Naki: Difference between revisions

'''Naki''' {{kana|鳴き}} are legal claims on immediately discarded tiles. The instant a discarded tile is declined for a claim, then it goes out of play and remains in the discard pile until the next hand. Discarded tiles gives players another source of tiles for hand completion, other than the regular wall.  Upon claiming a discard, the player's hand is then considered to be '''open'''. As a consequence, the player loses the option to call [[riichi]], and the hand is not eligible for [[menzen tsumo]] or other closed only yaku. Yet, some yaku allow the use of open hands, but they [[#Kuisagari|decrease in value by 1-han]], when opened.

Tiles used for open calls are placed to the side.  When revealed, they are still part of a player's hand.  However, once placed to the side, tiles used for open calls can no longer be changed. As a consequence, the number of tiles for discard selection in a player's hand decreases with each tile call. From thirteen tiles, the count decreases to ten after one call; to seven after two calls; to four after three calls; and finally, to one after four calls. With this, a player's ability to [[defense|defend]] is reduced with every tile call.

Yet, players may benefit from open tile calling from increasing the speed of hand development, convenience, or the irrelevance of losing hand value by opening. Players must also consider the number of tiles available.  Overall, tile calling is a discretionary move.  Especially with hands valued of [[scoring|mangan or greater]], opening the hand may be a better option than keeping it closed.

Finally, the last discard cannot be claimed for any open calls, even if needed to attain [[tenpai]].  The call on the last discard is limited for winning hands, by which [[houtei raoyui]] is awarded.

==Mentsu and overview==

As a general rule, tile calls apply to the tile immediately discarded.  Naturally, players are not required to claim discarded tile; but they may do so under the condition of possessing 2 out of 3 tiles for a meld in the hand.  Every discarded tile not claimed by discard remain in the discard piles, until the [[Japanese_mahjong#End_of_a_hand|end of the hand]].

 

In addition, [[kuikae]] is an additional rule to tile calls.  Players may have tile groups within the hand; and a discarded tile may allow a tile claim.  If a player wishes to create a meld (an open group) using tiles in hand that form a complete group with the discarded tile, then a player is not allowed to discard such a tile that would have completed the tile group that same turn. Concerned tiles can be thrown at the next or subsequent turns, or kept in hand for future use.

'''Chii''' {{kana|チー}} is applied for opening sequential melds, to form minjun. To claim and complete '''sequences''', the player to the right of the discarder may claim the tile and call chii. This means, any player calling chii may only claim tiles from the player to the left.  Therefore, the tile turned sideways is always indicated on the left. Furthermore, this tile call may have a restriction named [[kuikae]], where chii is called using an existing sequential tile group.  In this case, the tile left over from the original, but now broken, tile group cannot be discarded.  The player is forced to discard another tile.

Toitsu, or pairs, may be upgraded to minkou, or open triplets.  Unlike "chii", the call for '''pon''' {{kana|ポン}} may be called from any player on the board. As long as a player possess two identical tiles and a third is discarded, the player may call for that discarded tile regardless.  Because any player may call, sometimes a player's turn may be skipped.

'''Kan''' {{kana|カン}} may work like pon, except this call has some added procedures and additional situations. Likewise, the tile arrangements works similarly to pon.  However, there is the addition of the other two kan types: [[ankan]] and [[shouminkan]].  For ankan, the hand remains closed, despite the use of a tile call. Instead, such a call is used to invoke the rules specific to kan; and certainly, kan does have some specific rules applied. Mostly, these relate to the [[dead wall]] and the revealing of additional [[dora]].

The different tiles calls take precedence.

It is impossible for kan and pon to be called simultaneously. However, either can simultaneously occur with chii.  Due to precedence, the player, who calls kan or pon, gains the right to a discarded tile over a chii call. Overall, the call for ron or agari supercedes all tile discard calls.

==Kuisagari==

'''Kuisagari''' {{kana|喰い下がり}} is a property of some yaku to lose value when [[naki|called open]].  When calling on a discard and opening the hand, a player sacrifices the value of 1-han per yaku affected by this rule. The loss in value is obviously bad, though calling allows you to develop your hand faster. If certain tiles are discarded, a player may need to make the open call, or not score the yaku at all. Also, if the hand is already valuable enough (e.g. from having [[dora]]), the loss of value can be deemed worthwhile.

Similarly, some yaku can only be scored with a closed hand. Certain yaku, like [[chiitoitsu]] and [[mentsumo]], are closed based on their structure or nature. Other yaku, like [[iipeikou]], the requirement of a closed hand is entirely artificial. Unlike instances of kuisagari, you cannot use these yaku to fulfill the yaku requirement of an open hand: these are not considered 0 han yaku. For [[ryanpeikou]] in particular, if it were affected by kuisagari, it would score 2 han when opened. In actuality, you cannot achieve ryanpeikou at all with an open hand.

Finally, some yaku are not affected by kuisagari.  Even when open, they retain their original han value.  These are [[yakuhai]], [[toitoi]], [[sanankou]], [[sanshoku doukou]], [[shousangen]], [[sankantsu]], as well as any [[yakuman]] that can be scored with an open hand.

{{main|List of yaku}}

The following yaku are affected by kuisagari:

These tile calls do not apply to discards. Just like the discard calls, these calls are announcements.

In some rules of three-player mahjong, North tiles may be picked and functions as a [[dora]].

'''Riichi''' {{kana|リーチ}} is a player's declaration for a [[tenpai|ready hand]].  If desired, a player may announce riichi prior to discarding and invoke the rules involving riichi as a yaku.

{{main|Haipai}}

For various [[yakuman]] hands, it is certainly advantageous to make calls on specific tiles. The sheer difficulty of yakuman hands overall make it necessary to make use of tile calls to even come near completion, much less score one.