Chinese Official vs Riichi: A Scoring System Comparison
Sep 25, 2026 · 5 min read
If you're already used to Riichi's fu/han system, switching to Chinese Official's fan system can feel like starting from scratch -- even though both are ultimately measuring "how good" a hand is, just with different logic.
Riichi: Fu x Han
Riichi combines TWO components -- fu (from hand shape) and han (from yaku + dora) -- through an exponential formula. This lets scores jump sharply from just 1-2 extra han.
Chinese Official: Total Fan Only
Chinese Official is far more linear -- the final score is calculated directly from TOTAL fan (summed across every satisfied pattern), multiplied by a fixed base point value. There's no fu component at all.
Why Riichi Can Jump So Sharply
Because Riichi's formula is fu x 2^(2+han), each extra han doubles the base score. Here's what that looks like:
| Han (Riichi) | Base Score (30 fu) | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2 han | 480 | - |
| 3 han | 960 | 2x |
| 4 han | 1,920 | 2x again |
| 5 han (Mangan) | 2,000 (rounded to the limit) | Hits the limit-hand cap |
Compare this to Chinese Official, where adding 1 fan only adds a small amount to the total (linear) -- there's no exponential jump like this, unless you hit a limit pattern (88 fan) that grants the maximum score outright.
The Effect on Playstyle
Since 8 fan is the minimum to win, Chinese Official players tend to plan their pattern combination from early in the hand. Riichi is more flexible since one small yaku is enough, letting players react more freely to whatever tiles come -- and more willing to chase dora because of its exponential jump effect.
Learn how Riichi scoring works in depth.
Read How Riichi Scoring Works →