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Strategy: recap
Strategy chapter recap: tile efficiency and ukeire, riichi judgment, the speed and value balance, and defense with genbutsu and suji in riichi mahjong.
The principle
Riichi strategy starts with efficiency. On every turn you compare discards by ukeire, the unseen tiles that would lower shanten by one. With shanten, value and risk held comparable, a wider shape tends to reach tenpai sooner; it guarantees neither the next draw nor a win.
Rule and example
Next comes the speed and value trade-off. A fast but low-value legal hand pays little; a more valuable but slower line may offer fewer chances to finish. Riichi or damaten depends on wait, value, turn, risk and placement: riichi adds a yaku and unlocks uradora, while damaten preserves flexibility and concealment when another yaku already permits ron.
What changes
Strategy is also defensive. Against riichi, genbutsu eliminate ron risk against that specific player, while suji only reduce certain ryanmen risks. Folding (betaori) can be correct when the hand’s expected gain no longer offsets the danger.
Mistake to avoid
These choices depend on score, placement, seat, turn, and remaining tiles. In oorasu, include Tenhou oka and uma, then recalculate the targets if the table uses WRC uma. No automatic rule replaces that calculation.
Rules references
- Tenhou rulesReference profile used for game mechanics and scoring.
- WRC Rules 2025International rules compared whenever their options differ from Tenhou.