What is Renho?
Renho (Human Win) is a rare mahjong hand where a non-dealer wins by ron on the very first turn, before drawing any tiles. Along with Tenho (Heaven’s Win) and Chiho (Earth’s Win), it forms the trio of “Heaven-Earth-Human” chance hands.
The value varies greatly by ruleset - some treat it as yakuman, others as mangan or baiman, and many competitive rules don’t recognize it at all.
Renho Conditions
| Condition | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-dealer | Dealer cannot | Dealer would be Tenho |
| First turn | Before own draw | No calls by anyone |
| Ron win | From discard | Tsumo would be Chiho |
| Have yaku | Usually required | Varies by rule |
Rule Variations
| Rule Type | Value | Points | Adoption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakuman | Full yakuman | 32,000 | Some regions |
| Baiman | Fixed baiman | 16,000 | Fairly common |
| Mangan | Fixed mangan | 8,000 | Most common |
| Normal calc | By yaku | Varies | Competitive |
| Not recognized | Invalid | - | Many official |
First Turn Definition
Important conditions:
-
Before your own draw
- Must be before first tsumo
- After draw = normal ron
-
No calls made
- No chi, pon, or kan
- First turn continues
-
No ankan either
- Anyone’s ankan invalidates
- Pure first turn only
Heaven-Earth-Human Comparison
| Hand | Condition | Who | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenho | Win on deal | Dealer | ~0.0003% |
| Chiho | First tsumo win | Non-dealer | ~0.0009% |
| Renho | First turn ron | Non-dealer | ~0.05% |
Common Mistakes
-
Not checking rules
- Many places don’t recognize
- Always confirm beforehand
- Check point value too
-
First turn confusion
- After draw = invalid
- After calls = invalid
- Strict first turn
-
Yaku requirement
- Some rules need yaku
- Yakuman may not need
- Rule dependent
-
Dealer confusion
- Dealer cannot Renho
- Dealer = Tenho
- Non-dealer only
Online Mahjong Status
Major platforms:
- Tenhou: Not recognized
- Mahjong Soul: Not recognized (some modes)
- MJ: Configurable
- Maru-Jan: Mangan value
Why Opinions Differ
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Beautiful with Ten/Chi | Pure luck |
| Exciting | Too random |
| Traditional | Not fair |
| Memorable | No strategy |
Related Terms
- Tenho: Dealer’s deal win
- Chiho: Non-dealer first tsumo
- Double Riichi: First turn riichi
- Yakuman: Maximum score hands
- Local Rule: Regional variations
Summary
Renho is when a non-dealer wins by ron on the first turn before drawing, one of the “Heaven-Earth-Human” chance hands. Its value varies greatly by ruleset - yakuman, baiman, mangan, or not recognized at all. With about 0.05% occurrence, it’s purely luck-based but exciting when it happens. Beginners should check rules beforehand since many competitive formats don’t include it. Renho represents the exciting unpredictability that adds drama to mahjong.