What discards say
A player who throws honours and terminals early is building around simples. One who throws every tile of two suits may be chasing a flush. A player who suddenly throws a middle tile they had been keeping may have just become ready.
Order matters
The order of discards carries information. In riichi, tiles thrown before and after the riichi declaration tell you different things. Japanese players arrange discards in rows partly for this reason.
Suji and other techniques
Riichi players use techniques such as suji — reasoning that if a player threw a 4, a two-sided wait on 1-4 or 4-7 is impossible — to estimate safety. These are probabilistic guides, not guarantees.
Practising
Watch replays of strong players and ask why each tile was safe or dangerous. Online platforms allow you to review all players' hands after a game.
