Point sticks are called tenbō in Japanese. They record the points that move during a game of Riichi Mahjong.

1. The sticks in the machine

Many tables start each player at 25000 points. With the common colored set, one player begins with:

Red 10000-point stick
Red · 10000× 1
Yellow 5000-point stickYellow 5000-point stick
Yellow · 5000× 2
Blue 1000-point stickBlue 1000-point stickBlue 1000-point stickBlue 1000-point stick
Blue · 1000× 4
Green 500-point stick
Green · 500× 1
White 100-point stickWhite 100-point stickWhite 100-point stickWhite 100-point stickWhite 100-point stick
White · 100× 5

A 30000-point start normally adds one more yellow 5000-point stick.

Four slots, two common layouts

Most automatic tables have three or four tray slots. Four is more common in Mahjong parlors. There are two tidy ways to use them.

Layout 1Better for larger payments
  1. Red
  2. Yellow
  3. Blue
  4. Green and white
Layout 2Easier for tiny payments
  1. Red and yellow
  2. Blue
  3. Green
  4. White

Either layout is fine.

2. A few habits for smooth payments

Paying points is like paying cash. The best payment is easy to see, easy to check, and quick to finish.

  1. Keep one 1000-point stick

    A riichi declaration needs one blue 1000-point stick. Before the next hand starts, check that you still have one. Exchanging sticks in the middle of a declaration interrupts the game.

  2. Use as few sticks as practical

    To pay 3900 exactly takes eight pieces. Paying one yellow 5000-point stick and taking 1100 back is easier to check.

    Exact · 8 sticks
    5000 in
    1100 back
    Fewer pieces are quicker for everyone to count.

  3. Make change from the table first

    If you declared riichi and then won 3900 by ron, the other player can pay 5000. Return the riichi stick from the table and one white 100-point stick from your tray.

    Ron, 3900.
    RIGHT
    The 5000 comes from the right. Your riichi stick and one 100-point stick go back as 1100 change.

  4. Keep small change spread around

    After a dealer wins 500 all by tsumo, one player can pay 1000 and receive another player's 500 as change. Useful small sticks stay around the table.

    Tsumo, 500 all.
    DEALER
    One 500 stick can become change for the player who paid 1000.

3. Payment examples

The best exchange depends on where the sticks already are. These examples show the motion, not a rigid rule.

Ron

3900

Payment example

Paying 3900 after ron

Step 1 of 5
RIGHT

Your tray starts with 25000 points in layout one.

8000

Payment example

Paying 8000 after ron

Step 1 of 5
RIGHT

Your tray starts with 25000 points in layout one.

9600

Payment example

Paying 9600 after ron

Step 1 of 5
RIGHT

Your tray starts with 25000 points in layout one.

Tsumo

500 all

Payment example

Paying 500 all after tsumo

Step 1 of 6
LEFTRIGHTDEALER

Your tray starts with 25000 points. The opposite player is the dealer.

2000–4000

Payment example

Paying 2000–4000 after tsumo

Step 1 of 6
LEFTRIGHTDEALER

Your tray starts with 25000 points. You are the dealer.

Difficult tsumo payments

These splits need more attention because every seat owes a different amount.

700–1300

Payment example

Paying 700–1300 after tsumo

Step 1 of 7
LEFTRIGHTDEALER

Your tray starts with 25000 points. The player on your left is the dealer.

1300–2600

Payment example

Paying 1300–2600 after tsumo

Step 1 of 7
LEFTRIGHTDEALER

Your tray starts with 25000 points. You are the dealer.

1600–3200

Payment example

Paying 1600–3200 after tsumo

Step 1 of 7
LEFTRIGHTDEALER

Your tray starts with 25000 points. The player on your left is the dealer.

4. Common Practices

  1. Keep five blue sticks together

    When you have more than five blue 1000-point sticks, give five of them their own tray slot. A complete group is easy to count and makes change faster.

  2. Keep the surplus in the left slot

    At the end of a game, arrange the three right-hand slots as close to the standard layout as possible. Put every extra stick in the far-left slot. After everyone confirms the scores, take all the sticks out of that slot to restore the tray quickly.

Good point-stick etiquette is not about ceremony. It is a shared shortcut: fewer pauses, fewer counting mistakes, and more attention left for the game.