What is Ryokei (Good Shape)? Open-Ended Waits and Good Wait Types Explained

What is Ryokei (Good Shape)?

Ryokei (良形) refers to wait shapes with many waiting tiles that are easy to win with. It primarily means ryanmen (open-ended) wait, but also includes multi-sided waits. It’s the opposite of gukei (bad shape) and is one of the most important elements in basic mahjong strategy.

Good shapes typically have 8 or more waiting tiles, resulting in high win rates, so aiming for good shapes is fundamental in hand building.

Detailed Explanation of Ryokei

Types and Characteristics of Good Shapes

Wait Type	Shape Example	Waiting Tiles	Count	Win Rate
Ryanmen Wait	23m	1・4m	8 tiles	High
Sanmen Wait	2345m	1・4・6m	11 tiles	Very high
Nobetan	1234m	1・4m	7 tiles	High
Multi-sided Wait	Complex	3+ types	9+ tiles	Very high
Kanchan (compare)	24m	3m	4 tiles	Low

Criteria for Good Shape

Conditions considered good shape:

Many waiting tiles
- Ryanmen has 8 tiles
- Twice that of bad shapes
Potential for change
- Can become multi-sided wait
- Possibility of better hand
Hard to read
- Multiple suji possibilities
- Difficult for defenders to guard

Usage Examples

Real Game Situations

Example 1: Evaluating Tenpai

"Good shape tenpai with ryanmen wait"
"Good shape so immediate riichi"

Example 2: Hand Building Policy

"Maintain good shape and proceed"
"Avoid bad shape, take good shape"

Example 3: Strategic Judgment

"Can push with good shape"
"Opponent looks like good shape too, careful"

Detailed Types of Good Shape

Ryanmen Wait (Open-Ended Wait)

The most basic good shape:

Shape: 23, 34, 45, 56, 67, 78
Wait: 2 types at both ends
Count: 4 tiles × 2 = 8 tiles

Characteristics:

Most common
Well balanced
Easy for beginners

Sanmen Wait (Three-Sided Wait)

Evolution of ryanmen wait:

Example 1 (Extended): 2345 → 1・4・6 wait
Example 2 (Middle bulge): 3445 → 2・5・6 wait
Example 3 (Nobetan): 1234 → 1・4・2 wait

Characteristics:

Many waiting tiles
Has high/low outcomes
Somewhat complex

Nobetan (Extended Single Wait)

Special good shape:

Shape: 1234, 5678, etc.
Wait: Both ends (1・4, 5・8)
Essence: Ryanmen + single combined

Characteristics:

Choice between single and ryanmen
Watch for furiten
Irregular good shape

Gukei (Bad Shape): Wait with poor shape
Tamen Machi (Multi-Wait): Waiting on 3+ tiles
Riichi: Often used with good shape
Tenpai: One tile away from winning

Common Mistakes and Points to Note

Points Beginners Often Mistake

Missing Good Shapes
- Not noticing sanmen wait
- Mistaking nobetan for single wait
Overconfidence in Good Shape
- Sometimes tiles don’t come out even with good shape
- Situational judgment needed
Fixating on Good Shape
- Too focused on good shape
- Tenpai gets delayed
Not Checking Furiten
- Furiten is meaningless even with good shape
- Must check discards

Value and Tactics of Good Shape

Advantages of Good Shape

High Win Rate
- Many waiting tiles
- Double tsumo probability
Value of Riichi
- Ippatsu and uradora potential
- Pressure effect
Favorable Push/Fold
- Can push aggressively
- Advantage over opponent

Tips for Creating Good Shape

Early game awareness:

Taatsu Selection
- Prioritize ryanmen taatsu
- Cut penchan/kanchan
Flexible Planning
- Potential for good shape
- Keep multi-wait options
Tile Efficiency Focus
- Acceptance count
- Shortest path to good shape

Mid-game techniques:

Lock in Good Shape
- Don’t break confirmed good shapes
- Don’t get greedy
Wait for Good Shape Change
- Bad shape to good shape
- Changes depending on draws

Tactical Decisions with Good Shape

Riichi Decision

Benefits of good shape riichi:

High win rate
Ippatsu and uradora expected value
Pressure on opponents

Cases for damaten even with good shape:

Score sufficient, risk avoidance
Waiting for hand improvement
Mangan confirmed is enough

Push/Fold Decision

Criteria for pushing with good shape:

Ryanmen or better wait
First or equal position
Decent hand value

Cases to fold even with good shape:

Clearly losing
Parent’s big hand
Score-wise unnecessary

Practical Good Shape Usage

Speed of Good Shape Tenpai

Value of early good shape:

Good shape at turns 6-8
First-strike advantage
High expected value

Caution with late good shape:

Turn 12+ is questionable
Depends on others’ progress
Even bad shape quick can have value

Reading Opponent’s Good Shape

Signs of good shape:

Early riichi
Confident discards
Clean discard pile

Countermeasures:

Prioritize genbutsu (safe tiles)
Don’t trust suji
Complete safe tiles only

Practicing Good Shape

Basic Practice

Taatsu Selection Practice
- Which is more likely to become good shape
- Understanding tile efficiency
Wait Tile Guessing
- Instantly judge what wait
- Count tiles too
Understanding Good Shape Changes
- Which tile makes it good shape
- Learn change patterns

Practical Practice

Awareness of Creating Good Shape
- Always aim for good shape
- Choose to avoid bad shape
Balancing Speed and Good Shape
- Fast good shape tenpai
- Sense of balance
Situational Judgment
- Push/fold even with good shape
- Overall value assessment

Conclusion

Ryokei (good shape) is a wait shape with many waiting tiles, mainly centered on ryanmen wait, that’s easy to win with. The basics of mahjong lie in creating good shapes, and beginners should start by learning “ryanmen wait = good shape.” Good shapes have about twice the win rate of bad shapes, so always being conscious of good shapes during hand building is important. However, don’t fixate on good shapes to the point of delaying tenpai or pushing regardless of situation - developing balanced judgment is the path to improvement.