Tibet rules: Difference between revisions

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edits to Riichi and Furiten
(filling out info on post-Tibet core rules)
(edits to Riichi and Furiten)
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'''Additional Notes'''
'''Additional Notes'''
* At this learning stage, there is no requirement to have a ''yaku'' in order to win a hand. However, note that while a hand's value doubles for each ''han'' from 1-''han'' to 4-''han'', the 0-''han'' value is only about 1/3 the 1-''han'' hand value. This should encourage you to try and aim for having at least 1 ''han'' in your hand if you can see an opportunity for it; the full Riichi ruleset also requires that a hand include some kind of scoring pattern so it can be good to be prepared for that additional restriction in the future!
* At this learning stage, there is no requirement to have a ''yaku'' in order to win a hand. However, note that while a hand's value doubles for each ''han'' from 1-''han'' to 4-''han'', the 0-''han'' value is only about 1/3 the 1-''han'' hand value. This should encourage you to try and aim for having at least 1 ''han'' in your hand when you try to complete it. The full Riichi ruleset also requires that a hand include some kind of scoring pattern so it's good to build that habit early on.
* If two players want to call ''ron'' on the same tile at the same time, priority goes to the person whose turn would come soonest after the discarding player. (Experienced players will recognize this as the [[atamahane|head bump]] rule.)
* If two players want to call ''ron'' on the same tile at the same time, priority goes to the person whose turn would come soonest after the discarding player. (Experienced players will recognize this as the [[atamahane|head bump]] rule.)
* Teachers with Riichi Mahjong experience will note that the "Concealed Hand" pattern also allows for ''menzen ron'' wins, and doesn't distinguish them from ''[[menzen tsumo]]''. We also haven't introduced the ''riichi'' call yet. If you think that it will cause more friction for your players to unlearn ''menzen ron'' without ''riichi'', then feel free to substitute this pattern with [[Riichi]] instead (see the later section on this article for implementation tips). While the concept of ''furiten'' is important with ''riichi'', you can hold off on introducing it until it becomes relevant, since it is an advanced rule to understand.
* Teachers with Riichi Mahjong experience will note that the "Concealed Hand" pattern also allows for ''menzen ron'' wins, and doesn't distinguish them from ''[[menzen tsumo]]''. We also haven't introduced the ''riichi'' call yet. If you think that it will cause more friction for your players to unlearn ''menzen ron'' without ''riichi'', then feel free to substitute this pattern with [[Riichi]] instead (see the later section on this article for implementation tips). While the concept of ''furiten'' is important with ''riichi'', you can hold off on introducing it until it becomes relevant, since it is an advanced rule to understand.
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=== Riichi-specific rules ===
=== Riichi-specific rules ===


* '''[[Riichi]]''': ''Riichi'' is the name of the game, and the most important ''yaku'' to understand. If your hand is in ''tenpai'' and does not have any open calls (no ''chii'' or ''pon'' calls, and any ''kan'' calls must have been from having all four tiles in hand), then you can declare ''riichi'' when making a discard. The discarded tile is turned sideways to show that you have called ''riichi''; if that tile is called, your next discard should be turned sideways. Declaring ''riichi'' tells your opponents that you are ready to win, which can alert them to play more defensively to avoid dealing into you. Additionally, your hand is locked in: tiles that do not let you win must be discarded (exception: a ''kan'' can be declared using a drawn tile, if doing so doesn't change what you could win on). On the plus side, a hand won under the ''riichi'' status confers an additional [1 ''han''], which can represent a large point boost when stacked with other scoring patterns.
* '''[[Riichi]]''': [1 ''han''] ''Riichi'' lends its name to Japanese Mahjong, and is the most important ''yaku'' to understand. If your hand is in ''tenpai'' and does not have any open calls (no ''chii'' or ''pon'' calls, and any ''kan'' calls must have been from having all four tiles in hand), then you can declare ''riichi'' when making a discard. The discarded tile is turned sideways to show that you have called ''riichi''. From this point forward, your hand is locked in: tiles you draw that do not let you win must be discarded (exception: a ''kan'' can be declared using a drawn tile, if doing so doesn't change what you could win on).
** After introducing Riichi, the Concealed Hand ''yaku'' should no longer be allowed as a scoring pattern. If your hand is in ''tenpai'', but doesn't have any particular scoring pattern, you should declare ''riichi'' if you want to score more than just the baseline points! The full Riichi ruleset also has a 1-''han'' minimum value required to win a hand, so being able to declare ''riichi'' becomes even more important once you implement that requirement!
** '''[[Ippatsu]]''': [1 ''han''] If you are lucky enough to call ''ron'' or ''tsumo'' before or on your first turn following a ''riichi'' declaration, you gain a bonus ''han'' for winning in a 'single shot'. However, a call of ''chii'', ''pon'', or ''kan'' made by any player before your next draw breaks the chance to gain ''ippatsu''.
** When starting out, declaring ''Riichi'' has no point cost. Once you get more experience, ''riichi'' should also cost a 10-point bet to declare. If you win the hand, then you get to take back your bet. But if someone else wins, they get your points, even if they won via ''tsumo'' or ''ron'' off of another player. And if the hand goes to a draw, then your bet is set aside to be claimed by the next winner of a hand, whomever that might be.
** If the tile that you discarded to declare ''riichi'' is called by another player, then just turn the next tile you discard sideways instead, to show other players that you have declared ''riichi'', and when you did so.
** After introducing Riichi, the Concealed Hand ''yaku'' should no longer be allowed as a scoring pattern. If your hand is in ''tenpai'', but doesn't have any particular scoring pattern, you should declare ''riichi'' if you want to score more than just the baseline points! This is important once you add in the full game requirement that a hand include at least one ''yaku'' to be valid; ''riichi'' is the most prevalent ''yaku'' when it comes to winning hands.
** When starting out, declaring ''Riichi'' has no point cost. Once you get more experience, ''riichi'' should also cost a 10-point bet to declare. If you win the hand, then you get to take back your bet. But if someone else wins, they get your points, even if they won via ''tsumo'' or ''ron'' off of another player. (If a player declares ''ron'' off the tile you use to declare ''riichi'', you do not need to pay the 10-point ante.) And if the hand goes to a draw, then your bet is set aside to be claimed by the next winner of a hand, whomever that might be.
** Remember: you can't call ''riichi'' if you've made a ''chii'', ''pon'', or open ''kan'' call! Often, there's a tradeoff between whether you should keep your hand concealed to try and earn more points, or if you should make calls to speed it up at the cost of potential value.
** Remember: you can't call ''riichi'' if you've made a ''chii'', ''pon'', or open ''kan'' call! Often, there's a tradeoff between whether you should keep your hand concealed to try and earn more points, or if you should make calls to speed it up at the cost of potential value.


* '''[[Furiten]]''': If a player had discarded a tile that their current hand could've won with, they are in ''furiten''. A hand in ''furiten'' may not call ''ron'' by any means. Even if the player's discarded tile and the opponent's tile are different, you may not call ron. A hand in furiten may win from ''tsumo'' (self-draw) as normal, or change its wait so that it is no longer in ''furiten''.
* '''[[Furiten]]''': ''Furiten'' is a restriction on a player that prevents them from calling ''ron'' on any other player's discards. It reduces the ability of a player to target a specific opponent, and allows for more defensive play, such as avoiding discarding into an opponent who has declared ''riichi''. There are two main types of ''furiten''.
** There is also a another form of ''furiten'' that comes from declining to win off another player's discard. If you decide not to call ''ron'' on another player's discard (or if you cannot due to a lack of ''yaku'' in the full ruleset), then you are locked out of declaring ''ron'' until after you draw your next tile. You can still call ''tsumo'' on your own draws, regardless. If you decline ''ron'' while in Riichi status, however, ''furiten'' is a permanent status since you have no option to change your hand, and can only win via ''tsumo''.
** '''Discard furiten'': If a player has a tile in their discards that could have completed their hand, they are in ''furiten''. (Whether or not it would have given the hand ''yaku'' is not important, only that the hand has a complete shape.) Even if an opponent discards a hand-completing tile that is different from the player's discarded tile, ''ron'' may still not be declared. A hand in furiten may win from ''tsumo'' (self-draw) as normal, or change its wait so that it is no longer in ''furiten''.
** '''Declined win furiten''': If you decide not to call ''ron'' on another player's discard (or if you cannot due to a lack of ''yaku'' in the full ruleset), then you are locked out of declaring ''ron'' until after you draw your next tile. You can still call ''tsumo'' on your own draws, regardless. However, if you decline ''ron'' while in Riichi status, this declined win ''furiten'' becomes a permanent status since you have no option to change your hand, and so you can only win via ''tsumo''.


* '''[[Dora]]'''
* '''[[Dora]]'''
** '''Kandora'''
** '''Uradora'''


* '''Additional scoring patterns (yaku)''': There are a few dozen scoring patterns in Riichi Mahjong, but many of them are fairly rare.
* '''Additional scoring patterns (yaku)''': There are a few dozen scoring patterns in Riichi Mahjong, but some of them are quite rare.
** '''Closed-only scoring patterns''': Fully Concealed Hand (''[[menzen tsumo]]''), [[Pinfu]], Two Identical Sequences (''[[iipeikou]]''). Most of the time, if your hand reaches ''tenpai'' without making any calls, you're probably going to want to call ''riichi''. So you might think of these patterns are bonuses to your hand's value when it is won with ''riichi''.
** '''Closed-only scoring patterns''': Fully Concealed Hand (''[[menzen tsumo]]''), [[Pinfu]], Two Identical Sequences (''[[iipeikou]]''). Most of the time, if your hand reaches ''tenpai'' without making any calls, you're probably going to want to call ''riichi''. So you might think of these patterns are bonuses to your hand's value when it is won with ''riichi''.
** '''Uncommon patterns''': Full Straight (''[[ikkitsuukan]]''), Three Similar Sequences (''[[sanshoku doujun]]''), Included Terminals and Honors (''[[chanta]]''), Included Terminals (''[[junchan]]''), Seven Unique Pairs (''[[chiitoitsu]]''). Identifying opportunities for these ''yaku'' is trickier than the bread-and-butter patterns that were introduced at first. However, their higher ''han'' values can make them valuable when those opportunities show up. Note that many of these patterns are worth fewer ''han'' if they are in a hand with open calls. (Such is also the case for the Half Flush and Full Flush hands.)
** '''Uncommon patterns''': Full Straight (''[[ikkitsuukan]]''), Three Similar Sequences (''[[sanshoku doujun]]''), Included Terminals and Honors (''[[chanta]]''), Included Terminals (''[[junchan]]''), Seven Unique Pairs (''[[chiitoitsu]]''). Identifying opportunities for these ''yaku'' is trickier than the bread-and-butter patterns that were introduced at first. However, their higher ''han'' values can make them valuable when those opportunities show up. Note that many of these patterns are worth fewer ''han'' if they are in a hand with open calls. (Such is also the case for the Half Flush and Full Flush hands.)
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* '''Common [[rule variations]] in Riichi Mahjong'''
* '''Common [[rule variations]] in Riichi Mahjong'''
** '''Akadora'''
** '''Multiple ron'''


== External Links ==
== External Links ==
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