Sekinin barai: Difference between revisions

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'''Sekinin barai''' {{kana|責任払い}}, or the rule of '''pao''' {{kana|パオ}}, forces the player whose discard is used to form an apparent [[yakuman]] to be liable for either partial or full payment of the hand if the player who called said discard wins the round. Generally, this applies to aiding the formation of certain [[yakuman]] hands, however, there also exists a variation that applies to [[rinshan kaihou]] after a [[daiminkan]]. The most common occurrence of sekinin barai involves the yakuman, [[daisangen]].
'''Sekinin barai''' {{kana|責任払い}}, or the rule of '''pao''' {{kana|パオ}}, forces a player whose discard is used to confirm another player's [[yakuman]] to be liable for partial/full payment if the yakuman-holder wins. It is generally used for yakuman hands only, but certain rules also invoke pao for [[rinshan kaihou]]. Only certain types of yakuman are affected by pao; this will depend on the ruleset.


== Sekinin barai for yakuman ==
== Sekinin barai for yakuman ==
Line 9: Line 9:
* If the yakuman is later won by ron against a non-liable player, that player will pay half the value of the hand. The liable player will pay the other half of the hand, including any extra points for honba.
* If the yakuman is later won by ron against a non-liable player, that player will pay half the value of the hand. The liable player will pay the other half of the hand, including any extra points for honba.


If playing with rule sets that recognize [[multiple yakuman]], sekinin barai may be invoked only on certain yakuman. Point exchanges happen independently for each yakuman scored with extra points for any honba paid only once. Honba payments are still paid by the liable player.
If playing with rulesets that recognize [[multiple yakuman]], sekinin barai may be invoked only on certain yakuman. Point exchanges happen independently for each yakuman scored with extra points for any honba paid only once. Honba payments are still paid by the liable player.


==== Example ====
==== Example ====
Line 17: Line 17:
* North player: 8000 (part of tsuuiisou)
* North player: 8000 (part of tsuuiisou)


=== Yakumans with sekinin barai ===
=== Yakuman affected by sekinin barai ===


==== Daisangen ====
==== Daisangen ====
If a player has called two [[mentsu]] of [[sangenpai|dragon tiles]] calls for a koutsu/kantsu of the third dragon type, upgrading their hand to an apparent daisangen, the player who dealt into the third dragon call is deemed liable for full payment if the calling player later wins the hand.
If a player has called two [[mentsu|groups]] of [[dragon]]s, then calls for a group of the third dragon (upgrading to daisangen), the player who dealt into the third dragon call is affected by pao if the calling player later wins the hand.


: {{#mjt:8s}}, last: {{#mjt:777'z}}, formers: {{#mjt:55'5z}} {{#mjt:1'23p}} {{#mjt:6'66z}}
: {{#mjt:8s}}, last: {{#mjt:777'z}}, formers: {{#mjt:55'5z}} {{#mjt:1'23p}} {{#mjt:6'66z}}
Line 26: Line 26:


==== Daisuushi ====
==== Daisuushi ====
If a player has called three mentsu of [[kazehai|wind tiles]] calls for a koutsu/kantsu of the fourth wind type, upgrading their hand to an apparent daisuushii, the player who dealt into the fourth wind call is deemed liable for full payment if the calling player later wins the hand.
If a player has called three groups of [[wind]]s, then calls for a group of the fourth (upgrading to daisuushii), the player who dealt into the fourth wind call is affected by pao if the calling player later wins the hand.


: {{#mjt:5p}}, last: {{#mjt:22'2z}}, formers: {{#mjt:1'11z}} {{#mjt:4'44z}} {{#mjt:333"z}}
: {{#mjt:5p}}, last: {{#mjt:22'2z}}, formers: {{#mjt:1'11z}} {{#mjt:4'44z}} {{#mjt:333"z}}
Line 32: Line 32:


=== Judgement of liability ===
=== Judgement of liability ===
A misunderstanding happens frequently when the last required set was melded with a daiminkan, since this seems to suggest that such liability should no longer be applied, due to the fact that the yakuman already exists even without daiminkan. To understand how liability works with "the responsibility of completing an ensured yakuman", it is better to switch to opponent's view: if a yakuman is ensured in opponent's view, the relationship of liability will be established.
When the last group of a yakuman is called for an open [[kan]], the discarder is still liable for pao. This may not make sense as first, since the yakuman already existed without needing the kan.
 
To explain how liability works in terms of "the player is responsible for ensuring a yakuman", it is better to switch to the opponent's point of view. When a yakuman-holder has called for two groups of dragons, daisangen is not guaranteed ''in the opponent's eyes''. Once an opponent discards the third dragon, and it is called for a kan, daisangen becomes guaranteed ''in the opponent's eyes''. So, when discarding a tile used for a kan, pao is still invoked: from the opponent's point of view, daisangen goes from not guaranteed -> guaranteed.


'''Example''':
'''Example''':


Supposing a player completed a daisangen, and the hand looks like the following one in his view:
Suppose a player completed a daisangen, and the hand looks like the following one in his view:
: {{#mjt:1234m}}, last: {{#mjt:666'6z}}, second: {{#mjt:5'55z}}, first: {{#mjt:77'7z}} (Main perspective)
: {{#mjt:1234m}}, last: {{#mjt:666'6z}}, second: {{#mjt:5'55z}}, first: {{#mjt:77'7z}} (Main perspective)
Toimen becomes the liable player as the fact that he becomes the feeder of last sangenpai set. But one may try to point out that a yakuman is already completed before this daiminkan happens, which looks like in main perspective's view:
Toimen becomes the liable player since they allowed the call from the last dragon group. From the winner's perspective, the yakuman was already completed (see below).
: {{#mjt:1234m666z}}, second: {{#mjt:5'55z}}, first: {{#mjt:77'7z}} (Main perspective)
: {{#mjt:1234m666z}}, second: {{#mjt:5'55z}}, first: {{#mjt:77'7z}} (Main perspective)
Though such proposing is incorrect. The point is, any of other opponents can never know the actual combination of main perspective's hand. In opponent's view, it actually look like:
However, from the opponent's point of view, the daisangen is not guaranteed.
: {{#mjt:0000000z}}, second: {{#mjt:5'55z}}, first: {{#mjt:77'7z}} (Opponent's view)
: {{#mjt:0000000z}}, second: {{#mjt:5'55z}}, first: {{#mjt:77'7z}} (Opponent's view)
It is apparently not an "ensured" yakuman (although it may probably be):
It is not an ensured yakuman yet.
:1. The hand doesn't suggest he "must" have a concealed triplet of hatsu: (This also suggests why kamicha, the feeder of second require set "haku", doesn't need to be liable for the yakuman hand.)
:1. From this point of view, the winner does not "100%" have a concealed triplet of hatsu: (This is also the reason why kamicha, the feeder of second set, doesn't need to be liable for the yakuman hand.)
:: {{#mjt:1234m111z}} {{#mjt:5'55z}} {{#mjt:77'7z}}
:: {{#mjt:1234m111z}} {{#mjt:5'55z}} {{#mjt:77'7z}}
:2. The hand may finally go like this afterwards since the player can discard hatsu and switch his ready tiles (even though this highly seems to not happen):
:2. The hand may also choose to discard the hatsu triplet (even if highly unlikely):
:: {{#mjt:12345m66z}} {{#mjt:5'55z}} {{#mjt:77'7z}}
:: {{#mjt:12345m66z}} {{#mjt:5'55z}} {{#mjt:77'7z}}
In this case, since the daiminkan of hatsu finally confirmed an "ensured" daisangen hand in other's view and killed the other possible development of being a non-yakuman:
In this case, since the daiminkan of hatsu 100% confirmed a daisangen hand in the opponent's view, and killed the other possible development of being a non-yakuman:
: {{#mjt:0000z}}, last: {{#mjt:666'6z}}, formers: {{#mjt:5'55z}} {{#mjt:77'7z}} (Opponent's perspective)
: {{#mjt:0000z}}, last: {{#mjt:666'6z}}, formers: {{#mjt:5'55z}} {{#mjt:77'7z}} (Opponent's perspective)
The relationship of liability is no-doubt established for toimen, for becoming the feeder of last required set.
The relationship of liability is established for toimen, for becoming the feeder of last required set.


This rule also implies a useful strategy of gameplay:
This rule also implies a useful strategy of gameplay:
* If a melding confirms an ensured yakuman, the opponents should have avoided discarding such tile to get rid of the liability.
* If a call confirms an ensured yakuman, the opponents should have avoided discarding such tile to get rid of the liability.
* If a melding doesn't guarantee a yakuman, the opponents can discard it safely without liability.
* If a call doesn't guarantee a yakuman, the opponents can discard it safely without liability.


=== Yakumans without sekinin barai ===
=== Yakumans without sekinin barai ===
In general sekinin barai would not apply to other yakumans, due to the fact that yakuman is not ensured even with all required sets are melded. A common point for these yakuman hands is that they both have some limitation of toitsu (the head pair).
In general, sekinin barai does not apply to other yakuman, since other types of yakuman cannot be ensured even with all required sets are melded. A common point for these yakuman hands is that they both have some limitation of toitsu (the head pair).


==== Shousuushi ====
==== Shousuushi ====
Line 72: Line 74:


=== Sekinin barai for suukantsu ===
=== Sekinin barai for suukantsu ===
Uncommonly found in rule sets, sekinin barai may be invoked on the player discarding into a fourth kantsu of a [[suukantsu]] hand: when there's a hand with 3 existed kantsu ([[sankantsu]]) and the player claimed the fourth daiminkan, the feeder of fourth kan becomes liable.
Sekinin barai is occasionally used for [[suukantsu]]: when a player has three kans, then a player discards a tile that allows the fourth kan, the feeder of the fourth kan becomes liable.


: {{#mjt:3z}}, last: {{#mjt:6666'z}}, formers: {{#mjt:0z22s0z}} {{#mjt:3"33m}} {{#mjt:222'2p}}
: {{#mjt:3z}}, last: {{#mjt:6666'z}}, formers: {{#mjt:0z22s0z}} {{#mjt:3"33m}} {{#mjt:222'2p}}
Line 87: Line 89:
: Kamicha doesn't become liable, suukantsu is not completed yet at the moment when he discarded 2-pin. It was a pon of 2-pin and the hand is only a sankantsu, even though an added kan of 2-pin happens afterwards.
: Kamicha doesn't become liable, suukantsu is not completed yet at the moment when he discarded 2-pin. It was a pon of 2-pin and the hand is only a sankantsu, even though an added kan of 2-pin happens afterwards.


Though such pao rule is not commonly used, as in fact it's hard for opponents to figure out which tile was exactly needed to complete suukantsu. That being said, even though the opponents clearly know they should prevent to feed a fourth kan by avoiding discarding raw unpaired tiles, this may still lead to a plenty of uncertain choices, while unlike the other yakumans they usually have specific alternatives and can be easily avoided.
Since it is difficult for an opponent to know which tile would complete the 4th kan, the pao rule is not commonly used for suukantsu. While a player may know which tiles 100% cannot be a kan, which tile exactly is uncertain (compared to daisaigen, where the third dragon always guarantees the yakuman).


== Sekinin barai for rinshan kaihou ==
== Sekinin barai for rinshan kaihou ==
Daiminkan pao for [[rinshan kaihou]] is a variation of the rule. Normally, rinshan kaihou would be scored as a regular tsumo, however this variation forces the player whose discard is called to form a daiminkan to be liable for the full amount of the payment in the event the calling player wins by rinshan tsumo. If rinshan tsumo is not achieved, play continues normally with no player being deemed liable for sekinin barai.
Sekinin barai is rarely used for [[rinshan kaihou]]. If a player discards a tile, and it is used for a daiminkan, pao is invoked if the daiminkan declarer wins before their next discard. This means that if the daiminkan wins immediately, or wins after making further kans, the discarder is still liable.
 
This rule is applied even if the player doesn't win immediately from the daiminkan. So long as no tiles are discarded after the daiminkan, the liability retains. This means that, if a daminkan declarer makes further kan calls (either closed kan or added kan), and achieves a rinshan tsumo from said calls, the daiminkan feeder is still liable.


While uncommon, some professional mahjong associations use this rule.
While uncommon, some professional mahjong associations use this rule.

Latest revision as of 03:21, 24 September 2024

Sekinin barai 「責任払い」, or the rule of pao 「パオ」, forces a player whose discard is used to confirm another player's yakuman to be liable for partial/full payment if the yakuman-holder wins. It is generally used for yakuman hands only, but certain rules also invoke pao for rinshan kaihou. Only certain types of yakuman are affected by pao; this will depend on the ruleset.

Sekinin barai for yakuman

Pao rule applied.

Point exchanges

There are two possible scenarios when it comes to how points are exchanged:

  • If the yakuman is later won by tsumo, the liable player will pay the full amount of the hand, including any extra points for honba. This is as if ron was called against the liable player.
  • If the yakuman is later won by ron against a non-liable player, that player will pay half the value of the hand. The liable player will pay the other half of the hand, including any extra points for honba.

If playing with rulesets that recognize multiple yakuman, sekinin barai may be invoked only on certain yakuman. Point exchanges happen independently for each yakuman scored with extra points for any honba paid only once. Honba payments are still paid by the liable player.

Example

In a round with 1 honba, the west player is liable for the south player's daisangen, and the south player wins with daisangen and tsuuiisou by tsumo, then the payments are as follows:

  • East player: 16000 (part of tsuuiisou)
  • West player: 32300 (full of daisangen along with honba payments) +8000 (part of tsuuiisou)
  • North player: 8000 (part of tsuuiisou)

Yakuman affected by sekinin barai

Daisangen

If a player has called two groups of dragons, then calls for a group of the third dragon (upgrading to daisangen), the player who dealt into the third dragon call is affected by pao if the calling player later wins the hand.

, last: , formers:
Shimocha feeds the last set of dragon-tile triplet, he becomes the liable player.

Daisuushi

If a player has called three groups of winds, then calls for a group of the fourth (upgrading to daisuushii), the player who dealt into the fourth wind call is affected by pao if the calling player later wins the hand.

, last: , formers:
Toimen becomes liable player with confirming the fourth wind-tile triplet.

Judgement of liability

When the last group of a yakuman is called for an open kan, the discarder is still liable for pao. This may not make sense as first, since the yakuman already existed without needing the kan.

To explain how liability works in terms of "the player is responsible for ensuring a yakuman", it is better to switch to the opponent's point of view. When a yakuman-holder has called for two groups of dragons, daisangen is not guaranteed in the opponent's eyes. Once an opponent discards the third dragon, and it is called for a kan, daisangen becomes guaranteed in the opponent's eyes. So, when discarding a tile used for a kan, pao is still invoked: from the opponent's point of view, daisangen goes from not guaranteed -> guaranteed.

Example:

Suppose a player completed a daisangen, and the hand looks like the following one in his view:

, last: , second: , first: (Main perspective)

Toimen becomes the liable player since they allowed the call from the last dragon group. From the winner's perspective, the yakuman was already completed (see below).

, second: , first: (Main perspective)

However, from the opponent's point of view, the daisangen is not guaranteed.

, second: , first: (Opponent's view)

It is not an ensured yakuman yet.

1. From this point of view, the winner does not "100%" have a concealed triplet of hatsu: (This is also the reason why kamicha, the feeder of second set, doesn't need to be liable for the yakuman hand.)
2. The hand may also choose to discard the hatsu triplet (even if highly unlikely):

In this case, since the daiminkan of hatsu 100% confirmed a daisangen hand in the opponent's view, and killed the other possible development of being a non-yakuman:

, last: , formers: (Opponent's perspective)

The relationship of liability is established for toimen, for becoming the feeder of last required set.

This rule also implies a useful strategy of gameplay:

  • If a call confirms an ensured yakuman, the opponents should have avoided discarding such tile to get rid of the liability.
  • If a call doesn't guarantee a yakuman, the opponents can discard it safely without liability.

Yakumans without sekinin barai

In general, sekinin barai does not apply to other yakuman, since other types of yakuman cannot be ensured even with all required sets are melded. A common point for these yakuman hands is that they both have some limitation of toitsu (the head pair).

Shousuushi

Honitsu + possible yakuhai hand. Shousuushi is not ensured.

Tsuuiisou

Toitoi + yakuhai + honitsu hand. Tsuuiisou is not ensured.

Chinroutou

Toitoi-nomi hand. Chinroutou is not ensured.

Ryuuiisou

Honitsu + yakuhai hatsu hand. Ryuuiisou is not ensured.

Sekinin barai for suukantsu

Sekinin barai is occasionally used for suukantsu: when a player has three kans, then a player discards a tile that allows the fourth kan, the feeder of the fourth kan becomes liable.

, last: , formers:
Shimocha becomes liable for the fact that he completed an ensured suukantsu with his discard.

Due to the criteria for recognizing sekinin barai, the precedential three kans must already exist, and the fourth kan will always be a daiminkan.

, last: , formers: , added kan afterwards
Toimen doesn't become liable, the melding doesn't confirm a suukantsu at that moment, even with an added kan afterwards which completed suukantsu. [note 1]
, last: , formers:
Kamicha doesn't become liable, suukantsu is not completed yet at the moment when he discarded 2-pin. It was a pon of 2-pin and the hand is only a sankantsu, even though an added kan of 2-pin happens afterwards.

Since it is difficult for an opponent to know which tile would complete the 4th kan, the pao rule is not commonly used for suukantsu. While a player may know which tiles 100% cannot be a kan, which tile exactly is uncertain (compared to daisaigen, where the third dragon always guarantees the yakuman).

Sekinin barai for rinshan kaihou

Sekinin barai is rarely used for rinshan kaihou. If a player discards a tile, and it is used for a daiminkan, pao is invoked if the daiminkan declarer wins before their next discard. This means that if the daiminkan wins immediately, or wins after making further kans, the discarder is still liable.

While uncommon, some professional mahjong associations use this rule.

References

Notes:

  1. ↑ Tenhou used to suggest such controversal liability relationship in early years. This rule was soon deprecated after then.

External links

Sekinin barai in Japanese Wikipedia
Suukantsu's pao rule in Japanese Wikipedia

Examples

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