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Mahjong School
The fun way to master Riichi Mahjong

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Master Japanese Riichi Mahjong from beginner to expert with bite-sized lessons, interactive exercises, and real gameplay. Earn XP, maintain streaks, and compete on leaderboards.

Trusted by mahjong players in 50+ countries

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0+Yaku Covered
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How It Works

Four simple steps to mahjong mastery.

1

Learn

Bite-sized lessons teach you tiles, rules, and strategy at your own pace.

2

Practice

Interactive exercises reinforce what you learn with instant feedback.

3

Play

Apply your skills in full games against AI or real opponents.

4

Master

Climb the leaderboards and earn your place among the best.

Everything you need to master Mahjong

Our gamified learning system makes mastering Riichi Mahjong fun and effective.

Structured Curriculum

8 sections taking you from complete beginner to expert level, covering tiles, yaku, scoring, efficiency, and strategy.

Earn XP & Level Up

Complete lessons to earn experience points. Watch your level grow as you progress through the curriculum.

Daily Streaks

Build a daily learning habit. Maintain your streak and use streak freezes when life gets busy.

Hearts System

Make mistakes and learn from them. Hearts regenerate over time, keeping you motivated to try again.

Leagues & Leaderboards

Compete with learners worldwide. Climb through Bronze to Pearl leagues based on weekly XP.

Play Real Games

Practice what you learn in full Riichi Mahjong games against AI opponents or other players.

A complete learning path

From knowing nothing to playing competitively.

1
Beginner

Fundamentals

Learn the 34 tile types, basic terminology, and hand structure

2
Beginner

Playing the Game

Drawing, discarding, calling tiles, and winning basics

3
Intermediate

Yaku Fundamentals

Essential winning patterns: Riichi, Tanyao, Yakuhai, Pinfu

4
Intermediate

Scoring Basics

Han counting, fu calculation, and score tables

5
Advanced

Tile Efficiency

Shanten, wait patterns, and optimal discards

6
Advanced

Defense

Reading danger, safe tiles, and when to fold

7
Expert

Strategy

Push/fold decisions, reading opponents, game flow

8
Expert

Mastery

Advanced yaku, perfect efficiency, tournament play

See the Curriculum

8 sections covering everything from your first tile to tournament mastery.

1

Fundamentals

Beginner
  • •34 tile types (man, pin, sou, honors)
  • •Basic terminology (mentsu, jantai)
  • •Hand structure: 4 sets + 1 pair
2

Playing the Game

Beginner
  • •Draw and discard cycle
  • •Calling tiles (chi, pon, kan)
  • •Winning by tsumo and ron
3

Yaku Fundamentals

Intermediate
  • •Essential yaku: Riichi, Tanyao, Yakuhai
  • •Pinfu and Iipeiko
  • •Open vs closed hand distinctions
4

Scoring Basics

Intermediate
  • •Han and fu counting
  • •Score lookup tables
  • •Dealer vs non-dealer payments

For all levels

Whether you have never seen a mahjong tile or you are preparing for tournaments, our adaptive curriculum meets you where you are.

Complete BeginnersCasual PlayersCompetitive PlayersTournament Prep

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Riichi Mahjong and Mahjong School.

What is Riichi Mahjong?
Riichi Mahjong is the Japanese variant of mahjong, a four-player tile game where you draw and discard tiles to build a winning hand. It features unique mechanics like the riichi declaration, dora bonus tiles, and a structured scoring system with yaku (hand patterns).
Is Mahjong School free?
Yes! All core lessons, practice exercises, and the terms glossary are completely free. You can learn everything from basic tiles to advanced strategy without paying anything.
How long does it take to learn mahjong?
Most beginners can learn the basic rules and play their first game within a few hours. Understanding all the common yaku and basic strategy takes about 2-4 weeks of regular practice. True mastery, including scoring, tile efficiency, and defensive play, develops over months and years.
What's the difference between Riichi and other mahjong variants?
Riichi Mahjong (Japanese) differs from Chinese, Hong Kong, and American mahjong in several ways: it uses a riichi declaration mechanic, has specific yaku (hand patterns) required to win, uses dora bonus tiles, and has a unique scoring system based on han and fu. The tile set is also slightly different, with no flower or season tiles.
Can I play against other people?
Yes! Mahjong School offers multiplayer games against real opponents as well as AI practice matches. You can play casual games to practice or compete in ranked matches and tournaments.
Do I need to know Japanese to play?
Not at all. While many mahjong terms have Japanese names (like tsumo, ron, and riichi), our lessons explain every term in English with clear definitions. Our glossary covers all 78+ terms with Japanese characters, romaji pronunciation, and detailed English explanations.
What are yaku in mahjong?
Yaku are the winning hand patterns in Riichi Mahjong. To win a hand, your tiles must form at least one valid yaku. There are over 30 standard yaku ranging from simple 1-han patterns like Riichi and Tanyao to rare yakuman limit hands. Our Yaku Explorer covers every yaku with examples and strategy tips.
How does scoring work in Riichi Mahjong?
Scoring in Riichi Mahjong is based on two factors: han (from yaku patterns and dora bonus tiles) and fu (base points from hand composition). The combined han and fu determine the payment, which scales from basic 1-han hands up through mangan, haneman, baiman, sanbaiman, and the maximum yakuman. Dealers receive 1.5x scoring on their wins.

Ready to start your Mahjong journey?

Join thousands of learners mastering Riichi Mahjong the fun way.

M
Mahjong School

The fun, free way to learn Riichi Mahjong. From complete beginner to tournament-ready.

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