What is Rinshan Kaihou? Dead Wall Draw Win Explained for Beginners

What is Rinshan Kaihou?

Rinshan Kaihou (嶺上開花), often shortened to “rinshan,” is a luck-based 1-han yaku in mahjong where you win by tsumo on the rinshan tile (replacement tile) drawn after declaring kan. The beautiful name means “a flower blooms on the mountain ridge” - representing good fortune after kan.

While rare, it’s always possible when you make a kan, and can create dramatic reversals - an exciting yaku.

Detailed Explanation of Rinshan Kaihou

Conditions for Completion

Kan Types and Rinshan

What is the Rinshan Tile?

The rinshan tile is part of the dead wall (wanpai), drawn as replacement after kan:

Wall ... [4 rinshan tiles][dora indicator][uradora indicator] ← 14 dead wall tiles

Usage Examples

Real Game Situations

Example 1: Hope during kan

"Kan! Please rinshan!"
"Making ankan hoping for rinshan"

Example 2: Success celebration

"Rinshan kaihou!"
"Rinshan tsumo, no way!"
"With kandora too, that's mangan!"

Example 3: Tactical judgment

"I'm tenpai so I'll kan for rinshan chance"
"Even without rinshan, kan gives more draws"

Probability and Strategy

Rinshan Probability

When to Kan

1. In tenpai

   • Rinshan chance
   • One more draw turn

2. Kandora increase

   • Score up potential
   • Risk vs reward

3. Good hand shape

   • Wide wait
   • Higher rinshan probability

Related Terms

• Kan: Declaring 4 of same tile
• Rinshan Tile: Replacement after kan
• Wanpai: The 14 dead wall tiles
• Kandora: Dora added after kan
• Chankan: Robbing the kan yaku

Common Mistakes and Points to Note

Points Beginners Often Mistake

1. Ron doesn’t work

   • Must be tsumo
   • Must self-draw the rinshan tile

2. Any kan type works

   • Ankan, daiminkan, kakan all OK
   • All types can trigger rinshan

3. Combines with other yakus

   • No yaku + rinshan = 1 han
   • Works with other yakus too

4. Relationship with ippatsu

   • Kan breaks ippatsu
   • Rinshan and ippatsu don’t combine

Special Properties

Rinshan-Only Benefits

Yakus that Combine/Don’t Combine

Can combine:

• Yakuhai, tanyao, pinfu etc. (normal yakus)
• Menzen tsumo
• Sankantsu, suukantsu

Cannot combine:

• Ippatsu (kan breaks it)
• Haitei (not the last wall tile)
• Houtei (not ron)

Strategic Points

Kan Timing

1. Kan when tenpai

   • Rinshan chance
   • Most aggressive kan timing

2. Kan when iishanten

   • Might reach tenpai
   • Kandora benefits too

3. Defensive kan

   • Increase safe tiles
   • Break opponent’s ippatsu

Risks and Cautions

Risks:

• Kandora might help opponents
• Hand becomes readable (daiminkan)
• Chankan risk (kakan)

Cautions:

• 4 kans = abortive draw
• Dead wall fixed at 14 tiles
• Only 4 rinshan tiles available

Appeal of Rinshan Kaihou

Dramatic Developments

1. Comeback

   • Reverse from behind
   • Unexpected high score

2. Luck element

   • Can’t calculate skill alone
   • Anyone has a chance

3. Memorable win

   • Sticks in memory
   • “Lucky” feeling

Mindset in Practice

• Don’t over-expect: Probability isn’t high
• Judge kan comprehensively: Don’t aim only for rinshan
• Treat as bonus: Consider it a lucky extra

Conclusion

Rinshan Kaihou is a lucky yaku that comes after kan - a special action in mahjong. You can’t aim for it deliberately, but it’s always possible when you kan. Beginners should first learn the flow “kan → rinshan tile → tsumo win.” No need to force it, but remember that when you kan in tenpai, rinshan kaihou is a nice bonus possibility. It’s one of the yakus that symbolizes mahjong’s excitement.