What is Tsumo (Self-Draw)?
Tsumo (自摸) refers to drawing a tile from the wall (remaining tiles) in mahjong. It also means winning (agari) with the drawn tile, called “tsumo agari” or “tsumoru.”
In mahjong, each player takes turns drawing one tile from the wall (tsumo) and discarding one tile (dahai), which is how the game progresses.
Detailed Explanation of Tsumo
Basic Flow
- Draw a tile: When it’s your turn, draw 1 tile from the wall
- Check your hand: With the drawn tile, check if you can win with 14 tiles
- Win or discard: If you can win, declare “tsumo,” otherwise discard 1 tile
Conditions for Tsumo Agari
To win by tsumo, you must meet the following conditions:
- 4 sets + 1 pair formation is complete (exceptions: kokushi musou, chiitoitsu)
- At least one yaku is established
- Not in furiten state
Difference Between Tsumo and Ron
| Item | Tsumo | Ron |
|---|---|---|
| Winning method | Win with self-drawn tile | Win with opponent’s discard |
| Payment | Points from all players | Only discarder pays |
| Merit | Guaranteed points | Target specific opponent |
Usage Examples
Real Game Situations
Example 1: Tsumo Action
"Hai, tsumo" (Call when drawing a tile)Example 2: Tsumo Agari Declaration
"Tsumo! Riichi, tsumo, dora 1 for 3,900 points"Example 3: Conversation Usage
"Lost big in that hanchan, got tsumoed 3 times"
"On days with good tsumo luck, I'm on a roll"Related Terms
- Ron: Winning on opponent’s discard
- Riichi: Tenpai declaration yaku
- Tenpai: One tile away from winning
- Menzen Tsumo: Tsumo win without calling
Common Mistakes and Points to Note
Points Beginners Often Mistake
-
Tsumo refers to both action and yaku
- Simply drawing a tile is also “tsumo”
- Winning with that tile is also “tsumo”
-
Tsumo doesn’t always become a yaku
- When you’ve called, tsumo alone isn’t a yaku
- Tsumo while closed (menzen) becomes “menzen tsumo” yaku
-
Scoring difference
- Tsumo agari distributes payment among all players
- Dealer’s tsumo is called “all” where all non-dealers pay equally
Conclusion
Tsumo is the most fundamental action in mahjong and an essential element for game progression. Beginners should first understand the difference between tsumo and ron, and learn the shapes that allow tsumo agari. As you get comfortable, you’ll be able to leverage tsumo luck to aim for high scores.