Tenpai: Learn Riichi Mahjong
Oliver Jones
Tenpai teaches you Japanese Riichi mahjong from the very first tile — no prior knowledge, no jargon you can't decode, no dropping you at a table to sink or swim. If you've ever wanted to play the real Japanese version of mahjong but bounced off the rulebook, this is built for you. Lessons are short (about 5 minutes), the path is laid out clearly, and every concept gets practiced before it's tested. LEARN • Six structured units, from the three suits all the way to scoring, yaku, and tactical decisions • Bite-sized exercises: tap-the-tile, multiple choice, real-hand puzzles • A built-in glossary for every Japanese term — tap once, get a plain-English explanation • Earn XP and level up as you go PRACTICE • Tutorial Hands — solo, coached scenarios that walk you through a real turn with the engine narrating each decision • Casual Game — sit down with three AI opponents for a full East round, with riichi, calls, scoring and dealer rotation • Hanchan — the full East-and-South match when you're ready for the real thing • Targeted drills for shanten counting, wait recognition, and discard choice TOOLS • Yaku Reference — every scoring pattern with han value and an example hand • Shanten Checker — paste any 13- or 14-tile hand and see exactly how far you are from winning • Tile Gallery — every tile in the set, with the Japanese terminology WHY TENPAI Most mahjong apps assume you already know how to play. Tenpai doesn't. The Learn track starts with "what is a tile" and ends with you sitting at a real table, recognising yaku at a glance and deciding when to push, fold, or call riichi. The Casual Game is locked until you've finished the rules units — because the goal isn't to confuse you, it's to teach you.