What is payment in Mahjong (Riichi)?

Verdict

Han and minipoints do not by themselves give the payment. The value of the hand is read from the scoring tables in section 8 of the official rules; this summary gives the procedure, not the tables (4.1, 4.1.3); Each counter on the table adds 100 points to a win by self-draw or 300 to a win by dis...

Source: section 8 — European Mahjong Association

Why people argue about this

People often assume that simply counting Han and minipoints automatically determines payment in Mahjong Riichi, which is incorrect. The official rules actually state that you must refer to scoring tables in section 8 of the official rulebook for a complete calculation of win values, not just add up your points from Han and minipoints alone.

Send this to your friend — argument over.

5. Scoring & Winning

Valuing a Hand

All players are responsible for each hand being scored correctly and to the maximum; each player counts their own han and minipoints and others must correct mistakes (4.1)
Count han first — the yaku (at least one) plus dora, kan dora, and ura dora. Ura dora count only for a riichi hand, and a tile marked by several indicators counts several times (4.1)
Then count minipoints (fu) and round up to the next 10 — 32 becomes 40 (4.1)
Seven Pairs is fixed at 25 minipoints with no rounding (4.1)
At five or more han, minipoints are irrelevant (4.1)
A pair of both the seat and round wind counts 2 minipoints, not 4 (4.1.1)
Kiriage mangan: 4 han 30 minipoints and 3 han 60 minipoints are scored as mangan (4.1.2)

Payment

Han and minipoints do not by themselves give the payment. The value of the hand is read from the scoring tables in section 8 of the official rules; this summary gives the procedure, not the tables (4.1, 4.1.3)
Each counter on the table adds 100 points to a win by self-draw or 300 to a win by discard (4.1)
The winner also collects riichi bets from players who did not win, including unclaimed bets from previous hands (4.1)
With multiple winners the discarder settles with each winner individually, and each receives the full value of their hand including counters (4.1)

Ending the Game

The game ends when the south round ends; the player with the most points wins, regardless of how many hands they won. Ties may occur (3.7)
Riichi bets left on the table go to the winner, split on a tie with decimals rounded down (3.7)
There is no bankruptcy rule (3.7, 4.1.4)

Winner Bonus (uma)

Final scores are adjusted by uma: 1st +15,000, 2nd +5,000, 3rd -5,000, 4th -15,000 (3.7.1)
Players tied for a position pool the relevant bonuses and split them evenly — two players tying for 1st share +20,000, taking +10,000 each (3.7.1)

5. Scoring & Winning

Valuing a Hand

All players are responsible for each hand being scored correctly and to the maximum; each player counts their own han and minipoints and others must correct mistakes (4.1)

Count han first — the yaku (at least one) plus dora, kan dora, and ura dora. Ura dora count only for a riichi hand, and a tile marked by several indicators counts several times (4.1)

Then count minipoints (fu) and round up to the next 10 — 32 becomes 40 (4.1)

Seven Pairs is fixed at 25 minipoints with no rounding (4.1)

At five or more han, minipoints are irrelevant (4.1)

A pair of both the seat and round wind counts 2 minipoints, not 4 (4.1.1)

Kiriage mangan: 4 han 30 minipoints and 3 han 60 minipoints are scored as mangan (4.1.2)

Payment

Han and minipoints do not by themselves give the payment. The value of the hand is read from the scoring tables in section 8 of the official rules; this summary gives the procedure, not the tables (4.1, 4.1.3)

Each counter on the table adds 100 points to a win by self-draw or 300 to a win by discard (4.1)

The winner also collects riichi bets from players who did not win, including unclaimed bets from previous hands (4.1)

With multiple winners the discarder settles with each winner individually, and each receives the full value of their hand including counters (4.1)

Ending the Game

The game ends when the south round ends; the player with the most points wins, regardless of how many hands they won. Ties may occur (3.7)

Riichi bets left on the table go to the winner, split on a tie with decimals rounded down (3.7)

There is no bankruptcy rule (3.7, 4.1.4)

Winner Bonus (uma)

Final scores are adjusted by uma: 1st +15,000, 2nd +5,000, 3rd -5,000, 4th -15,000 (3.7.1)

Players tied for a position pool the relevant bonuses and split them evenly — two players tying for 1st share +20,000, taking +10,000 each (3.7.1)

Payment