Defense: Difference between revisions

Defense in [[Japanese mahjong]] means to '''avoiding dealing into other players' hands by not discarding winning tiles'''. Defense is an important skill, especially when other players call [[riichi]] and/or the threat of a high scoring hand. All else equal, a player with a lower "[[ron|deal in rate]]" will have a higher chance of winning the game.

Defense is part of the game's learning curve. Typically, beginners may not be aware of defense, due to a greater focus towards general hand development and memorization of [[yaku]]. In the early stages of learning, a player may prioritize winning, since winning gives points. This is to some extent true, since you'll need to win at least one hand to finish first. However, it it not necessary to win every single hand to win a game.

Eventually, players learn the importance of minimizing deal-ins. In many instances, the points you lose matter more towards placement than the points you've gained. Still, a player has to produce hands, but they know when to attack and when to defend.

'''Sakigiri''' is the act of discarding tiles before they become dangerous. With each tile draw and discard, the game's conditions are constantly changing. Most of the time, players may possess winning tiles for other players in the hand. They must either be used for the hand, discarded in time, or simply kept in the hand.

The most important defense technique.  [[Genbutsu]] involves tiles that are 100% safe due to the rules applied. Specifically, the [[furiten]] rule can be used:

*Honor tiles you can see one or two of are relatively safe. They are safer if they have been discarded already. Guest winds are safer than yakuhai.

"Live" (unplayed) [[yakuhai]] can be dangerous, becoming more dangerous as the game goes on. They are especially dangerous against a suspected [[honitsu]] hand.

'''Suji''' focuses on taking advantage of the furiten rule, and its application to the "mahjong intervals". Most two-sided or better waits will wait on tiles in the same suji, e.g. a {23} wait wins off either 1 or 4. Therefore, if a player has discarded 4-pin, the 1-pin and 7-pin become safer against that player. Neither is perfectly safe, however.

*Suji 2 and 8, as well as double-suji of 4/5/6, are the next safest. They can be targeted by a tanki, shanpon, or kanchan.

*Suji 3 and 7 are the most dangerous, though still reasonably safe. They can be targeted by a tanki, shanpon, kanchan, or penchan.

 

Note that "half suji" tiles are not much safer than a regular tile. For instance, if a player has discarded 7-pin, 4-pin is not safe, because the 1-4 suji is not safe. In order for 4 to be considered suji, both 1-pin and 7-pin have to be safe.

A tactic similar to suji, kabe uses "walls" forms by seeing all four of a tile to remove the possibility of ryanmen waits

For example, if you can see all four copies of 3-pin, then 1-pin and 2-pin cannot possibly be part of a ryanmen wait. This is because no opponent can possibly have a 23 or 34 shape, because no opponent can have a 3 in the first place. Like suji, other waits are still possible. Kabe is comparable to suji (though kabe is safer), and should be used in a similar fashion.

'''Betaori''' is pure defense - it focuses on discarding nothing but safe tiles. In this state, a player has completely abandoned all hope of developing a winning hand, only trying to minimize the chance of dealing in. At times, even a player achieving a tenpai hand may need to completely break the tenpai for avoidance. The essence of betaori is to always discard the safest tile first. Suji tiles or even hell wait only honors shouldn't be discarded before any genbutsu tiles.

'''Kanzen shinko''' is the way of complete offense. A player basically ignores the opposing tenpai and proceeds to attack normally. It can be used with a very strong hand, a situation where a win is required, or in any case where the hand contains very few safe tiles. In the last case, one can switch to betaori if tiles in the hand become safe.

'''Mawashi uchi''' is a half-way style. A player will aim to discard relatively safe tiles while still aiming for tenpai.  Discardable tiles include honors, suji tiles and no-chance kabe tiles. From this state a player may fall back to betaori upon drawing dangerous tiles, or attack when reaching tenpai. This style is not recommended for beginners, and even for experienced players, it should be rarely used. It is appropriate to use when in a good shape iishanten for a strong hand.