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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 '''[[tonpuusen]]''' {{kana|東風戦}}, or East only games.
A '''hanchan''' {{kana|半荘}} is the standard length of a game of [[Japanese mahjong]]. A hanchan lasts for two [[ba|wind rounds]] by default: 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.
The shortest hanchan, assuming nobody [[tobi|falls below 0 points]], 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"
Games begin with the '''east round''' (jp: '''tonba''' {{kana|東場}}), lasting from East 1-4. After East 4, the game moves into the '''south round''' (jp: '''nanba''' {{kana|南場}}), lasting from South 1-4.
|-
! Hand # !! Japanese !! English
|-
| 0 || {{kyoku|E|1|0}} || East 1
|-
| 1 || {{kyoku|E|2|0}} || East 2
|-
| 2 || {{kyoku|E|2|1}} || East 2 Bonus 1
|-
| 3 || {{kyoku|E|3|0}} || East 3
|-
| 4 || {{kyoku|E|3|1}} || East 3 Bonus 1
|-
| 5 || {{kyoku|E|4|0}} || East 4
|-
| 6 || {{kyoku|S|1|0}} || South 1
|-
| 7 || {{kyoku|S|1|1}} || South 1 Bonus 1
|-
| 8 || {{kyoku|S|2|0}} || South 2
|-
| 9 || {{kyoku|S|2|1}}|| South 2 Bonus 1
|-
| 10 || {{kyoku|S|3|0}} || South 3
|-
| 11 || {{kyoku|S|3|1}} || South 3 Bonus 1
|-
| 12 || {{kyoku|S|4|0}} || South 4
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|''Extra west round''
|-
| 13 || {{kyoku|W|1|0}} || West 1
|-
| 14 || {{kyoku|W|2|0}} || West 2
|-
| 15 || {{kyoku|W|2|1}} || West 2 Bonus 1
|-
| 16 || {{kyoku|W|3|0}} || West 3
|-
| 17 || {{kyoku|W|4|0}} || West 4
|-
|colspan=4 align=right|[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}}.  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 designations===
If the target score is not met by any player after South 4, and if the rules allow overtime, the game enters the '''[[west round]]''' (jp: '''shaaba''' {{kana|西場}}).
'''Kyoku''' {{kana|局}} is the identifier for each mahjong hand played during the game.  It uses a combination of the wind round, a number 1-4, and the '''[[honba]]''' count {{kana|本場}}.  As an example, the very first hand is always East Round 1, Honba 0 {{kana|{{kyoku|E|1|0}}}}.  As the first hand of the game, it is impossible for it to have an alternative designation.  All subsequent hands may differ due to the different ways the game plays out.


For every wind rotation, the designation for the wind round increases by one.  After East Round 1, then the game moves onto East Round 2.  This indicates that the player to the right of the initial dealer has become the new dealer. This continues onto East Round 4, which is the last round for East.  If the game continues from here, then the designation becomes South Round 1.  Here, the initial dealer once again became the dealer.  Only this time, it is the South Round.  Most games end after South Round 4.  If necessary, the game continues into the West Round.
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.
 
Barring certain conditions, the dealer has the ability to retain position and deny a wind rotation in the next hand.  In this case, renchan occurs.


===Renchan===
===Renchan===
{{main|Renchan}}
{{main|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>
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.
 
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]].
 
==How a hanchan can end==
{{Main|End game scenarios}}
 
Under usual rules, a hanchan can end in the following ways:
 
* If it is the end of the South 4 hand, the dealer did not [[renchan]], and at least one player is above the [[End game scenarios#Goal Score|target score]], the hanchan ends.
** If the target score is not met, the game continues for one wind round of overtime. If anyone reaches the target score then, the game ends immediately. After West 4 ends, the game ends even if nobody reached the target score.
* If someone [[tobi|falls below zero points]], the game immediately ends.


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.  Under specific conditions, this honba count is able to increase even during a wind rotation.
These can vary; some rulesets do not allow overtime, others do not end the game when somebody bankrupts.


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]].
==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 03:23, 30 November 2024

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

The shortest hanchan, assuming nobody falls below 0 points, 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

Games begin with the east round (jp: tonba 「東場」), lasting from East 1-4. After East 4, the game moves into the south round (jp: nanba 「南場」), lasting from South 1-4.

If the target score is not met by any player after South 4, and if the rules allow overtime, the game enters the west round (jp: 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

Main article: 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.

How a hanchan can end

Main article: End game scenarios

Under usual rules, a hanchan can end in the following ways:

  • If it is the end of the South 4 hand, the dealer did not renchan, and at least one player is above the target score, the hanchan ends.
    • If the target score is not met, the game continues for one wind round of overtime. If anyone reaches the target score then, the game ends immediately. After West 4 ends, the game ends even if nobody reached the target score.
  • If someone falls below zero points, the game immediately ends.

These can vary; some rulesets do not allow overtime, others do not end the game when somebody bankrupts.

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
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