Betaori: Difference between revisions

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'''Betaori''' {{kana|ベタ降り}} is a general strategy emphasizing the discarding of safe tiles or minimizing the chances of dealing into other player's hands. By employing betaori, a player has abandoned the prospect developing a completed hand; and instead, the player opts to minimally lose points via opponent tsumo or [[ryuukyoku]].  Of course, a player in betaori hopes to not lose points at all.
'''Betaori''' {{kana|ベタ降り}} is a general strategy which aims to minimize the chance of dealing into other players' hands. Usually, by employing betaori, a player will abandon the prospect of winning the hand. Points can be lost via opponent [[tsumo]] or [[ryuukyoku]], but you'd lose less points than by dealing in.


==Determining safe tiles==
==Determining safe tiles==
The central idea behind betaori involves avoiding dealing into player hands. This requires deduction from visible tiles.  The visible tiles are all tiles revealed from the player perspective.  This include all discards, the dora indicator, and the tiles in the player's own hand. Of course, tile defense also requires the player's active decision to defend as opposed to continuing to push the hand towards tenpai.  Tenpai is still very much possible in this process.
{{main|Defense}}
When playing betaori, you should discard the safest tiles, e.g. the safest tiles against a declared [[riichi]]. This requires deduction from visible tiles, including all discards, dora indicator, and the tiles in the player's own hand. Of course, it also requires the player's active decision to defend (as opposed to continuing to push the hand towards tenpai).


==Genbutsu and furiten==
===Genbutsu and furiten===
{{main|Furiten}}
{{main|Furiten}}


'''Genbutsu''' {{kana|現物}} is a term for "safe tile" due to [[furiten]], by reading the [[discard pile]]. To identify safe tiles, players rely on the furiten rule.  Furiten refers to a player's inability to declare ron, if any winning tile is within the player's own discard pile. Therefore, tiles applied by the furiten rule are the safest tiles to discard, against particular players.
'''Genbutsu''' {{kana|現物}} is a term for "safe tile" due to [[furiten]]. Tiles applied by the furiten rule are the safest tiles against that particular player.


The most obvious tiles to discard safely are the ones in particular opponent's discard piles. However, often, a player may possess a set of tiles in the hand, that are not clearly safe. In this case, a player may have to rely on [[suji]] and/or [[kabe]] to make an educated guess on a safe discard.
There are three types of furiten:
*Discard furiten: If a player has discarded any tile they could've won off of, they are in furiten. Thus, any tile that a player discarded is 100% safe against that player.
*Temporary furiten: If a non-riichi hand declines a win, the player is in furiten until their next discard. This means that the tile discarded by the your left player is 100% safe against  everyone for that turn only. The tile discarded by the player across from you is 100% safe against your right player, again for that turn only.
*Riichi furiten: If a riichi hand declines a win, the player is in furiten for the rest of a hand. So after a player declares riichi, any tile discarded by anyone is 100% safe against the riichi.


The safest tile to discard is the identical tile discarded by the previous player.  This is known as '''awaseuchi''' {{kana|合わせ打ち}}.  Naturally, it is safe against the previous discarder.  Temporary furiten renders it safe against [[shimocha|the player to the right]] and [[toimen|the player across]].
If genbutsu is not available, then defensive strategies like [[suji]] and/or [[kabe]] should be employed to determine the tile least likely to deal in.


==Mawashiuchi==
==Mawashiuchi==
Ideally, players best seek to use '''mawashiuchi''' {{kana|回し打ち}}.  While trying to play safely, it is best to still not abandon the prospect of forming a hand.  After all, a player may terminate threatening hands by outright winning the hand.  This practice is best performed, if and only if, the tiles bring about the possibility of attaining [[tenpai]], while not discarding winning tiles.
If two tiles are equally safe, it is best to discard a tile that does not reduce hand progress. After all, you can prevent opponents from winning by winning yourself.
 
'''Mawashiuchi''' {{kana|回し打ち}} is a separate strategy aiming to build a hand while discarding fairy safe tiles.  This practice is best performed, if and only if, the tiles bring about the possibility of attaining [[tenpai]] without discarding a winning tiles.


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 05:07, 18 March 2024

Betaori 「ベタ降り」 is a general strategy which aims to minimize the chance of dealing into other players' hands. Usually, by employing betaori, a player will abandon the prospect of winning the hand. Points can be lost via opponent tsumo or ryuukyoku, but you'd lose less points than by dealing in.

Determining safe tiles

When playing betaori, you should discard the safest tiles, e.g. the safest tiles against a declared riichi. This requires deduction from visible tiles, including all discards, dora indicator, and the tiles in the player's own hand. Of course, it also requires the player's active decision to defend (as opposed to continuing to push the hand towards tenpai).

Genbutsu and furiten

Genbutsu 「現物」 is a term for "safe tile" due to furiten. Tiles applied by the furiten rule are the safest tiles against that particular player.

There are three types of furiten:

  • Discard furiten: If a player has discarded any tile they could've won off of, they are in furiten. Thus, any tile that a player discarded is 100% safe against that player.
  • Temporary furiten: If a non-riichi hand declines a win, the player is in furiten until their next discard. This means that the tile discarded by the your left player is 100% safe against everyone for that turn only. The tile discarded by the player across from you is 100% safe against your right player, again for that turn only.
  • Riichi furiten: If a riichi hand declines a win, the player is in furiten for the rest of a hand. So after a player declares riichi, any tile discarded by anyone is 100% safe against the riichi.

If genbutsu is not available, then defensive strategies like suji and/or kabe should be employed to determine the tile least likely to deal in.

Mawashiuchi

If two tiles are equally safe, it is best to discard a tile that does not reduce hand progress. After all, you can prevent opponents from winning by winning yourself.

Mawashiuchi 「回し打ち」 is a separate strategy aiming to build a hand while discarding fairy safe tiles. This practice is best performed, if and only if, the tiles bring about the possibility of attaining tenpai without discarding a winning tiles.

External links

Written work on defense in Osamuko