Hanchan: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:54, 21 November 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.

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, 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.

External links

半荘

Hanchan in Japanese Wikipedia

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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.
-==Wind rounds==
+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.
-{| class="wikitable" align="right"
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-! Designation !! Japanese !! English
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-| E1-0 ||  ||
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-| E4-0 ||  ||
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-| E4-1 ||  ||
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-| S1-0 ||  ||
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-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}}.
+==Game rounds==
+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 designations===
+If the target score is not met by any player, and if the rules allow overtime, the game enters the '''[[west round]]''' (jp: '''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.
 ===Renchan===
-'''Renchan''' are additional hands, by which the wind rotation does not occur.  This is possible when the dealer wins a hand, an [[abortive draw]] occurs, or the dealer is [[tenpai]] at [[exhaustive draw]].
+{{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.
+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.
-===Oorasu===
+These can vary; some rulesets do not allow overtime, others do not end the game when somebody bankrupts.
-'''Oorasu''' 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.  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.
-===Shaakyoku===
+==Meaning==
-{{main|Enchousen}}
+''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.
-If necessary, the game may continue into an extra wind round.  For a hanchan game, this is designated as '''Shaakyoku''', or the '''West Round'''.  This functions as an "overtime session", where no player during oorasu managed to score equal or greater than the goal score, which is typically 30,000.  The instant a player does score that mark, then the game immediately ends with the result as is.  As it can be implied, scores during this round can be fairly close scores.  Hands worth mangan or less may be enough to pull off a 1st place finish.
+==See also==
+* [[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==
+{{jpwiki|半荘}}
 [[Category:Terminology]]
 [[Category:Game rules]]