Renchan

When a renchan 「連荘」, or dealer repeat, occurs, a new hand is started, but the wind seating does not rotate. Therefore, for each renchan, the game is extended by 1 hand. In addition, a honba is added, slightly increasing the value of the next win.

A renchan occurs when the dealer wins. In many rulesets, they also occur when the dealer retains tenpai when no one wins the hand. They also occur after an abortive draw.

Renchan are a major part of the game's strategy. Dealers get more points for winning, so the dealer is encouraged to renchan to keep their position (each renchan is +1 hand where they are dealer). In addition, the extra hands can allow players more chances to comeback from a losing situation.

Strategy

The dealer is encouraged to win a bit more quickly in order to trigger renchan. Note, however, that the value of renchan is not very big. In an average situation, the expected value of a renchan is around 500 (as a lowball estimate) to 750 points. This is quite small, so in normal situations, you shouldn't change your play by a lot just for an extra renchan.

When nearing all last, renchan can be a lot more valuable. A player who is very far behind is hard-pressed to win many renchan in order to climb back up. Conversely, when late in the game, a player with a big lead may deliberately avoid a renchan to end the game faster (giving other players less chances to make a comeback).

If tenpai renchan is used, then dealers have a greater incentive to remain tenpai by exhaustive draw. This may result in riskier play than usual, since the dealer has more at stake than the other players.

Rule variations

Main article: Scoring variations#Renchan

Practically every ruleset allows renchan after a dealer win. Other than that, the rules can vary:

• Agari renchan: Renchan only occurs after a dealer win.
• Tenpai renchan: Renchan occurs after a dealer win, or if the dealer is tenpai at exhaustive draw.
• Ryuukyoku renchan: Renchan occurs after a dealer win or any exhaustive draw (even if dealer is not tenpai). This is mainly used in rulesets when the East round is tenpai renchan, and South round is ryuukyoku renchan.

In addition, if abortive draws are used, an abortive draw always triggers a renchan.

Some rulesets may have different renchan rules depending on whether it is East round or South round. In these rules, renchans are usually harder in East round, and easier in the South round.

All last

Outside of all last, renchan is usually mandatory when possible.

During all last, there are a few main variations:

• A 1st-place dealer must end the game once they win in all last. Non-1st place dealers must renchan if they win. This is the rule used in most online clients.
• A dealer must start a new renchan if they win in all last, even if in 1st place.
• A dealer, regardless of place, can choose to end the round once they win in all last.

What qualifies as winning

If multiple ron is enabled:

• Some rules only allow renchan if the dealer is the first player in turn order after the player who dealt in (similar to how atamahane works).
• Some rules allow the dealer to renchan so long as they win, regardless of seat order.

If nagashi mangan is used:

• If nagashi mangan is treated as a win, then the dealer renchans when scoring nagashi mangan.
• If nagashi mangan is treated as a point exchange, then the dealer renchans as if nagashi mangan did not exist. This means if the dealer scores nagashi mangan but is not tenpai, no renchan occurs. If a non-dealer scores nagashi mangan, but the dealer is tenpai, a renchan does occur (assuming tenpai renchan is used).