Virginia Beach, VA
Riichi Mahjong — Rules, Strategy & Tournaments in Virginia Beach
Riichi Mahjong is the Japanese style of mahjong used in competitive play worldwide. Setting Sun VB is Virginia Beach's home for Riichi Mahjong — offering open play, beginner lessons, weekly workshops, and monthly ARA-certified tournaments.
How to Play Riichi Mahjong
New to Riichi Mahjong? Here's a beginner-friendly overview of the rules and core concepts. The best way to learn is to come in and play — our instructors are always happy to walk you through it.
The Tiles
A standard mahjong set has 136 tiles: 3 suited suits (Man, Pin, Sou — numbered 1–9, four copies each), 3 dragon tiles, 4 wind tiles, and sometimes red dora. You'll need to recognize all of them by sight.
Building Your Hand
A winning hand consists of 4 sets (sequences or triplets) + 1 pair. Sequences are 3 consecutive tiles in the same suit. Triplets are 3 identical tiles. The pair is 2 identical tiles.
Drawing and Discarding
Each turn, draw one tile from the wall and discard one tile face-up. You can also claim discards to complete a sequence (chi), triplet (pon), or quad (kan) — with some restrictions.
Yaku — Required for Winning
In Riichi Mahjong, your winning hand must have at least one yaku (a qualifying pattern). Without a yaku, you cannot declare a win. There are 30+ yaku — beginners typically start with Riichi, Tanyao, and Yakuhai.
Scoring
Scoring is based on han (value multiplier from yaku) and fu (base points from hand structure). A 1-han hand is worth the least; mangan (5 han or high fu) and above have fixed payout values.
Defense
Riichi Mahjong has a dealing-in penalty system. If another player wins off your discard, you pay their hand value. Learning safe tiles and reading the table is half the game.
Common Riichi Mahjong Yaku
Yaku are the qualifying hand patterns you need to win. There are 30+ yaku, but beginners should focus on mastering these 6 first.
Riichi
Declare riichi when you're tenpai with a closed hand. Adds 1 yaku and increases your hand's value.
Tanyao
An all-simples hand — no terminals (1s, 9s) or honor tiles. One of the most common and beginner-friendly yaku.
Pinfu
A hand with all sequences (no triplets), a non-yakuhai pair, and a two-sided wait. Must be closed.
Yakuhai (Yakupai)
A triplet of value tiles — dragons, seat winds, or round winds.
Iipeiko
Two identical sequences in the same suit. Closed hand only.
Tsumo
Self-draw win. Adds 1 yaku when winning with a closed hand by drawing your own winning tile.
Want to learn all the yaku in depth? Book a lesson with our instructors.
Riichi Mahjong at Setting Sun VB
Setting Sun VB is the premier destination for Riichi Mahjong in Virginia Beach and the wider Hampton Roads area. We have automated tile shuffler tables — the same style used in Japanese mahjong parlors — that make the game faster and more enjoyable. We host a monthly Riichi Mahjong tournament certified by the American Riichi Association (ARA). These are real competitive events with official rules and standings. Whether you're aiming to compete at the national level or just want to test your skills against serious players, our tournaments are the place to be. Weekly workshops on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays cover everything from beginner basics to advanced strategy. All skill levels are welcome.
Open Play
$10/hr · Automated tables
Drop in and play. Perfect for regulars and visitors alike.
Monthly Tournament
ARA-Certified · WRC Rules
Competitive Riichi Mahjong with official rankings.
Ready to Play Riichi Mahjong?
4878 Princess Anne Rd. 105, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Mahjong lessons available · Open play daily · Monthly tournaments