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[[Image:Furiten.png|right|thumb|250px|[http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2012110112gm-0009-7447-14ec5c8d&tw=0&ts=4 Baiman tenpai], in furiten due to 9-sou in discard.  Ron cannot be called here.]]
[[Image:Furiten.png|right|thumb|250px|[http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2012110112gm-0009-7447-14ec5c8d&tw=0&ts=4 Baiman tenpai], in furiten due to 9-sou in discard.  Ron cannot be called here.]]
'''Furiten''' {{kana|振聴}}, meaning '''sacred discard''', is a particular rule associated with the tile discards. Basically, the player in [[Tenpai|tenpai]] is furiten if winning tiles are present in one's own discard pile or, in certain conditions, another player's discard pile or [[shouminkan]].  Players in furiten may still win by [[tsumo]], but not by [[ron]].  A call of ron while furiten is penalized by [[chombo]].
'''Furiten''' {{kana|振聴}} (often translated as '''sacred discard''' though this bears no relation to the Japanese term) is a state where a player cannot declare [[ron]] because of a decision not to use a winning tile. A player in [[Tenpai|tenpai]] is furiten if any of that player's winning tiles are present in one's own discard pile or, in certain conditions, another player's discard pile or [[shouminkan]].  Players in furiten may still win by [[tsumo]], but not by ron.  A call of ron while furiten is penalized by [[chombo]], although computer games will generally forbid the player from declaring a furiten ron.


In all cases, the furiten rule requires a player to be aware of all of their [[machi|tile waits]]. If a player is [[tenpai]] but does not realize all of their possible waits, they may not be aware that they are furiten and, as a result, call an illegal win. This is especially true of a player who has called [[riichi]], because they can be furiten off of anyone's discard.
In all cases, the furiten rule requires a player to be aware of all of their [[machi|tile waits]]. If a player is [[tenpai]] but does not realize all of their possible waits, they may not be aware that they are furiten and, as a result, call an illegal win. This is especially true of a player who has called [[riichi]], because they can be furiten off of anyone's discard for a long period of time.


Unlike many other mahjong variations, the [[discard pile]] for Japanese mahjong is specifically arranged in front of players.  The orderly discards help enforce the '''furiten rule''', by keeping track of discarded tiles.  [[naki|Tile calls]] have specific arrangements to point the source of these discarded tiles, so that they do not allow a loophole to furiten.  For every discard, the '''furiten rule''' applies when appropriate.
The furiten is the reason that in Japanese majnog, unlike many other mahjong variations, the [[discard pile]]is specifically arranged in front of players and [[Naki|tile calls]] have one tile turned to indicate who discarded the tile. These allow players to keep track of who discarded a tile.


== The rule ==
== Rule statement ==
Furiten imposes the following conditions:
* '''Players in furiten may not win by ron''', under any circumstances.
* Declaring ron while in furiten is penalized with a [[Chombo|chombo payment]].
* Players in furiten may still win by tsumo.


== Causes ==
A player in tenpai is in furiten in any of the following scenarios:


When a player has called a win, via the call for ron, their hand should be checked for furiten. If the player is found to be furiten, then the win is invalid and the penalty for chombo is enforced. For games played via the computer, players are usually denied the ability to declare ron in the first place.
* They have discarded, at any point in the hand, one of their winning tiles.
* They are not in [[riichi]; since their last turn, another player either discarded or made a [[shouminkan]] of one of their winning tiles; and they did not call ron on that tile.
* They are in riichi; since they declared riichi, another player either discarded or made a [[shouminkan]] of one of their winning tiles; and they did not call ron on that tile.


=== Discard-based furiten ===
When evaluating furiten, [[yaku]] are not taken into account. A player may find themselves in a situation where they are forced to discard or pass on a tile that does not give them a yaku, but would otherwise have completed their hand. This will lead to furiten.
 
A player who is in furiten cannot cal ron, although they can still call tsumo or make any other legal play.
 
=== Own discard furiten ===


{{Discard pile
{{Discard pile
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}}


A player is furiten if a winning tile is present in his own's [[discard pile]]. It does not matter whether this tile would have provided a yaku or not. Tiles turned sideways within open groups are considered part of the discarder's discard pile, hence the concern for indicating the tile source for open calls. As long as the player has not declared [[Riichi|riichi]], furiten can be avoided by altering the hand and changing [[Machi|tile waits]].
When a player is in furiten because of their own discard, it is sometimes called '''permanent furiten'''. This name is slightly misleading because a player can (unless they have declared riichi) change their waits to avoid this form of furiten.
 
All of a player's discards can be checked at any time during play, by looking at their discard pools and the rotated tiles in other players' tile calls. This leads to the most basic strategy to avoid dealing into a player's hand: tiles they have already discarded are guaranteed safe against a ron call from that player.
 
During hand development, it is important to bear furiten in mind. Most of the time, if a hand gets to tenpai and is furiten at that point, it indicates that the hand was inefficiently developed. This is not always the case, as sometimes a player makes a tactically correct decision and finds themselves in furiten anyway.
 
The most common reason for furiten, however, is when a player is already tenpai with an open hand, and does not have a guaranteed yaku. While they may have a winning tile that provides them with a yaku, if that draw another tile which completes the hand without a yaku, then they will be forced into furiten on the next discard. This most commonly occurs with a [[shanpon]] wait, one pair of which would give [[yakuhai]], or with a [[ryanmen]] wait on 14 or 69 on a hand that would otherwise complete [[tanyao]].
 
Finally, a player considering a [[daburu riichi|double riichi]] should carefully inspect their hand before discarding; if they had a complete hand to begin with, then being in furiten will add insult to the injury of having [[http://osamuko.com/delicious-riichi-button-must-click-it/ passed]] on a [[tenhou and chiihou|tenhou or chiihou tsumo]].


'''Example tenpai hand'''
'''Example tenpai hand'''
:{{#mjt:77m 34567p 678s 777z}}, waiting on {{#mjt:2p}}, {{#mjt:5p}}, or {{#mjt:8p}}
:{{#mjt:77m 34567p 678s 777z}}, waiting on {{#mjt:2p}}, {{#mjt:5p}}, or {{#mjt:8p}}


This hand waits on three different tiles. If the player has a 2-pin their discard pile, then the hand is in furiten and may not win by ron on any tile. Even if a 5-pin or 8-pin gets discarded by an opponent, ron may not be called in this instance.
This hand waits on three different tiles. If the player has a 2-pin their discard pile, then the hand is in furiten and may not win by ron on any tile. Even if a 5-pin or 8-pin gets discarded by an opponent, ron may not be called.


=== Permanent furiten during riichi ===
=== Temporary furiten ===
{{main|Riichi}}
[[Image:TempFuriten.png|thumb|right|250px|Ron declined, so [http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2014022617gm-0089-0000-ee8c6631&tw=2&ts=11 temporary furiten invoked] until the next own's tile draw.]]
Any player in tenpai has the option to ignore a winning tile.  By declining a call for ron, the player then becomes temporarily furiten until their next discard. This is called '''temporary furiten''', as it expires shortly after it occurs. Although most of the time, it will apply to a discarded tile, it can also apply to a tile used to create a [[shouminkan]]. Temporary furiten cannot apply to a tile used to create an [[ankan]], as if a player can call ron on an ankan, then they have a single-sided [[kokushi musou]] wait (and even then, this is not permitted in [[Rule variations#Kokushi and chankan|all rulesets]]). If they decline a ron, then their hand is dead and cannot be completed.
 
The primary purpose of the rule is to prevent a player from targeting a later player in the turn order. Once a player sees a tile discarded, they know that they can follow with the same tile and it will be safe.


A riichi declarer may ignore a winning tile and not call ron. The ignored tile may have been a discarded tile or a [[Chankan|tile used to extend a minkou to a shominkan]] (kan called while having an open triplet). After ignoring a winning tile, the riichi declarer is permanently furiten for the rest of the hand. Therefore, it is advised for any player declaring riichi to call ron, at the first instance of a winning tile.  Otherwise, a win via [[mentsumo|tsumo]] becomes the only option.
While this is often a mistake to enter temporary furiten, done by a player who does not know their waits correctly or is not paying attention, it may be done deliberately in order to achieve a higher scoring hand or to target a specific player. This becomes much more common in [[orasu]], where a player may gain little benefit from winning a hand that does not [[gyakuten|let them pass another player]]. Temporary furiten can also be entered by a player who does not have a guaranteed yaku, as described above. This is much less devastating than drawing the [[yasume]] tile, however, because it is only temporary.


The furiten rule emphasizes that all tiles discarded by any player after the riichi declaration are deemed [[genbutsu|safe tiles]], along with the player's own discards. For this reason, the tile upon the riichi declaration is turned sideways to indicate the timing of the call.  Riichi declarers may not decline a ron against one player and expect to declare ron against another. Even if a winning tile different from the ignored one appears, the player may not call ron.
Uncommonly, some rulesets [[Rule variations#Furiten|vary the rules]] by allowing a tile call made by another player to cancel temporary furiten. This variation is considered by many to be a poor one.


=== Temporary furiten ===
=== Permanent furiten during riichi ===
[[Image:TempFuriten.png|thumb|right|250px|Ron declined, so [http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2014022617gm-0089-0000-ee8c6631&tw=2&ts=11 temporary furiten invoked] until the next own's tile draw.]]
{{main|Riichi}}
Any player in tenpai has the option to ignore winning tiles.  By declining a call for ron, the player then becomes temporarily furiten until the same player's next discard. In some plays, this may be a valid option in order to achieve a higher scoring hand or to target a specific player.


The furiten rule does not consider [[yaku]]. Sometimes, a hand can be completed with several tiles, but only some of them provide a yaku, others would produce a yakuless hand. If a yakuless tile appears, it must be ignored, because a winning hand must contain a yaku. The player must remain temporarily furiten until the next turn, even if a potential winning tile appears.
When a player has declared riichi, the state of temporary furiten does not expire for them. This means that they only have one opportunity to call ron; if they pass on it, then they can thereafter only win by tsumo. This rule is a critical part of defense against riichi, as it means that any tiles discarded since the declaration is safe.


This rule makes it harder to target a specific player with ron, or to ignore a winning tile of [[yasume|lesser value]] and hope for a more valuable tile. Sometimes, a player simply needs a specific win condition in order to attain a certain result, like [[Gyakuten|passing another player]].  Win conditions that do not meet certain expectations may end up being ignored.ile giving more value
The rule for riichi can be understood as saying that temporary furiten expires the next time the player has an opportunity to change their hand. Because a player in riichi cannot change their hand, their temporary furiten never expires.


Some rulesets may [[Rule variations#Furiten|vary the rules]] on temporary furiten with regards the timing of its cancellation, where a [[naki|tile call]] made by another player cancels the temporary furiten state. This is an uncommon variation, however.
A player in riichi never has to worry about [[yasume]] putting them in furiten unless they are playing with [[ryanhan shibari]]. When ryanhan shibari, a riichi without a guaranteed second yaku may be quite dangerous due to furiten.


== Strategy ==
== Strategy ==

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