

Claiming a tile for winning takes precedence over any other claim. Claiming a tile for kong or pung takes precedence over a claim
for chow. A player who has claimed a tile for winning cannot change his claim.
Players are not limited in time to play, but they are expected to play at a reasonable pace.
A player drawing tiles too fast for the other players to have time to call, or repeatedly taking an overly long time, can be penalized for obstruction at the referee’s discretion.
If a player is drawing a tile too fast for the other players to have time to call, the call is still valid and the drawn tile is replaced in the wall.

3.3.1The most recent discard

The most recent discard can be claimed by any of the other players, provided they can complete a mahjong hand, a kong or a pung. A claimed kong or pung may result in players losing their turn, as play continues from the claiming player, not from the discarding player. If a player claims a tile for winning, any concurrent claim for kong, pung or chow is ignored. It is possible for several players to win on the same discard. The player about to begin his turn can claim the most recent discard for a chow. If the player doesn’t want to claim the discard, he begins his turn by picking a tile from the wall.

playsetsright.jpg

Claiming a tile for winning takes precedence over any other claim. Claiming a tile for kong or pung takes precedence over a claim
for chow, but should occur within three seconds. A player who has claimed a tile for winning cannot change his claim.
If
the most recent discard is claimed after the next player has picked a tile, but within three seconds after the discard, the picked tile is replaced in the wall.

3.3.2Swap-calling (kuikae)

Swap-calling (kuikae) is not allowed. It is not allowed to claim a tile and immediately discard the same tile. It is not allowed to claim a tile for chow and discard the tile from other end of the chow.
It is not allowed to claim 1pin for pung 1pin1pin1pin and discard 1pin.
It is not allowed to claim 1pin for chow 1pin2pin3pin and discard 1pin or 4pin.