Mahjong Hand

When to Fold vs Push in Riichi

riichitips

When the wall feels dangerous, folding (betaori direction) often beats a thin push for a low-value hand.

Shape A — fold (betaori direction)

Pinfu sample

234 Man
2 Man
3 Man
4 Man
345 Pin
3 Pin
4 Pin
5 Pin
678 Sou
6 Sou
7 Sou
8 Sou
Pair
2 Pin
2 Pin
Wait
5 Sou
8 Sou
Edit in hand generator →View pattern page →Open storyboard →

Shape B — push (tenpai)

Riichi-ready sample

123 Man
1 Man
2 Man
3 Man
456 Pin
4 Pin
5 Pin
6 Pin
789 Sou
7 Sou
8 Sou
9 Sou
Pon
East
East
East
Pair
3 Pin
Edit in hand generator →View pattern page →Open storyboard →

Side by side

Hand A

Pinfu sample

234 Man
2 Man
3 Man
4 Man
345 Pin
3 Pin
4 Pin
5 Pin
678 Sou
6 Sou
7 Sou
8 Sou
Pair
2 Pin
2 Pin
Wait
5 Sou
8 Sou

Hand B

Riichi-ready sample

123 Man
1 Man
2 Man
3 Man
456 Pin
4 Pin
5 Pin
6 Pin
789 Sou
7 Sou
8 Sou
9 Sou
Pon
East
East
East
Pair
3 Pin

See Betaori and Tenpai. Also read Which discard is safer? and Furiten tips.

Open generator to mark which tile you would discard in each case.

Practice with the side-by-side comparison above — then open a hand in the generator.

Explain this comparison