Hanchan: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:57, 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 3 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. After West 4, 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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 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.
-Assuming no player [[tobi|falls below 0 points]], the shortest hanchan 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.
+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==
-{{main|Ba}}
+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.
-Typical games begin with the '''east round''', or '''tonba''' {{kana|東場}}.  After that, the game moves into the '''south round''', or '''nanba''' {{kana|南場}}. If the target score is not met, it can go into the '''[[west round]]''', or '''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.
+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===
@@ Line 12: / Line 15: @@
 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 3 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. After West 4, the game ends even if nobody reached the target score.
+* If someone [[tobi|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==