Otoshi (Dropping) - Processing Unwanted Tiles

What is Otoshi?

Otoshi (dropping) means discarding unwanted tiles from your hand. Primarily used during hand building to cut unusable tiles or those not fitting your yaku, processing them early for efficient progression.

It also has defensive meanings: “cutting dangerous tiles early” or “letting opponents call to process.” Important for both offense and defense.

Meanings of Otoshi

Meaning	Content	Usage
Processing waste	Cut unusable tiles	Hand building
Early processing	Cut dangerous tiles early	Defense
Let them call	Let opponents call away	Defensive tactics
Abandon yaku	Give up high yaku	Strategic choice

Tiles to Drop

Tile Type	Reason	Timing
Isolated tiles	Zero acceptance	Top priority
Doesn’t fit yaku	Wrong direction	Early
Non-dora honors	Unusable	Early game
1/9 tiles	For tanyao	Early

Dropping Priority

【Top priority】
Completely isolated tiles
  ↓
【Next】
Tiles not fitting yaku
  ↓
【Then】
Narrow acceptance tiles
  ↓
【Hold】
Safe tile candidates

Defensive Dropping

Early Dangerous Tile Processing

Early game
  ↓
Dangerous tiles pass easier
  ↓
Drop early
  ↓
Secure safe tiles for late game

Timing

Timing	What to Drop	Reason
Early	Dangerous tiles	Pass easier
Middle	Unusable tiles	Organize hand
Late	Attack tiles	Betaori

Strategic Dropping

Abandoning Yaku

Example: Aiming for flush but...
  ↓
Progress is slow
  ↓
Drop the flush
  ↓
Switch to speed focus

Benefits

Speed improvement
- Faster tenpai
- Easier to win
Hand organization
- Becomes simpler
- Easier to play
Flexibility
- Direction change
- Situation response

Practical Dropping

Early Game

Drop isolated tiles
Yaku-misfit tiles
Early dangerous processing

Middle Game

Confirm hand direction
Process unnecessary tiles
Identify yaku

Late Game

Defense priority
Drop attack tiles
Betaori

Common Mistakes

Dropping needed tiles
- Becomes necessary later
- Judgment error
Dropping safe tiles
- Trouble in late game
- Can’t defend
Too early dropping
- Information leak
- Opponents read you

Koritsuhai: Drop target
Hai-kouritsu: Dropping criteria
Betaori: Defensive dropping
Anzen-hai: Tiles after dropping

Summary

Otoshi is discarding unwanted tiles, important for both hand building and defense. Mainly cutting isolated tiles or yaku-misfit tiles early for efficiency, or processing dangerous tiles early to secure late-game safe tiles. Beginners should learn “drop unnecessary tiles early” prioritizing isolated and misfit tiles. However, keeping safe tile candidates is also important. Dropping timing and selection greatly affect hand efficiency and defensive strength.