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'''Hanchan''' {{kana|半荘}} encapsulates one game of [[Japanese mahjong]]. A typical game involves two rounds designated as East and then South.  Even if a game ends early, such as when a player falls below zero points, then it is still considered to be a full game.  For shorter games, players may play '''[[tonpussen]]''' {{kana|東風戦}}, or East only games.
A '''hanchan''' {{kana|半荘}} is the standard length of a game of [[Japanese mahjong]]. By default, a hanchan lasts for two [[ba|wind rounds]]: East and South.  


Without any player falling below 0 points, the shortest game possible is 8 hands. Of course, the shortest game possible can end in just one hand. After that, games can be of varying lengths depending on the number of [[#Renchan|dealer repeats]] and other game results.
Assuming no player [[tobi|falls below 0 points]], the shortest hanchan is 8 hands long. Games can be extended through [[renchan]] and shortened if someone is bankrupted. The game can also be extended if the [[End game scenarios#Goal Score|target score]] is not met.


==Game rounds==
==Game rounds==
{| cellspacing="2" class="wikitable" align="right"
{{main|Ba}}
|-
Typical games begin with the '''east round''', or '''tonba''' {{kana|東場}}.  After that, the game moves into the '''south round''', or '''nanba''' {{kana|南場}}. If the target score is not met, it can go into the '''[[west round]]''', or '''shaaba''' {{kana|西場}}. During the game, a [[Mahjong_equipment#Round_indicator|dealer indicator]] is used to either mark the initial dealer or the current dealer. It also shows the current wind round of either East or South.
! Hand # !! Japanese !! English
|-
| 0 || 東局1本場0 || East 1
|-
| 1 || 東局2本場0 || East 2
|-
| 2 || 東局2本場1 || East 2 Bonus 1
|-
| 3 || 東局3本場0 || East 3
|-
| 4 || 東局3本場1 || East 3 Bonus 1
|-
| 5 || 東局4本場0 || East 4
|-
| 6 || 南局1本場0 || South 1
|-
| 7 || 南局1本場1 || South 1 Bonus 1
|-
| 8 || 南局2本場0 || South 2
|-
| 9 || 南局2本場1 || South 2 Bonus 1
|-
| 10 || 南局3本場0 || South 3
|-
| 11 || 南局3本場1 || South 3 Bonus 1
|-
| 12 || 南局4本場0 || South 4
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|''Extra west round''
|-
| 13 || 西局1本場0|| West 1
|-
| 14 || 西局2本場0 || West 2
|-
| 15 || 西局2本場1 || West 2 Bonus 1
|-
| 16 || 西局3本場0 || West 3
|-
| 17 || 西局4本場0 || West 4
|-
|colspan=4|[http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2014041817gm-0089-0000-96d6e343&tw=0 Source]
|}
 
Typical games begin with the '''east round''', or '''tonkyoku''' {{kana|東局}}.  After that, the game moves into the '''south round''', or '''nankyoku''' {{kana|南局}}. If necessary, it can go into the '''[[west round]]''', or '''shaakyoku''' {{kana|西局}}.
 
===Hand designations===
For identification and labeling, every hand has a designation.  It uses a combination of the wind round, a number 1-4, and the [[honba]] count.  As an example, the very first hand is always East Round 1, Honba 0.  As the first hand of the game, it is impossible for it to have an alternative designation. All other hands afterwards may differ due to the different ways the game plays out.


===Renchan===
===Renchan===
'''Renchan''' {{kana|連荘}} are additional hands, by which the [[Jikaze|wind seating]] do not rotate.  Under [[List of terminology translations|English terminology]], a renchan may be considered as a "bonus hand".  This is possible when the [[dealer]] wins a hand, an [[abortive draw]] occurs, or the dealer is [[tenpai]] at [[exhaustive draw]].  This is a clear advantage to the dealer position, with the ability to continually retain the dealer position given the two conditions.  Comebacks are very much possible and doable from taking advantage of the dealer seat.<ref>http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2014010103gm-00a9-0000-ca27a20c&tw=2&ts=9</ref>
{{main|Renchan}}
 
When a '''[[renchan]]''' {{kana|連荘}}, or dealer repeat, occurs, a new hand is started but the wind seats do not change. Each renchan causes the game to last for one extra hand.
In the event when the wind seating does not change, then the '''[[honba]]''' count increases by one.  For each honba, the hand value for any player is increased by 300 points.  To mark [[honba]], the dealer uses a [[Tenbou|100 point stick]] to mark the number of renchan currently.  The points are used as markers only temporarily and is not spent by the dealer.  When the dealer seating rotates via a hand winning, the dealer receives the markers back.  A game cannot end with a renchan on board.  A seat wind rotation is part of the end game criteria.
 
In the event of [[chombo]], the wind seating may rotate if the dealer commits the penalty.  Otherwise, it may not without an increase to the honba count depending on [[Rule_variations#Chombo|rule specifications]].
 
===Oorasu===
'''Oorasu''' {{kana|オーラス}} is designated for the last dealer of the game, barring any player ending the game earlier by dropping below zero points.  This is the South 4 hand; for [[tonpussen|East only]], it is the East 4 hand. Naturally, if the last dealer wins, an additional hand, or renchan, may be awarded and the game continues.  Though, the game may also end if the last dealer happens to be the points leader, or if the other players force a wind rotation.  The term is derived from '''all last'''.
 
===Agariyame===
'''Agariyame''' {{kana|和了り止め}} is a specialized rule applied at oorasu, where the last dealer makes the call to end the game after one hand, whether holding the lead or not.  Ending with the lead, the last dealer secures the win for the whole game.  Otherwise, the same player may make the call to continue an additional hand, or renchan.  If this rule is "nashi" or "deactivated", then the final dealer seat is retained until either the dealer fails to attain tenpai or another player wins a hand.  In either case, the wind is technically rotated; and the game ends.


===Enchousen===
A renchan occurs when the dealer wins the hand, or after an [[abortive draw]]. In many rulesets, they also occur if the dealer is [[tenpai]] at [[exhaustive draw]].


'''Enchousen''' {{kana|延長戦}} is an extra round, provided that no player scored above the [[scoring|target points]] (typically 30,000) at the end of the game.  This round functions like an "overtime sudden death period".  The instant a player scores above the target points, then the game ends immediately; and the same player wins the game.  For a regular hanchan game, this extra round is indicated as the West round.  For [[tonpussen]], the South round takes on this role.
==Meaning==
''Hanchan'' is literally "half game". A traditional "full game" (''iichan'') would last for four wind rounds, completing a rotation of East, South, West, North. However, the majority of games are played in a hanchan format (or shorter). The names of "half game" and "full game" are most likely derived from some variant of Chinese mahjong, which would last four wind rounds.


==References==
==See also==
{{references}}
* [[Tonpuusen]] {{kana|東風戦}} - A shorter game length, only lasts 1 wind round
* [[End game scenarios]] - All the ways a hanchan can end


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

Latest revision as of 16:32, 23 September 2024

A hanchan 「半荘」 is the standard length of a game of Japanese mahjong. By default, a hanchan lasts for two wind rounds: East and South.

Assuming no player falls below 0 points, the shortest hanchan is 8 hands long. Games can be extended through renchan and shortened if someone is bankrupted. The game can also be extended if the target score is not met.

Game rounds

Typical games begin with the east round, or tonba 「東場」. After that, the game moves into the south round, or nanba 「南場」. If the target score is not met, it can go into the west round, or shaaba 「西場」. During the game, a dealer indicator is used to either mark the initial dealer or the current dealer. It also shows the current wind round of either East or South.

Renchan

When a renchan 「連荘」, or dealer repeat, occurs, a new hand is started but the wind seats do not change. Each renchan causes the game to last for one extra hand.

A renchan occurs when the dealer wins the hand, or after an abortive draw. In many rulesets, they also occur if the dealer is tenpai at exhaustive draw.

Meaning

Hanchan is literally "half game". A traditional "full game" (iichan) would last for four wind rounds, completing a rotation of East, South, West, North. However, the majority of games are played in a hanchan format (or shorter). The names of "half game" and "full game" are most likely derived from some variant of Chinese mahjong, which would last four wind rounds.

See also

External links

Hanchan in Japanese Wikipedia