Jenn Barr's Guide to the Wonderful World of Riichi Mahjong

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Created on Sunday, 07 February 2010 13:10

Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 18:00

Written by Martin Rep

This is a book for beginners in the game of ‘reach mahjong’ - which is, according to the subtitle of her book, and also of her web site, ‘the only way to play’. So Jenn Barr, an American in Tokyo, takes you by the hand and leads you into the wonderful world of riichi mahjong.

That is just great. But, then again, I wonder: why do mahjong instruction books always have to spend so many pages on the dull and un-entertaining explanation how the wall is built? And that you can chow only from the player who is seated on your left site? That there is no such thing as a chow of green dragon-red dragon-white dragon? This all means that it is not until page 41 before Jenn starts telling about the only way she plays. That’s riichi mahjong. (Unfortunately, not the only way to play…)

Then there is something else. Do you know what bump is? A run? A quad? What eating is? Eating is about the same as stealing: claiming a discarded tile. What a Hand Point is? That’s what is generally called a ‘double’ or fan; more specific, a ‘yaku’ in riichi mahjong. And a 'River Win' is winning with a discarded tile. In riichi mahjong, players call that 'ron', but Jenn hardly ever uses that word.

You get the picture: Jenn is an all-American girl, and she uses American terminology when describing the game. Well, it’s not a big thing, you just have to get used to it.

 Tips and tricks

So, now the great part. Let’s make it quite clear: Jenn’s book is fun to read. And she knows a lot about mahjong; she is the only American girl who plays as a pro in the Japanese Professional Mahjong League, ‘the biggest and most successful professional mahjong league in the world’. So she knows lots of tips and tricks and she wants to share them with you, the reader.

She pays much attention to the hard job of calculating the value of your winning hand, and she gives some exercises to help you in mastering this part. She has made little quizzes to excercize this. Same goes for another important part of the game, determining how many tiles you are away from being ready. 'You want to make sure that every discard you make has a reason,' Jenn says. That is why she stresses that it is important to know, from the start, how many tiles from 'riichi' or 'reach' or 'ready' you are. Perhaps you did not know this: 'The furthest your hand will ever be away from ready, is 6 away.'

Also here, nice little (and not too easy!) quizzes.

Here are some examples.How many tiles away from Ready?

a)

b)

The strategy part is great, and we would love to read more about that in a next book. But also, some of the more basic lessons are great. E.g., when you have declared ready, you sometimes can and sometimes cannot declare a concealed kong.

Which kongs are legal in the next two cases after riiching?

c)

d)

Please fill the answers in the comment form below; correct answers (and new comments) will be given in a week or so.

The book covers also the various yaku in riichi, but also less common ones (used in 'house rules'), rules for two- or three player mahjong, multiple winners, fouls, how to read your opponent's tiles. etc.

Concluding: finally, here's a great riichi book for an English audience. Even though I think that sometimes it is a little too basic, it is very useful. Wish I had written it myself, but: no time, feeling to unsure, being too lazy… And I am looking forward to the next book, which hopefully will lead us further in the wonderful world of riichi.

Comments (6)

Too bad for the English terms !...

1Sunday, 07 February 2010 17:04

Bigbenr

As a non English-speaking, I find japanese terminology easier to use. Still, the calculating part seems interesting !

Concerning the answers, I'll try :
a) 2 for a San ankou
b) 2 again, waiting for the pair

For the kong, I think you can declare it if it doesn't change your winning tile(s) (the Riichi is locking the hand). Therefore :
c) Winning tile : 6 pin, so go ahead and kong with a 3 sou or 6 sou.
d) Winning tiles are Pei (north), 4 sou and 7 sou. So you can't kong with a 7 sou.

answers

2Monday, 08 February 2010 22:07

Morten Andersen

a) 1 away from seven pairs
b) 2 away..either closing the pair and a chow
or both double-ended chows.
c) Since the 3 and 6 can both be considered as
part of a chow none of them can be chowed.
d) Again the 7 can be considered part of a chow
so no kanging that.

Re: Jenn Barr's Book

3Tuesday, 09 February 2010 18:52

anon

It is a decent book if you have never ever played riichi mahjong before, ever. As in, you have no clue what these little plastic things are, and why there are funny pictures on them, and what they are used for.

Thanks Martin!

4Tuesday, 16 February 2010 15:28

Jenn

I really appreciate the review and feedback.

There is a full glossary in the back too to match up to Japanese terms.

It was my first book, a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. I know not everyone is going to love every part of it, but hopefully it will help us make more friends in the game.

…and here are the answers on Jenn Barrs quizzes!

5Friday, 12 March 2010 00:08

Mahjong News

Here are the results, as quoted from Jenn's book
a)2 away from Ready
b)3 away from Ready
c)Non kan allowed, since the Bamboo 4 and Bamboo 8 waits are lost
d)may not be 'quadded' since it is a winning tile.

Thanks for being with us, guys! I see your replies do not always match the ones in the book - feel free to correspond about it.

Martin Rep

Thanks again!

6Monday, 15 March 2010 13:30

Jenn

The first question should be 1 away, not 2. This correction is already in for the next print and on RM.com as well.

The 2nd Away question is not listed here as it is in the book. The Honors in the book are East-South-West-West, but in this column it's showing as no South and 3 Wests.
On this site, Morten is right, it's 2 away, in the book it's 3.

Thanks!!!

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