A practical guide to playing offline
You have played online and now want a real table. This lesson covers the three practical things: where to play, how to confirm the rules, and how to protect your money.
Where rules are involved the basis is stated; where numbers are involved they are computed by
mahjong-score.js.
Lesson 1 · Three settings — pick the right one first
The biggest difference between offline and online is rules are not uniform and real money is involved. Choosing the setting matters more than choosing a technique.
| Setting | What it is like | Who it suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online platform (Mahjong Soul / Tenhou) | Uniform rules, reviewable, hand logs, no cash | Everyone | No real-money pressure — the best place to practise |
| Riichi parlour / mahjong club | Cash involved, rules differ by venue, gear risk | People who want the offline atmosphere | Confirm the rules first, start with small stakes |
| Health mahjong / tea room | Usually no betting, relaxed atmosphere | People who just want to play without pressure | Mixed levels, slow progress |
| Tournament / competition venue | Strict rules, referees, high bar | Players with a base who want to break through | Check your eligibility first |
My advice: online first, offline second
Online gives you uniform rules plus review — you can look at the hand log immediately after and find your mistakes. Offline has neither (records are on your phone, rules come from asking).
So: build your basics online (shape, tenpai, scoring), then use offline play for atmosphere and real pressure. Doing it the other way round (straight to offline) easily builds the habit of never seeing where you went wrong.
See the platform guide for rule settings and hand-log export.
Lesson 2 · Every house is different — ask these five things
This is the most practical section of the lesson. Riichi house rules vary a lot, and if you do not ask you will keep scoring it wrong.
| Must ask | Common variation | Why it affects you |
|---|---|---|
| Where the mangan line sits | Standard (3 han 70 fu / 4 han 40 fu) or rounded-up mangan (3 han 60 fu / 4 han 30 fu) | The same hand can differ by 300 points (7,700 vs 8,000) |
| Fu for the double wind | 2 fu or 4 fu | Affects 1–2 han hands |
| Is open tanyao allowed | Allowed or not | Decides whether you can call for tanyao |
| Are there red fives | 0 / 1 / 3 | Directly affects the score (each is 1 han) |
| Ippatsu / ura dora | On or off | Affects your expected win rate and the ceiling |
- 3 han 60 fu: under standard rules 7,700 points; under rounded-up mangan it becomes a mangan, 8,000 points.
- 4 han 30 fu: 7,700 under standard rules; 8,000 under rounded-up mangan.
Lesson 3 · Gear check: the first line of defence offline
Offline there is real cash on the table, and the risk of tampered gear is real. The checks in this section come from this site's verified anti-cheat handbook, and rest on three principles:
- Check before the game starts: that is the only moment it works. Once play begins, the traces of gear-based methods are gone. Look against the light, check thickness, watch for repeated motions while shuffling — the procedure is in the anti-cheat handbook.
- Tiles and dice rotate: do not accept “the other side supplies the tiles”. A normal game has each player bring their own in turn, or a mixed spot check on the spot.
- If you find something, do not confront: exposing it at the table destroys the evidence, and if you are outnumbered you are the one at a disadvantage. The correct sequence is leave → secure evidence → report to the police.
One key difference between online and offline
Online platforms (Mahjong Soul, Tenhou and others) have system-level anti-cheat (random shuffles, deal verification), so gear-based methods have almost no room.
Offline it depends entirely on your own checks and judgement — which is why offline play needs more care.
If you are new to offline play: start with small stakes among people you know, get used to the checking routine, then move to serious amounts.
Lesson 4 · Rule comparison: what the mangan line actually costs
Lesson 2 explained why the mangan line matters; here the engine computes exactly how many points are at stake. The table compares “standard rules” (the default: mangan from 3 han 70 fu / 4 han 40 fu) with “rounded-up mangan” (3 han 60 fu / 4 han 30 fu):
| Han / fu | Standard (site default) | Rounded-up mangan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 han 60 fu | 7,700 | 8,000 | +300 |
| 4 han 30 fu | 7,700 | 8,000 | +300 |
The right approach: ask at the start, then score by their rules. This page and scoring are written to the default standard rules; where they differ, the house wins.
Lesson 5 · Five common misunderstandings
| Misunderstanding | What is actually true |
|---|---|
| “The tiles everyone online raves about — good sound, good feel — must be the best” | Offline tiles come in many materials (resin, acrylic, composites); feel and durability vary by person, but the effect on skill is tiny. Do not agonise over gear. |
| “Beginners should learn on new tiles” | Real tiles may have been used for years (markings worn away), which actually makes them better for practising tile reading. A familiar environment matters more. |
| “Losing means I played well” | A single result contains luck. Judge by review, not by win or loss — see advanced: review. |
| “You must play better offline than online” | Offline adds pressure and background noise, so performance is often worse than online. That is normal; you have not regressed. |
| “The more people you know, the easier the game” | The value of a friendly game is atmosphere and trust, but be careful: a friendly game can still be a set-up by people you know (the risk is not only strangers). See anti-cheat. |
Lesson 6 · Managing money: make stop-loss a habit
When real money is involved, the most important skill beyond technique is not losing control. This section is not about luck; it is about the part you control.
| Principle | How to do it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Set a stop-loss in advance | Decide before you sit down “the most I lose tonight”, and stop when you reach it, regardless of the current hand | Winning or losing right now feeds the urge to “win it back” |
| Start small | New or returning players use very small stakes to get used to the environment | Lowers the cost of mistakes, and lowers what you are worth targeting |
| Do not chase losses | When you are far behind, do not “raise the stakes to get it back” | The scoring system is designed so chasing losses does not pay |
| Set a time limit | Decide how long you play and stop on time | Judgement drops when you are tired, which is when big losses happen |
| Keep records | Write down the result and the key decisions of each session | Raw material for review, and the only way to find your own problems |
Lesson 7 · Offline safety
- Do not go to places you do not know: for your first offline game, choose a properly licensed venue, ideally with someone you know.
- Do not play after drinking: alcohol clearly reduces judgement and self-control — this is stressed repeatedly in the anti-cheat handbook.
- Look after your body: mahjong means long sitting; rest and drink water, and stop when fatigue or mood swings appear.
- Keep your belongings safe: phone and wallet where you can see them.
- If something feels wrong, leave: if the atmosphere is odd, someone keeps urging you to raise the stakes, or you simply feel uncomfortable — leaving matters more than staying to win.
Lesson 8 · The transition from online to offline
If you have only played online and want to try offline, go in this order:
- Reach a stable rank online: at least confirm your basics (shape, scoring) are sound.
- Watch first, do not play: go to a venue just to observe — how people play, how the rules are set.
- Small friendly game: join a small game organised by people you know, and get used to the environment and the checking routine.
- Raise the stakes gradually: only once you trust your judgement.
- Keep records: log offline games the same way as online; review is worth as much wherever you play.