What is Sarashi?
Sarashi (exposed melds) refers to tiles revealed through pon, chi, or kan calls. Also called “fuuro,” these tiles are placed face-up and visible to all players.
Since everyone can see sarashi, it provides crucial clues about opponents’ hands. Conversely, your own sarashi gives information away.
Types of Sarashi
| Type | Content | Tiles | Menzen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pon | Same 3 tiles | 3 | Broken |
| Chi | Sequential 3 | 3 | Broken |
| Daiminkan | Called kan | 4 | Broken |
| Kakan | Added kan | 4 | Broken |
| Ankan | Concealed kan | 4 | Maintained |
Display Convention
Pon (from left): [5m][5m][5m sideways]
Chi (from left): [3p][4p][5p sideways]
Daiminkan (across): [7s][7s][7s sideways][7s]
Sideways tile shows who discardedInformation from Sarashi
Basic Information
| Info | Content | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Used tiles | Those tiles are taken | 5m pon → no 5m left |
| Direction | What they’re collecting | Man chi → flush? |
| Menzen status | Can riichi? | Sarashi = no riichi |
| Yaku guess | Target yaku | Honor pon → yakuhai |
Advanced Reading
-
Remaining count
- 3 tiles used in meld
- Where’s the 4th?
-
Wait deduction
- Meld combinations
- Narrowing possibilities
-
Hand reading
- What they’ll discard
- Which tiles are safe
Sarashi Strategy
Information Exposure
Many melds
↓
Hand is visible
↓
Waits become obvious
↓
Easier to defendMenzen Comparison
| Aspect | With Sarashi | Menzen |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast | Slow |
| Value | Lower | Higher |
| Info | Visible | Hidden |
| Riichi | No | Yes |
| Defense | Hard | Easier |
Reading Opponent Sarashi
Checkpoints
-
What color?
- Flush possibility
- Toitoi vs sequences
-
Honor melds
- Yakuhai target
- Big hands warning
-
Meld count
- 3+ → Toitoi?
- Just 1 → Kuitan?
Kuisagari (Value Reduction)
| Yaku | Menzen | Called | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanyao | 1 han | 1 han | None |
| Ittsu | 2 han | 1 han | -1 |
| Sanshoku | 2 han | 1 han | -1 |
| Honitsu | 3 han | 2 han | -1 |
| Chinitsu | 6 han | 5 han | -1 |
Menzen-Only Yaku
- Riichi
- Pinfu
- Iipeikou
- Ryanpeikou
- Menzen Tsumo
Common Mistakes
-
Ankan handling
- Ankan is sarashi but keeps menzen
- Special treatment
-
Meld direction
- Sideways shows source
- Position matters
-
Information value
- Sarashi = hand exposed
- You give info away
-
Menzen yaku loss
- Sarashi blocks menzen yaku
- No riichi, pinfu, etc.
Related Terms
Summary
Sarashi refers to tiles exposed through pon, chi, or kan, visible to all players. It provides important information about hands - both reading opponents and revealing your own. Beginners should learn “sarashi = called tiles on display” and practice reading used tiles and hand direction. Understanding sarashi improves both offense and defense significantly.
