What is Fuuro? Calling and Revealing Your Hand Explained for Beginners

What is Fuuro?

Fuuro (副露) refers to using another player’s discarded tile to complete a set and revealing that part of your hand. Also called “naki” (calling), there are 3 types: pon, chi, and minkan.

While fuuro reveals part of your hand, it allows faster hand progression. Since it breaks menzen (closed hand), some yaku like riichi become unavailable, making it an important strategic choice.

Detailed Explanation of Fuuro

Types of Fuuro

Type	Required Tiles	Who You Can Call From	Revealed Tiles
Pon	Pair (2 same tiles)	Anyone	Triplet (3)
Chi	2 consecutive tiles	Left player only	Sequence (3)
Minkan	Triplet (3 same tiles)	Anyone	Quad (4)

Difference Between Fuuro and Menzen

Menzen (no calls):
- All yaku possible
- Can riichi
- Hand not readable
- Uradora rights

Fuuro (called):
- Some yaku unavailable
- No riichi
- Part of hand revealed
- No uradora

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fuuro

Advantages	Disadvantages
Faster hand	No menzen yaku
Guaranteed set	Hand becomes readable
Can lock in yaku	Lower defense
Maintain tenpai	May lower score

Usage Examples

Real Game Situations

Example 1: Basic Usage

"Call for quick win"
"High call rate"
"Deciding between menzen or fuuro"

Example 2: Strategic Conversation

"Pon yakuhai to lock yaku"
"Call to reach tenpai"
"Worried about defense drop from fuuro"

Example 3: Situational Judgment

"Late game so calling"
"Dora pon confirms 2 han"
"High hand even with fuuro"

Naki: Common name for fuuro
Menzen: State without fuuro
Pon: Calling to make triplet
Chi: Calling to make sequence
Kan: Action to make quad
Kuisagari: Han reduction from calling

Common Mistakes and Points to Note

Points Beginners Often Mistake

Chi Direction Restriction
- Only from left player (kamicha)
- Not from across or right
- Pon is from anyone
Not Understanding Priority
- Ron > Pon/Kan > Chi
- When multiple declarations
- Ron has priority
Confusing with Ankan
- Ankan maintains menzen
- Minkan is fuuro
- Different riichi eligibility
Missing Kuisagari
- Many yaku lose 1 han
- Some become unavailable
- Affects scoring

Fuuro Decision Criteria

When to Call

Situations to actively call:
1. Yaku is locked in
   - Yakuhai pair
   - Confirmed tanyao
   - Dora pon

2. Late game
   - Few turns remaining
   - Formal tenpai aim
   - Stop parent's renchan

3. Point situation
   - Need quick win
   - Even cheap is valuable
   - First place running away

When to Avoid Fuuro

Situation	Reason
Good start hand	Menzen high score
Early game	Keep possibilities
Can riichi	Ippatsu/uradora aim
Defense focus	Fuuro drops defense

Fuuro Tactics

Calling Timing

Effective fuuro timing:
1. Moment yaku locks
   - Avoid no-yaku
   - Secure minimum score

2. Just before tenpai
   - Instant tenpai
   - Pressure

3. Opponent disruption
   - Cancel ippatsu
   - Change flow

Fuuro Compatibility

Yaku	Compatibility	Notes
Yakuhai	◎	Confirmed 1 han
Tanyao	○	Rule-dependent
Toitoi	◎	Call-based yaku
Honitsu	○	-1 han but easier
Pinfu	×	Cannot call
Sanshoku	△	-1 han, difficult

Playing After Fuuro

Points to Note After Calling

Things to be careful about after fuuro:
1. Defense drop
   - Fewer safe tiles
   - Fewer hand tiles
   - Easier to read

2. Wait limitations
   - Hard to change
   - Multi-wait difficult
   - Gets fixed

3. Additional call judgment
   - Further defense drop
   - But becomes faster
   - Balance important

How to Display Fuuro

Display Type	Placement	Meaning
Pon	1 tile sideways	Shows who you called from
Chi	Place on left	From left player only
Minkan	2 end tiles down	4 tiles revealed

Reading Information from Fuuro

What Opponent’s Fuuro Reveals

Information deducible from fuuro:
1. Target yaku
   - Yakuhai pon → Yakuhai
   - Same suit calls → Flush
   - Number tile calls → Tanyao etc.

2. Hand progress
   - Early call → Good hand
   - Late call → Tenpai aim
   - Consecutive calls → All-out attack

3. Wait estimation
   - From called shape
   - Remaining possibilities
   - Identify dangerous tiles

Responding to Fuuro

Opponent’s Fuuro	Response
Yakuhai pon	Watch remaining tiles
Looks like flush	Squeeze that suit
Consecutive calls	Defend with safe tiles
Dora pon	Watch for high hand

Fuuro Etiquette

Proper Fuuro Procedure

Fuuro manners:
1. Clear declaration
   "Pon" "Chi" "Kan"

2. Declare before taking
   Taking then declaring is NG

3. Proper display
   Easy to see position

4. Discard from right
   Tile nearest the wall

Things Not to Do

NG Action	Reason
Silent take	Declaration needed
Late declaration	Timing important
Wrong display	Use correct format
Cancel fuuro	Can’t after declare

Fuuro Statistics

Fuuro Rate Guide

Fuuro rate by play style:
- Beginner: 20-30%
- Intermediate: 30-40%
- Advanced: 35-45%
- Speed type: 50%+
- Menzen type: 20% or less

Fuuro and Win Rate

Call Count	Win Rate	Average Score
0 times	~20%	High
1 time	~25%	Medium
2 times	~30%	Somewhat low
3+ times	~35%	Low

Fuuro in Digital Age

Fuuro in Online Mahjong

Digital features:
- Auto judgment
- Time limits
- Mistake prevention
- Fuuro rate recording
- Data analysis possible

Conclusion

Fuuro is the act of using another’s discard to complete a set and reveal it, with 3 types: pon, chi, and minkan. While it speeds up your hand, it breaks menzen and prevents riichi, so understanding the pros and cons for proper judgment is crucial.

Beginners should start with yakuhai pon, then gradually learn situational calling decisions. “Fast but cheap” or “slow but expensive” - considering this balance is one of mahjong’s attractions.