What is Ron (Winning on Discard)?
Ron (栄和) refers to winning (agari) with a tile discarded by another player in mahjong. When an opponent’s discard is your waiting tile, you can declare “ron” and win.
Ron is written as “栄和” in kanji, meaning “prosperous win” because you utilize another player’s discard to win.
Detailed Explanation of Ron
Conditions for Ron Agari
To win by ron, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- Be in tenpai state (one tile away from winning)
- 4 sets + 1 pair formation completes (exceptions: kokushi musou, chiitoitsu)
- At least one yaku is established
- Not in furiten (important!)
What is Furiten?
Furiten is one of the rules beginners most often mistake:
- A state where your waiting tile is in your own discards
- Cannot ron on tiles you passed in the same turn rotation
- After riichi, cannot ron on any tile you’ve passed
Ron Priority
When multiple players declare ron simultaneously:
- Atama hane: Only the nearest player from discarder wins (standard rule)
- Double/triple ron: Multiple players can win simultaneously (if this rule is adopted)
Usage Examples
Real Game Situations
Example 1: Ron Agari Declaration
"Ron! Tanyao, dora 1 for 2,000 points"Example 2: Conversation Usage
"Dealt mangan to dealer by ron, ouch"
"Getting ronned after riichi hurts the most"Example 3: Tactical Usage
"No safe tiles, let's find something that won't be ronned"
"This discard shouldn't get ronned by anyone"Comparison of Tsumo and Ron
| Comparison | Ron | Tsumo |
|---|---|---|
| Winning method | Win on opponent’s discard | Win on self-drawn tile |
| Payment | Only discarder pays | Points from all players |
| Strategy | Directly take points from target | Guaranteed scoring |
| Risk | Must be careful of furiten | None in particular |
Related Terms
- Tsumo: Winning with self-drawn tile
- Furiten: State where ron is impossible
- Tenpai: One tile away from winning
- Furikomi: Being ronned by opponent
Common Mistakes and Points to Note
Points Beginners Often Mistake
-
Overlooking furiten
- Carefully check your river (discards)
- Be especially careful of passing after riichi
-
Trying to ron without yaku
- Can’t win even with complete shape without yaku
- Need at least 1 yaku
-
Misunderstanding simultaneous ron rules
- Check rules in advance
- Atama hane is standard, but varies by location
-
Checking yaku after calling
- Some yaku become invalid after calling
- Be especially careful with pinfu, iipeikou, etc.
Tactical Points
When Aiming for Ron
- Read opponent’s discards: Distinguish dangerous and safe tiles
- Broaden your wait: Increase ron probability with multiple waits
- Avoid dealing in: Be careful not to get ronned yourself
Conclusion
Ron is one of mahjong’s highlights, offering exciting mind games with opponents. However, due to complex rules like furiten, beginners should first firmly understand the basic rules. As you get comfortable, you’ll be able to effectively aim for ron while reading opponents’ hands.