Riichi Teaching Method

This is the standard teaching method we use at Queen City Riichi. It is an accelerated version of the Tibetan Teaching Method.

Overall Rules

• Do not use red fives.
• Repeat each step as necessary.
• Play with revealed hands as necessary.
• Explain the deck composition (what tiles and how many of each).
• Explain what “sets” are: 3 tiles in the same suit either in a sequence or of the same kind (no, don’t teach kan).
• Avoid explaining unnecessary rules that “come up” (e.g., don’t say “in a real game you’d be furiten and can’t actually call ron here” when the table didn’t even finish the “Chinese Mahjong with Yaku” part)

Teach Chinese Mahjong with Yaku

1. start with pinzu and souzu, with a goal to build 2 sets and 1 pair. Introduce the concept of “ron” and “tsumo”. (no yaku required; the ron/tsumo calls should make winning rewarding)
2. add in pon and chii
3. add in honors. Now 4 sets + 1 pair.
4. introduce beginner yaku (including explaining open hands, round winds, etc.)
5. add in manzu

In short:

1. pinzu + souzu
2. calling
3. honors
4. yaku
5. manzu

Add in Furiten and Scoring

Once the beginners are confident with the above rules:

1. furiten (“can’t call ron on ANY tile if you discarded one of your waits”)
2. simplified scoring system (1k -> 2k -> 4k -> 8k -> 12k, etc.)
3. add in dora and kan