Frequently Asked Questions
Is riichi mahjong different than other kinds of mahjong?
Riichi mahjong is the Japanese variant of mahjong, related to but distinct from Hong Kong mahjong and other regional variants.
Mahjong, the way we play it, generally can be thought of as a rummy-type game, where the idea is to draw and discard tiles to form groups (sequences and triplets) with specific patterns in your hand. It is not the tile matching game you may have played on your computer.
Riichi mahjong is difficult to introduce succinctly, but this zine is a decent place to start, and there are also a growing number of English language introductory resources available online. See our resources page.
Can I play riichi if I only know Hong Kong/Sichuan/etc. mahjong?
Yes, with some adjustment. Riichi has different/additional rules that you will have to pick up and incorporate into your play, but the core skills and idea are largely the same. American mah-jongg is somewhat more distant and if you are an American player it may take extra time to acclimate (but it’s still doable!)
Will UMP only support/offer riichi mahjong?
Riichi mahjong will be the focus of the club, as it is the variant our members have the most experience with. However, we do now officially support Hong Kong Old Style and Mahjong Competition Rules and are open to folks playing other variants as well as long as we have a tileset that can accommodate that (SBR, Taiwanese, Filipino, etc.)
Can I play mahjong online/on my phone?
There are a number online mahjong clients (riichi and otherwise), for PC, consoles, and smartphones. They range widely in popularity, features, and aesthetics. However, many of them are difficult to recommend for one reason or another, particularly for players just learning the game. We recommend learning in-person if possible, and we can offer personalized recommendations for digital clients on request for players of any skill level. If you would really like a way to practice playing online against friends or bots, one option is the open-source, community-developed Riichi Advanced, which is still a work in progress but should be functional for more popular variants like riichi and HKOS.
I’ve only played online (e.g. on Mahjong Soul) or in Yakuza/FFXIV. Will I be able to play in person?
Yes. Online clients omit or automate some of the setup, rules, and conventions important for in-person play with physical tiles, but we are very used to getting folks who have only played online going with live play and we are patient with players who need time to adjust.
Note: unlike online play, in live play there are no tips and nothing stops you from performing illegal moves, so you may have to be careful at first.
Are there any requirements or fees for joining?
Our mahjong club is and will remain free, and we supply the sets, tables, and mats for play. The only thing you need to bring is patience and willingness to learn (riichi mahjong is a game with a relatively steep initial learning curve) and a good attitude! We do accept donations as a way to help us with purchases, fees, and in general to be able to host a better club.
Does UMP have any rules or policies?
We have come up with a set of club rules that are listed in our Discord server. Simply put, please be respectful of everyone, keep the vibe positive and encouraging and be a good sport. The riichi community is diverse: there is a wide range of skill levels and everyone approaches the game from a different place and engages with it differently, and it is important to be accepting of that. We also request that you treat the club equipment (tile sets, tables) with care and allocate playtime fairly. Araiguma Battle also has an established code of conduct.