Sekinin barai: Difference between revisions

'''Sekinin barai''' {{kana|責任払い}}, or the rule of '''pao''' {{kana|パオ}}, is a liability payment imposed when a player confirms another player's [[yaku]] / [[yakuman]]. It is almost exclusively used for yakuman, but some rulesets invoke this rule for [[rinshan]]. Not all rulesets use sekinin barai in the first place.

To explain how liability works in terms of "the player is responsible for ensuring a yakuman", it is better to switch to the opponent's point of view. When a yakuman-holder has called for two groups of dragons, daisangen is not guaranteed ''in the opponent's eyes''. Once an opponent discards the third dragon, and it is called for a kan, daisangen becomes guaranteed ''in the opponent's eyes''. So, when discarding a tile used for a kan, pao is still invoked: from the opponent's point of view, daisangen goes from not guaranteed -> guaranteed.

: {{#mjt:1234m}}, last: {{#mjt:666'6z}}, second: {{#mjt:5'55z}}, first: {{#mjt:77'7z}} (Main perspective)

: {{#mjt:1234m666z}}, second: {{#mjt:5'55z}}, first: {{#mjt:77'7z}} (Main perspective)

This rule also implies a useful strategy of gameplay:

* If a call confirms an ensured yakuman, the opponents should have avoided discarding such tile to get rid of the liability.

* If a call doesn't guarantee a yakuman, the opponents can discard it safely without liability.

In general, sekinin barai does not apply to other yakuman, since other types of yakuman cannot be ensured even with all required sets are melded. A common point for these yakuman hands is that they both have some limitation of toitsu (the head pair).

==== Shousuushi ====

==== Tsuuiisou ====

==== Chinroutou ====

==== Ryuuiisou ====