Rule variations: Difference between revisions

Given the complexity to the rules of [[Japanese mahjong]], the rules are even made more complicated by the existence of rule variations enforced among different groups and organizations.

The general rules of the game are complex enough.  However, they are made even more complex, as various rules of the game can be toggled to different settings or simply by "on" or "off" (ari or nashi respectively).

A set of variations dictate how hands produce winning hands.

{{main|Agariyame}}

* Nashi – The game must continue until the seat winds rotate again.

{{main|Atozuke}}

* ? - A hand must have a yaku confirmed by the time the first call completes (exception: "whole hand yaku", e.g. [[honitsu]], can be incomplete on first call).

Score two winning declarations at the same time.

* Far – Applying the head bump rule in reverse, where the player farther from the discarder overrides the closer player.

{{main|Furiten}}

* Nashi – Disallowed

{{main|Riichi}}

* Nashi – Disallowed

{{main|Ryanhan shibari}}

* Nashi – One han from yaku is always enough.

Score three winning declarations at the same time.

* Abort – No hands are scored, and instead, the hand is [[abortive draw|aborted]].

{{main|Chombo}}

Variations on chombo may involve its general usage.  Common and casual games may not even enforce chombo due to the setting.  On the other hand, high profile settings may require stricter enforcement and harsher point penalties.

Point deductions may be applied immediately after the incident, the hand, or factored after the game to avoid time delay during the game.

* Null – Chombo disregarded.

Point variation on the penalty points may be applied.

* Mod – Modified amounts to the point penalty may be specified.

A penalty may be applied to toppling tiles of off the dead wall.

* Comp – This is a computer game. The rules infraction cannot occur.

A penalty may be applied to toppling tiles of off the live wall.

* Comp – This is a computer game. The rules infraction cannot occur.

{{main|Dora|Dora variations}}

Variations on [[dora]] involves a few implementations; and they all affect the number of dora used.  The most common variation involves the '''akadora''' (red five) regarding its inclusion or exclusion.  Other variations places options on the kandora and even the uradora.  Lesser variations may include additional '''dorahyouji''' (dora indicators) at the beginning of each hand.

{{main|Furiten}}

* Call – The players next own discard ends temporary furiten, but also any player's call of [[Naki|chii, pon, or kan]], even for a concealed [[Kan|kantsu]], ends temporary furiten.

{{main|Kuikae}}

* Nashi – Forbid discarding the same tile, forbid switching chii.

{{main|Kuitan}}

* Option – Tenhou.net offers both rules in different settings.  One of the game rooms is set for both kuitan nashi and akadora nashi. However, there is no setting for one or the other exclusively.  The Korean rules write "concealed hand only selective", which sounds as if kuitan were an optional rule.

{{main|Naki}}

* Time – Pon trumps chii if called at the same time, otherwise the first call stands. Ron trumps anything, even if called slightly later.

{{main|Scoring variations}}

Scoring allows some flexibility to the rules regarding the start and end scores.  Likewise, the oka and uma may be adjusted as well.

{{main|Tochuu ryuukyoku}}

* Nashi – Do not recognize any of these abortive criteria. Play every hand until a winning declaration or exhaustive draw. Do not allow a fifth kan declaration nonetheless.

{{main|Yaku variations}}