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Riichi strategy: Difference between revisions
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There is an advantage to being the first to tenpai, and thus an advantage to being the first to declare riichi. Only one hand can win per round, so faster hands can win before anyone else. While a non-tenpai hand is limited to [[chii]] and [[pon]], a tenpai hand can ron from any player. The earlier riichi is declared, the harder it is for opponents to defend or attack against it. | There is an advantage to being the first to tenpai, and thus an advantage to being the first to declare riichi. Only one hand can win per round, so faster hands can win before anyone else. While a non-tenpai hand is limited to [[chii]] and [[pon]], a tenpai hand can ron from any player. The earlier riichi is declared, the harder it is for opponents to defend or attack against it. | ||
If you are first to tenpai, it becomes difficult for your opponents to attack, since going from [[iishanten]] to tenpai can take a while (even with great [[ukeire|tile acceptance]]). | |||
*If an iishanten opponent decides to attack, they will often have to spend multiple turns to achieve tenpai. This means they may need to discard dangerous tiles for multiple turns, which could be tiles you could win with. You could also tsumo before then, or win after they reach tenpai. Of course, the exact speed depends on luck; a player could reach tenpai just after you declare riichi. | *If an iishanten opponent decides to attack, they will often have to spend multiple turns to achieve tenpai. This means they may need to discard dangerous tiles for multiple turns, which could be tiles you could win with. You could also tsumo before then, or win after they reach tenpai. Of course, the exact speed depends on luck; a player could reach tenpai just after you declare riichi. | ||
*If an opponent at iishanten decides to fold, you will have one less player to worry about. | *If an opponent at iishanten decides to fold, you will have one less player to worry about. | ||
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Riichi gives 1 han, and possibly more via ippatsu and ura dora. Since every han doubles your score until you reach [[mangan]], these are all valuable. However, there are rare cases where score does not matter. | Riichi gives 1 han, and possibly more via ippatsu and ura dora. Since every han doubles your score until you reach [[mangan]], these are all valuable. However, there are rare cases where score does not matter. | ||
*When riichi wouldn't actually change your hand value. For example, [[haneman]] is scored with 6 or 7 han. If you have a 6 han hand, riichi's +1 han would still result in a haneman. Getting [[mentsumo]], ippatsu, and/or ura dora will increase it up to baiman, but these are unreliable. | *When riichi wouldn't actually change your hand value. For example, [[haneman]] is scored with 6 or 7 han. If you have a 6 han hand, riichi's +1 han would still result in a haneman. Getting [[mentsumo]], ippatsu, and/or ura dora will increase it up to baiman, but these are unreliable, and the difference between haneman and baiman is too small to be worth the risk. | ||
*When you are in first with a large lead. In this case, you may damaten to increase hand win rate, allowing you to end the game faster. | *When you are in first with a large lead. In this case, you may damaten to increase hand win rate, allowing you to end the game faster. | ||
*When you have a valuable hand. If you have a guaranteed mangan or higher hand without needing riichi, the extra score may not be worth the loss of win rate. | *When you have a valuable hand. If you have a guaranteed mangan or higher hand without needing riichi, the extra score may not be worth the loss of win rate. | ||
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First, damaten has better control over [[yasume]]. If a riichi hand wins off a bad wait, you have to accept it or enter furiten. However, since riichi adds an average of around 1.5 han, this is only an issue if the waits differ by 3+ han. Even then, you may want to riichi despite this. | First, damaten has better control over [[yasume]]. If a riichi hand wins off a bad wait, you have to accept it or enter furiten. However, since riichi adds an average of around 1.5 han, this is only an issue if the waits differ by 3+ han. Even then, you may want to riichi despite this. | ||
Second, a damaten hand can try and target a specific player. You may want to ron to get a player below 0 points, ending the game immediately. Or you may wish to avoid calling ron on a player with 0 points, to not end the game. This can also be done to [[gyakuten|change placement]] (e.g. targeting 1st place as 2nd). However, since riichi gives a hefty point bonus, a riichi hand might improve your placement even if you tsumo or ron the "wrong" player. | Second, a damaten hand can try and target a specific player. You may want to ron to get a player below 0 points, ending the game immediately. Or you may wish to avoid calling ron on a player with 0 points, to not end the game. This can also be done to [[gyakuten|change placement]] when near all last (e.g. targeting 1st place as 2nd). However, since riichi gives a hefty point bonus, a riichi hand might improve your placement even if you tsumo or ron the "wrong" player. | ||
== Oikake riichi == | == Oikake riichi == | ||
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Players often declare chasing riichi because they have no option to defend, or when they have a big hand. At the same time, if after an opponent riichi's, you reach a good wait tenpai, then trying to win is often better than folding. When you do have the option to defend, the decision to push or fold should depend more on [[shanten]], [[ukeire|tile acceptance]], and wait rather than the value of the hand. | Players often declare chasing riichi because they have no option to defend, or when they have a big hand. At the same time, if after an opponent riichi's, you reach a good wait tenpai, then trying to win is often better than folding. When you do have the option to defend, the decision to push or fold should depend more on [[shanten]], [[ukeire|tile acceptance]], and wait rather than the value of the hand. | ||
If [[abortive draw]]s are enabled, the hand will end in abortive draw when all four players declare riichi (after the 4th riichi declarer discards a tile). | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||