Chiitoitsu: Difference between revisions

'''Chiitoitsu''' {{kana|七対子}}, also known as '''chiitoi''' or '''niconico''', is one of the standard yaku hands. This hand consists of seven pairs. Under most rulesets, no two pairs may be identical. Certain [[Yaku_variations#Chiitoitsu|house rules]] may allow duplicate pairs. This hand is one of the two exceptions of the "four melds and one pair" rule of forming a hand, where the other exception is the [[kokushi musou]]. This hand is closed only.

Given the number of pairs in this hand, it is often tempting to call pon to turn pairs into triplets. However, [[toitoi]] is generally a slower hand if you do not have any [[ankou]] yet. This is especially true when the potential chiitoitsu hand sits at [[Shanten|iishanten]], where it is usually best to reach a chiitoitsu [[tenpai]]. Tenpai for chiitoitsu always uses the wait of [[tanki]] (pair wait) in order to complete the seventh and last pair for the hand.

Nevertheless, transition to other yaku may be favorable, if the hand develops at least one [[ankou]]. In this case, players may find themselves looking to develop a toitoi hand, [[sanankou]], or even [[suuankou]]. Whatever the case may be, this consideration takes some discretion, particularly when taking into account the number of tiles available, current point standing, and/or number of tile draws remaining.

Finally, the pairs must be distinct.  A group of tiles forming ankan does not count as 2 tile pairings.  Some house rules actually allow four-of-a-kind to count as two pairs, though.