Push or Fold?

Risk management in mahjong

Every turn: Are you pushing for win, or folding to survive?

🟢 PUSH (go for win) when:

• You're one tile from winning (tenpai)

• Your hand is valuable (multiple Pungs, honors)

• No one else looks close to winning

• You have safe discards available

🔴 FOLD (play safe) when:

• An opponent shows signs of tenpai (3+ exposed melds, or a suit

they've stopped touching entirely)

• Your hand is far from complete

• Your hand isn't valuable (not worth risk)

• You have dangerous tiles and no safe ones

THE MATH:

• You deal in: you pay double the base (the other two pay single each)

• Someone else deals in: you pay single — half what the dealer-in pays

• They self-draw: everyone pays double, so nobody is spared

• If you're not close to winning: Why risk dealing in?

PRO TIP: At 7+ tiles from winning, strongly consider folding if anyone is close. At 1-2 tiles, push if you can do it safely.