Wall Counting Basics for Judging Your Winning Odds

Every tile type has 4 copies in a set. Wall counting is the habit of tracking how many of those 4 copies have already been seen (in your hand, in anyone's discards, or in open Pon/Kan) to judge how many are still available to draw.

Why It Matters

Two waits that look identical in shape can have very different odds. If you're waiting on a tile where 3 of its 4 copies are already visible, your winning odds are far lower than waiting on a tile where none have appeared yet.

A Practical Way to Track It

You don't need to track all 34 tile types at once -- just focus on the tiles relevant to your own wait. Every time that tile appears in anyone's discards or gets used by someone else, subtract it from your mental count of 4.