Riichi Mahjong Download: How to Play the Japanese Version of Mahjong Online
If you are looking for a fun, challenging, and strategic game that can also improve your mental skills, you might want to try riichi mahjong. Riichi mahjong is a variation of the ancient Chinese tile game mahjong, which is played by four players using 136 tiles. Riichi mahjong is also known as Japanese mahjong, as it originated and developed in Japan. It has become one of the most popular table games in Japan, as well as in other countries around the world. It has also inspired many anime, manga, video games, and movies that feature dramatic and comic situations involving mahjong.
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In this article, we will introduce you to the basics of riichi mahjong, and show you how to download and play it online. We will also give you some tips and tricks to help you improve your skills and enjoy the game more. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you will find something useful and interesting in this article. So, let's get started!
The Basics of Riichi Mahjong
Before you download and play riichi mahjong online, you need to know some of the basic concepts and rules of the game. Here are some of the most important ones:
The Tiles and the Suits
Riichi mahjong is played with 136 tiles, which are divided into four groups: three suits and one honor group. The three suits are manzu (circles), pinzu (bamboos), and souzu (characters). Each suit has nine tiles, numbered from one to nine. The one and nine tiles are called terminals, while the two to eight tiles are called simples. The honor group consists of wind tiles (east, south, west, north) and dragon tiles (white, green, red). There are four identical tiles for each type, making a total of 34 different tiles.
Some variants of riichi mahjong also use red fives, which are bonus tiles that add extra points to your hand. There is one red five for each suit, replacing a normal five tile. You can choose to enable or disable this option when you play online.
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The Goal and the Hand Structure
The goal of riichi mahjong is to form a complete hand of 14 tiles before your opponents. A complete hand consists of four sets and one pair. A set can be either a sequence (three consecutive tiles of the same suit) or a triplet (three identical tiles). A pair is two identical tiles. For example, this is a complete hand:
1 2 3 souzu 4 5 6 souzu 7 8 9 souzu 5 5 manzu east east (sequence) (sequence) (sequence) (pair) (triplet)
There are also some special hands that do not follow this structure, such as chitoitsu (seven pairs) or kokushi musou (thirteen orphans). These hands are usually harder to make but worth more points.
The Rules and the Scoring System
Riichi mahjong has many rules that make the game more complex and exciting. Some of the most important ones are:
Dora: Dora are bonus tiles that add extra points to your hand if you have them. The dora tiles are indicated by the tiles next to the dead wall, which is a stack of 14 tiles that are not used in the game. For example, if the tile next to the dead wall is 2 manzu, then 3 manzu is the dora tile. There are also ura-dora, which are hidden dora tiles that are revealed only after you win a hand, and kan-dora, which are extra dora tiles that are added when you declare a kan (four identical tiles).
Riichi: Riichi is a special declaration that you can make when you have a ready hand, which means you only need one more tile to complete your hand. When you declare riichi, you place a 1000-point stick on the table and lock your hand, meaning you cannot change it anymore. Declaring riichi gives you access to ura-dora and increases your hand value, but also makes you more predictable to your opponents.
Furiten: Furiten is a state that prevents you from winning by ron (stealing the last tile from another player's discard). You are in furiten if the tile you need to complete your hand is in your own discard pile, or if you have passed on a winning tile from another player's discard before. You can only win by tsumo (drawing the last tile yourself) when you are in furiten.
Yaku: Yaku are special conditions that give your hand a minimum value and allow you to win. There are many yaku in riichi mahjong, such as tanyao (all simples), yakuhai (triplet of honors), pinfu (all sequences and a valueless pair), and so on. Some yaku are worth more than others, and some yaku can be combined together. You need at least one yaku to win a hand, unless you have a special hand.
The scoring system of riichi mahjong is based on the concept of han and fu. Han are points that measure the difficulty and rarity of your hand, while fu are points that measure the size and shape of your hand. The more han and fu you have, the more points your hand is worth. The points are calculated by multiplying the fu by 2^(2+han), and then rounding up to the nearest 100. There are also some bonus points for dealer, tsumo, and honba (extra points for each consecutive draw).
For example, if you win by tsumo with a ready hand of 1 2 3 manzu 4 5 6 manzu 7 8 9 manzu 5 5 pinzu east east, and the dora tile is 6 manzu, you have the following han and fu:
1 han for riichi
1 han for tsumo
1 han for pinfu
1 han for dora (6 manzu)
20 fu for winning by tsumo
2 fu for a closed wait (5 pinzu)
2 fu for a closed pair of east (dealer's wind)
Your total han is 4 and your total fu is 24. Your base points are 24 x 2^(2+4) = 1536, rounded up to 1600. If you are the dealer, you get 1600 points from each player, for a total of 4800 points. If you are not the dealer, you get 1600 points from the dealer and 800 points from each non-dealer, for a total of 3200 points.
How to Download and Play Riichi Mahjong Online
Now that you know the basics of riichi mahjong, you might be wondering how to download and play it online. There are many apps and websites that offer riichi mahjong download, but not all of them are equally good. Here are some of the best ones that we recommend:
Mahjong Soul
Mahjong Soul is one of the most popular and user-friendly platforms for riichi mahjong download. It has a cute anime-style design, with various characters and backgrounds to choose from. It also has a smooth gameplay, with clear graphics, sound effects, and voice acting. You can play against other players online, or against AI opponents offline. You can also customize your game settings, such as red fives, open tanyao, kuikae (switching tiles in a sequence), and so on.
Mahjong Soul is available as a web browser game, or as an app for iOS and Android devices. You can also play it on your PC by downloading the desktop version from the official website. Mahjong Soul is free to play, but you can also purchase some in-game items and features with real money.
Tenhou
Tenhou is another popular and reliable platform for riichi mahjong download. It has a simple and minimalist design, with no frills or distractions. It also has a fast and smooth gameplay, with high-quality graphics and sound effects. You can play against other players online, or against AI opponents offline. You can also customize your game settings, such as red fives, open tanyao, kuikae, and so on.
Tenhou is available as a web browser game, or as an app for iOS and Android devices. You can also play it on your PC by downloading the desktop version from the official website. Tenhou is free to play, but you can also upgrade to a premium account with some extra features and benefits.
Mahjong Time
Mahjong Time is another great platform for riichi mahjong download. It has a modern and elegant design, with various themes and backgrounds to choose from. It also has a smooth and interactive gameplay, with realistic graphics, sound effects, and voice chat. You can play against other players online, or against AI opponents offline. You can also customize your game settings, such as red fives, open tanyao, kuikae, and so on.
Mahjong Time is available as a web browser game, or as an app for iOS and Android devices. You can also play it on your PC by downloading the desktop version from the official website. Mahjong Time is free to play, but you can also purchase some in-game items and features with real money.
Conclusion
Riichi mahjong is a fascinating and enjoyable game that can challenge your mind and entertain you for hours. It is also easy to download and play online, thanks to the many platforms that offer riichi mahjong download. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you will find a suitable platform for your level and preference.
So, what are you waiting for? Download riichi mahjong today and join the millions of players who love this game. You will not regret it!
FAQs
What are the differences between riichi mahjong and other versions of mahjong?
Riichi mahjong is a variation of the Chinese tile game mahjong, which has many other versions around the world. Some of the main differences are:
Riichi mahjong uses 136 tiles, while other versions may use more or less tiles.
Riichi mahjong has a unique scoring system based on han and fu, while other versions may use different methods of calculating points.
Riichi mahjong has many special rules and terms, such as dora, riichi, furiten, yaku, and so on, while other versions may have different or fewer rules and terms.
How can I learn riichi mahjong faster and easier?
Some of the best ways to learn riichi mahjong faster and easier are:
Read some tutorials and guides that explain the basics of riichi mahjong in detail.
Watch some videos and streams that show how to play riichi mahjong in action.
Practice with some apps and websites that offer riichi mahjong download and have AI opponents or tutorials.
Join some online communities and forums that discuss riichi mahjong and offer tips and advice.
Play with some friends or other players online who can teach you or give you feedback.
What are the special rules and terms in riichi mahjong?
Some of the special rules and terms in riichi mahjong are:
Dora: Bonus tiles that add extra points to your hand if you have them.
Riichi: A special declaration that you can make when you have a ready hand, which locks your hand and increases your hand value.
Furiten: A state that prevents you from winning by ron (stealing the last tile from another player's discard).
Yaku: Special conditions that give your hand a minimum value and allow you to win.
Han: Points that measure the difficulty and rarity of your hand.
Fu: Points that measure the size and shape of your hand.
How can I play riichi mahjong with other players online?
You can play riichi mahjong with other players online by using one of the platforms that offer riichi mahjong download, such as Mahjong Soul, Tenhou, or Mahjong Time. These platforms allow you to join or create a room with other players, and chat with them during the game. You can also choose the game settings, such as the number of rounds, the starting points, the time limit, and so on. You can also view your statistics, rankings, and achievements on these platforms.
Where can I find more resources and information about riichi mahjong?
Some of the best resources and information about riichi mahjong are:
: A comprehensive and beginner-friendly guide that covers everything you need to know about riichi mahjong.
: A website that offers news, articles, videos, podcasts, and events related to riichi mahjong.
: A wiki that contains detailed information and explanations about riichi mahjong rules, terms, yaku, scoring, and more.
: A tool that helps you calculate the points and yaku of your hand.
: A community where you can chat, ask questions, share tips, and find other players to play with.
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about riichi mahjong. If you have any comments or feedback, please let me know. Thank you for reading! 44f88ac181
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