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[[Image:Damaten.png|250px|right|thumb|Damaten applied to a standalone baiman hand. [http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2014070418gm-0089-0000-092c00f3&tw=2]]]
[[Image:Damaten.png|250px|right|thumb|Damaten applied to a standalone baiman hand. [http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2014070418gm-0089-0000-092c00f3&tw=2]]]
'''Damaten''' {{kana|黙聴}} is a strategy used with closed [[tenpai]] hands.  This strategy may also be referred to as a "hidden tenpai".  [[Riichi]] is an optional play, rather than a mandatory one. Therefore, a player may sit and wait with a closed tenpai hand, hoping to win the hand without riichi.  Typically during damaten, the player usually already has a valid yaku in their hand; otherwise, [[mentsumo]] (or other circumstancial yaku) would be the only option for winning.
'''Damaten''' {{kana|黙聴}} ("hidden tenpai"), or '''dama''' for short, refers to a closed [[tenpai]] hand that has not called [[riichi]]. Typically, a dama hand will have a [[yaku]] without needing to riichi; otherwise, [[menzen tsumo]] (or another circumstantial yaku) would be needed to win. An older term '''yamiten''' {{kana|闇聴}} refers to the same thing.
 
==Meaning==


==Usage==
==Usage==
The major weakness of riichi stems from the inability to change the hand after making the call. In doing so, a player makes oneself vulnerable to the changing conditions of the game.  Sometimes, other players may simply not defend against a riichi and conveniently attain tenpai while avoiding the riichi hand.  In turn, the riichi call may result towards playing into another player's hand. 
{{Main|Riichi strategy}}
 
There are many reasons to dama. In most cases, it occurs when the extra points from riichi do not matter:
The current score may afford players to win hands without calling riichi.  This is especially true for players with affordable leads [[Oorasu|near the end of the game]].


Also, adding the yaku of riichi may not actually improve the value of a hand instantly. For example, a haneman hand is worth 6 or 7 han. Well, if a player's hand currently appears to be valued 6 han, it may not be necessary to take the risk of riichi just to upgrade the hand from 6 han to 7, when the point reward is no different.
*When winning at all is the only thing that matters. When far in the lead, dama can be used to increase win rate (thus, ending the game faster). If the game is in [[oorasu|all last]], and winning with riichi wouldn't improve placement (even with ippatsu ron), dama can also be considered.
*When the hand is valuable (haneman+). Players will often [[defense|defend]] after a riichi declaration, so riichi will often lower your hand's winrate. Therefore, guaranteed [[haneman]] or higher hands should normally be dama - they already have enough value. In addition, every han past mangan has reduced value, further incentivizing dama.
**Guaranteed [[mangan]] hands (counting 4 han 30 fu as mangan) can also consider dama: mangan with a bad wait, or mangan late in the game, should normally be dama.
*When the hand is poor. If a hand would be riichi-only with a bad wait, committing to riichi may not be worthwhile. Staying dama gives a chance to tsumo and gives the option to [[fold]] if another player reaches tenpai.
*When the hand has many different ways improve. Riichi locks the hand in, preventing you from upgrading the wait or gaining yaku. If your hand has many upgrades, you may wish to dama.


Finally, a player may not actually want to announce their hand as a tenpai hand. Instead, a damaten hand awaits for other players to unexpectedly play into the hand.  Therefore, the clear advantage to using damaten aims to catch other players off guard.  At times, the hand may be devalued without the added value of riichi, especially when less than 4-han; but at times, the sacrifice may be worth it.
That being said, dama should not be overused. Riichi is a guaranteed +1 han, and on average provides +1.5 han. Since each han until mangan will roughly double score, riichi offers a large score boost. See [[riichi strategy]] for more details on the decision to riichi or dama.


==Game examples==
==Game examples==

Latest revision as of 19:49, 15 October 2024

Damaten applied to a standalone baiman hand. [1]

Damaten 「黙聴」 ("hidden tenpai"), or dama for short, refers to a closed tenpai hand that has not called riichi. Typically, a dama hand will have a yaku without needing to riichi; otherwise, menzen tsumo (or another circumstantial yaku) would be needed to win. An older term yamiten 「闇聴」 refers to the same thing.

Usage

Main article: Riichi strategy

There are many reasons to dama. In most cases, it occurs when the extra points from riichi do not matter:

  • When winning at all is the only thing that matters. When far in the lead, dama can be used to increase win rate (thus, ending the game faster). If the game is in all last, and winning with riichi wouldn't improve placement (even with ippatsu ron), dama can also be considered.
  • When the hand is valuable (haneman+). Players will often defend after a riichi declaration, so riichi will often lower your hand's winrate. Therefore, guaranteed haneman or higher hands should normally be dama - they already have enough value. In addition, every han past mangan has reduced value, further incentivizing dama.
    • Guaranteed mangan hands (counting 4 han 30 fu as mangan) can also consider dama: mangan with a bad wait, or mangan late in the game, should normally be dama.
  • When the hand is poor. If a hand would be riichi-only with a bad wait, committing to riichi may not be worthwhile. Staying dama gives a chance to tsumo and gives the option to fold if another player reaches tenpai.
  • When the hand has many different ways improve. Riichi locks the hand in, preventing you from upgrading the wait or gaining yaku. If your hand has many upgrades, you may wish to dama.

That being said, dama should not be overused. Riichi is a guaranteed +1 han, and on average provides +1.5 han. Since each han until mangan will roughly double score, riichi offers a large score boost. See riichi strategy for more details on the decision to riichi or dama.

Game examples

Damaten in Japanese Wikipedia
Multiple instances where damaten was employed.
Hand development
Defense
Scoring
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