Behaviour Etiquette
In the Riichi community, various levels of table mannerisms are needed to be observed to create a conducive and pleasant playing environment for all depending on the event and players you play with. Below are the various level of mannerisms required; the lower level is the subset of a higher level
In Singapore, players are to observe good sportsmanship when playing Riichi mahjong. This means players are to have integrity, be good winners/losers, humble and always respectful of others.
Always in force (all levels, all table types) — Do Not:
Slam tiles · shout/scream · throw score sticks · mock/laugh/celebrate at moves or wins/losses · accuse of cheating without evidence · verbally abuse or personally attack players · rant >1min about a hand · blame/criticise other players · refuse dealer duties (shuffle/dice/wall-break)
| Level | Do | Do Not |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic table | Press the button only after all score sticks are kept and exchanged · have the next dealer press the button | Place sticks on the tray/groove area where tiles drop or rise |
| 1 – Friendly | Push the wall forward at an angle · wait your turn for starting tiles · vocalise Chi/Pon/Kan/Riichi/Ron/Tsumo before revealing tiles · discard Riichi tile before placing stick · place Rinshan tile down · keep dice on right after throwing · vocalise Yaku/score on win | Place tiles face down after Riichi · take the Ron tile · help others check Ura-dora · make self-deprecating hand comments · use phone unnecessarily · look at hands even post-Riichi · imitate anime/MahjongSoul behaviour |
| 2 – Informal | Shove-shuffle (not rub-shuffle) · stack wall face-down · reveal tiles with two hands on win · make first discard only after all hands opened · ask host before eating · place sticks clearly, verify change before storing | Waste time after Riichi draw/discard · comment/question others’ play (advice-seeking OK) · look at hands even after outcome concluded · give unsolicited tips · show opponents’ winning tiles unasked · justify own plays · drink/smoke · wear earpieces · declare score in a language not everyone understands |
| 3 – Semi-Formal | — | Use reference materials (Yaku list, cheat sheet) · check dead wall/next draws post-outcome · show hand post-outcome · discuss hands · thank players when claiming sticks · apologise for winning · fidget with tiles · play music |
| 4 – Formal | Throw dice only after all walls stacked · pay with minimal sticks · announce score only on win, base → total → honba order | Mumble or comment during play · talk unless necessary · slide drawn tile to table-end on self-draw · look at other players’ faces, especially while waiting or after a win — keep gaze low |
| 5 – Competitive | Dealer cuts the wall themselves · draw/discard/meld with one hand only · hold drawn tile at side before discarding · make first discard only after all hands arranged · each meld is stacked horizontally · Carried-over sticks placed with its long side facing to the right on the right side | Rest hand/arm beyond own tiles · touch another player’s wall or discard pool · split the dead wall out |
| 5.5 – Association / Event Based (Japan tournaments) | Discard only after claiming the tile · wait for opponent to finish placing the Riichi stick before drawing · move discarded tile to far-left of pool immediately | — |
| Broadcast Only (do not imitate at a regular table) | Push the wall forward at a shallower angle than standard · bring the winning tile next to the hand after declaring Ron · keep the drawn tile obviously visible to camera, at a decent tempo, before discarding, even after Riichi is declared | Lay the drawn tile horizontally on top of the hand — practice has stopped |
Riichi Mahjong in Singapore 