Hanchan: Difference between revisions

'''Hanchan''' {{kana|半荘}} encapsulates one game of [[Japanese mahjong]].  A typical game involves two rounds designated as East and then South.  Even if a game ends early, such as when a player falls below zero points, then it is still considered to be a full game.  For shorter games, players may play '''[[tonpussen]]''' {{kana|東風戦}}, or East only games.

The game may end according to different scenarios.  Normally, the last hand of the game is in South 4 (for tonpussen, it is East 4).  This last hand is generally designated as '''oorasu'''.  However, depending on the rules, the game may very well not end in South 4 (East 4); and it may extend into an extra round.  Finally, the game could end well before oorasu, when a player's points drop into the negatives.

'''Oorasu''' {{kana|オーラス}} is designated for the last dealer of the game; the term is derived from '''all last'''.  This is the South 4 hand; for [[tonpussen|East only]], it is the East 4 hand.  By this point, every player has had the chance to be the dealer twice (once for East only).  Naturally, if the last dealer wins, renchan may occur for another hand.  Though, the game may end if the last dealer happens to be the points leader; or if the other players force a wind rotation.  This depends on agariyame.

'''Enchousen''' {{kana|延長戦}} is an extra wind round.  The extra round functions like an "overtime sudden death period"  This extra round continues, when no player scored above the [[scoring|target points]] (typically 30,000) after South 4.  The instant a player scores above the target points with a winning hand, then the game ends immediately; and the same player wins the game.  However, [[ryuukyoku]] cannot end the game.  For a regular hanchan game, this extra round is indicated as the West round.  For [[tonpussen]], the South round takes on this role.