Hanchan

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.

See also

• Tonpuusen 「東風戦」 - A shorter game length, only lasts 1 wind round
• End game scenarios - All the ways a hanchan can end

External links

• 半荘

Hanchan in Japanese Wikipedia