What is Houjuu?
Houjuu (Deal-in) refers to discarding a tile that allows another player to win by ron. Also called “furikomi” (dealing in) or “uchikomi,” it’s one of the most costly mistakes in mahjong because you alone pay the full winning amount.
The term literally means “releasing a gun” - you’re firing the winning tile at yourself.
Payment Structure
| Winner | Dealer | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer | Loses to non-dealer | Full amount |
| Non-dealer | Loses to dealer | Full amount |
| Non-dealer | Loses to non-dealer | Full amount |
Unlike tsumo (self-draw), where all players share the payment, a deal-in means you pay everything.
Deal-in Rate Benchmarks
| Level | Deal-in Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 15-20% | Lacks danger awareness |
| Intermediate | 12-15% | Basic defense skills |
| Advanced | 10-12% | High-level reading |
Dangerous Tiles
| Danger Level | Tile Type | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | Non-genbutsu vs riichi | Could be anything |
| High | Middle tiles (4-6) | Easy to wait on |
| Medium | Honor tiles | Could be yakuhai |
| Lower | Terminal tiles (1,9) | Less useful |
Safe Tile Priority
-
Genbutsu (100% safe)
- Same tile opponent discarded
- Guaranteed safe due to furiten
-
Awase-uchi
- Same tile just discarded by someone
- Very safe
-
4th honor tile
- 3 visible, 1 left
- Very safe
-
Kabe (wall)
- 4 tiles of a number visible
- Blocks certain waits
Common Deal-in Patterns
Beginner Mistakes
-
Ignoring riichi
- Not noticing the declaration
- “It’s probably fine” attitude
-
Over-trusting suji
- Thinking suji is always safe
- Kanchan, penchan, shanpon can hit
-
Late-game carelessness
- “Almost exhaustive draw anyway”
- End-game is actually dangerous
-
Reckless dora handling
- Cutting dora immediately
- High-value deal-ins
Basic Defense
Safe Tile Order
- Cut genbutsu first - Most reliable
- Terminals before middles - 1→9→2→8
- Decide early - Don’t wait until too late
Situational Response
| Situation | Response | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer riichi | Fold immediately | 1.5x payment |
| Multiple riichi | Full betaori | Someone will hit |
| Dora pon | High-value alert | Mangan+ possible |
| Late riichi | Genbutsu only | Ippatsu risk |
Point Damage
| Hand Value | Your Loss | Opponent Gain | Point Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangan | -8,000 | +8,000 | 16,000 |
| Haneman | -12,000 | +12,000 | 24,000 |
| Baiman | -16,000 | +16,000 | 32,000 |
Related Terms
- Furikomi: Another term for dealing in
- Genbutsu: 100% safe tiles
- Anzen-hai: Relatively safe tiles
- Betaori: Full defensive play
Summary
Houjuu (dealing in) is among the most painful mistakes in mahjong, but completely avoiding it is impossible. The key is minimizing risk and learning from each deal-in. Start with the basics: “Cut genbutsu against riichi” and “When in doubt, cut terminals.” Don’t be so afraid of dealing in that you never attack, but don’t be reckless either. Finding the right balance between offense and defense is the path to improvement.