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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]] 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.
*When the call for riichi would not increase the hand's value by itself. For example, a [[haneman]] is scored with a 6-7 han hand. If a player had a 6 han hand, the +1 han from riichi would not increase the score. While declaring riichi could still with a tsumo, ippatsu, and/or ura dora, these aren't reliable,.
 
*When the hand is valuable. Because players will often [[defense|defend]] against a riichi hand, declaring riichi will usually lower your hand's win rate. With a guaranteed [[mangan]] or higher, the increased win rate from dama may outweigh riichi's score bonus. Plus, once mangan is reached, each han afterwards has reduced value.
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 can 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.
*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.


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 doubles score, riichi offers a large score boost. See [[riichi strategy]] for more details on the decision to riichi or dama.


==Game examples==
==Game examples==
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* [http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2012072018gm-0009-0000-x4ff970f2baf7&tw=3 Usage]
* [http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2012072018gm-0009-0000-x4ff970f2baf7&tw=3 Usage]
: Multiple instances where damaten was employed.
: Multiple instances where damaten was employed.
{{Navbox strategy}}


[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Strategy]]
[[Category:Strategy]]

Latest revision as of 23:46, 1 September 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 the call for riichi would not increase the hand's value by itself. For example, a haneman is scored with a 6-7 han hand. If a player had a 6 han hand, the +1 han from riichi would not increase the score. While declaring riichi could still with a tsumo, ippatsu, and/or ura dora, these aren't reliable,.
  • When the hand is valuable. Because players will often defend against a riichi hand, declaring riichi will usually lower your hand's win rate. With a guaranteed mangan or higher, the increased win rate from dama may outweigh riichi's score bonus. Plus, once mangan is reached, each han afterwards has reduced value.
  • 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 can 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.
  • 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.

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 doubles 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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