Japanese mahjong: Difference between revisions

'''Japanese mahjong''' {{kana|麻雀、 麻将、 or マージャン}}, or '''riichi mahjong''', is the Japanese variation to the 4-player table game of mahjong. Best described as a combination of gin rummy and poker - it is a game that combines the elements of calculation and strategy with elements of risk assessment, observation skills, and luck. It is traditionally played with tiles.

The Japanese variation is primarily played in Japan, though it is available worldwide through internet sites and video games. Throughout the past 20 years, the game has increased prominence in western cultures through mahjong-centric media.

*A hand must have at least one [[yaku]]. Yaku can be synonymous with "poker hands" - they are patterns/criteria that score points. For example, a "pair" in poker means having two of the same number card. [[Toitoi]] ("All Triplets") is when the hand consists entirely of triplets (that is, having 4 triplets in total). In general, yaku that that are harder to get scores more [[han]], which equates to more points.

The rules to the game is complex. Gameplay is generally similar to most Asia-originated variants of mahjong. For a more detailed overview, see [[rules overview]] or the rest of this article.

Japanese mahjong features a few aspects of the game which are not found in most variants of mahjong:

'''[[Jihai]] (honor tiles/word tiles):''' these can be split into two categories. Honor tiles cannot be used to create sequences, only triplets.

Set up is not required when playing using online sites, and can be make easier with an automatic table.

===Game flow===

Opponents can call a win off your discarded tile ([[ron]]) if they have a valid hand. They may also call [[chii]], [[pon]], or [[kan]] to advance their hand.

Every player's discard is organized and [[discard pile|arranged in front of them]]. By convention, players line up their discarded tiles in rows of six. This is not a necessary, but it is preferred. The arranged discard pile is used for two primary purposes: as record of a player's discards, and as an indicator of [[Genbutsu|safe-tiles]] for [[defense|defensive play]]. Additionally, players can learn and are able to discern player hand states by reading the discard piles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This rule forces players to take extra consideration, when making discards.  Often, a player must have good reason to discard particular tiles, especially when they are already part of a tile group.

The process of drawing and discarding, as well as making claims to discard is the process of hand development. As a player, after the initial deal of hands, players have a ''start hand''. So, the aim of a player is to develop this hand into a '''[[tenpai]]''' hand, and eventually a '''complete hand'''. Typically, a complete mahjong hand is composed of '''4 tile groups and a pair'''. The hand may be open or closed and have '''at [[Yaku|minimum 1-yaku]]'''. This is a total of 13 tiles plus 1 (the winning tile), like so:

 

 

Per [[atozuke|the yaku rule]], it is impossible to win with the first tile by discard unless [[riichi]] has been declared.  However, the the second tile may be claimed for a win under any circumstance in the [[East round]], or for the [[dealer]].

 

A hand that is one tile away from being complete is in [[tenpai]]. A hand that is one tile away from tenpai is one [[shanten]]. A hand that is two tiles away from tenpai is two shanten, and so on. Experienced players may sense how likely they are to win a hand based on their initial shanten number.

 

There are two notable '''exceptions''' to the 4 tile groups and a pair pattern. Players can try to form [[Chiitoitsu|seven pairs]] or the rare [[Kokushi musou|thirteen orphans]] hand. Both of these hands are closed by default.

===Tile groupings===

'''Mentsu''' {{kana|面子}} are the tile groups used to form mahjong hands.  Each individual tile group must be composed of a single suit or type of mahjong tile. All groups, except [[kan|kantsu]], are composed of groups of 3 tiles.

*'''Consecutive same suit Sequences'''. Sequences must be in consecutive numbers per the following examples:

*'''Same suit triplets'''. Triplets are three-of-a-kind. As such, the tiles must be of the same kind both in number and suit. Per examples:

*'''Quads''' occur, when a player is in possession of all four tiles of a specific tile type.  With possession of all four of a tile type, a player has the option to invoke special rules applied to this tile grouping. Even though, the tile group consists of four tiles, it is, in an actual sense, counted as three-of-a-kind plus one extra, where players are actually awarded special privileges for possessing four of one type of tile.

===Quads===

After the declaration for a quad, then a player gains special access to the [[dead wall]].  This is one of the first four tiles to the left of the dora-indicator. Afterwards, if the the extra tile does not complete the hand, the player must discard and play moves on to the right. As a sidenote, for each call kan, the player's tile count increases by one for each quad. Yet once again, a quad counts as a triplet plus one.

Furthermore, when a player calls or declares a kan, an additional dora indicator tile is flipped. This is called the kandora. Some rules may allow the kandora to be flipped immediately after the kan call. Other rules have stricter procedures on when the kandora tile is flipped. Some make the distinction between the open kan and the closed kan. Finally, a tile is shifted from the end of the regular wall to the dead wall, in order to maintain 14-tiles in the dead wall. Because of the additional dora, a play using quads can be very risky or rewarding.

As part of the game, players have the ability to claim other player's discards.

Finally, a hand is distinguishable between an '''open hand''' and '''closed hand'''. A closed hand is a player's hand, that had yet to make any claim on a discard. A hand in this state is fully concealed from the other players. In the event a player makes a claim on a discard, then the player's hand changes from a closed hand to an open hand.  

Usually, a player's hand value decreases in the event of an open hand, but this may not always be the case, especially for some [[yakuman]] hands. Japanese mahjong strategy centers on knowing when to appropriately make the above calls. Knowledge of the yaku plays a large part in this decision making process.

The procedure of drawing, discarding, and maintaining a hand ends with many different scenarios. The ideal for any player is the completion of the hand and winning it. A hand may end when all the tiles, except for the dead-wall tiles, are drawn, or when a player chombos, meaning making an illegal play. After the end of the hand, points are exchanged accordingly. Then afterwards, the tiles are reshuffled to setup the next hand, or [[renchan]].

Ideally, players seek to win hands. Once again, a winning hand is composed of a [[tenpai]] hand; and a winning tile may be claimed. Of course, a player must actively declare the win '''(ron or tsumo)''', or else, the player may also decline the win. Though, the latter option may be used for specific and strategic instances. This can also be attained by the dead-wall draw with the special tsumo of [[rinshan kaihou]] yaku. Two other special win claims can be attained by ron via [[chankan]].  

It is most important to note: '''winning a hand requires a minimum of one [[yaku]].''' Failure to meet this requirement may be subject to [[chombo|a penalty]].

Depending on the rules, multiple winners are also possible for a hand. This event occurs when more than one player is waiting on the same tile(s), and the wins are both claimed by discard. This event is called a '''double ron''' or even '''triple ron'''. [[Rule variations|Some rules]] may allow double, but not triple. In this case, the losing player must pay the winning players according to their respective hand values. Likewise, honba applies for both of them as well. Otherwise, some rules may apply the head bump rule, or '''[[atamahane]]'''. In this case, only one of the players may claim the win over the other. The former winner may claim the win over the latter, or vice-versa depending on the rules agreed upon.

Also, known as '''ryuukyoku''', the hand ends in a draw.  In this case, all the tiles from the wall are drawn, except for the 14 tiles in the dead wall. The player(s) in tenpai receive points from those in noten.  However, that needed tile was never claimed. Nearly 40% of professional games go to an exhaustive draw due to players immediately dropping out of the race when a player declares riichi.

Out of all the mahjong variants, this is the most complicated scoring system. Winning hands are awarded points based on their composition. So, the appropriate amount of points are exchanged between players according to the tables in the [[Scoring|scoring rules]] of the game. The scoring for this game features two variables: [[han]] and [[fu]].  These two factor into the game's scoring equation and other factors to generate the game's [[scoring table]]. Naturally, the point exchanges are already handled by software and mahjong game sites. Even some automatic tables are capable of scoring calculations.  Otherwise, players go on to [[Score table memorization|memorize the point values]].