Tenpai: Difference between revisions

'''Tenpai''' {{kana|テンパイ}} is state also referred to as a "ready hand".  A hand is tenpai, or "ready", when only one more tile is needed to complete the hand. In other words, it progressed from [[Iishanten|1-shanten]] to effectively 0-shanten. The completion may be either done by draw and/or discard, where applicable. Tenpai does not require that the completed hand has a [[yaku]], although both a completed hand and a yaku are necessary to win. Having achieving tenpai is worth some points when a hand ends in [[ryuukyoku]].

The direct opposite of tenpai is '''noten''' {{kana|ノーテン}}.  This word is a contraction of the English '''not tenpai'''. A hand in this state absolutely has no chance of winning upon the immediate draw or discard. Instead, it relies on further tile draws and discards to attain the state of tenpai.

Overall, the recognition of a tenpai hand is one of the most important concepts of the game. Without this recognition, then a player lacks the ability to make the best decisions on which tiles to [[tile efficiency|best discard]].

# Three [[tile groups]] and a pair ([[jantou]]). The fourth tile group needs completion. A majority of [[machi|wait patterns]] fall under this condition.

# Four tile groups and a single tile ([[tanki]]). Completion occurs when a duplicate of the pair is drawn or discarded.

# [[Chiitoitsu]]. Six distinct tile pairs and a single tile (also tanki).

Every hand in tenpai involves some sort of wait pattern, or '''machi'''. Various wait patterns are conveniently named to allow quick recognition of waiting tiles. Likewise, players who recognize these patterns may also be able to select among them.

'''Jantou''' are the tile pairs to a mahjong hand.  Every hand, open or closed, requires at least one tile paired. The pair must either be in the hand, or the hand must be waiting to complete the pair while in possession of four tile groups. The latter forms the waiting pattern of [[tanki]] (pair wait).  In addition, certain pairings may generate [[fu]].  The tanki pattern generates fu, as well as with certain [[jihai|honor tiles]].

For examples 1, 2, and 3, [[riichi]] may be called, and/or a player can simply win by [[mentsumo|self draw]]. The first two possess [[yaku]] without riichi.  However, the third example does not, as it stands.  It requires riichi, mentsumo, or even the likes of [[haitei]], [[houtei]], [[rinshan]], or [[chankan]] to gain yaku.  Regardless, the first three are '''closed tenpai''' hands.

The last three examples are all open hands. Both 4 and 5 may employ [[yakuhai]]. Example 4 definitely has a yaku, via the open call on the [[hatsu|green dragon]].  Example 5 could have a yaku, if the hand is seated west or the game is in the [[west round]].   The last example uses [[tanki|hadaka tanki]], by which four tile calls were used to achieve tenpai.  All that remains closed is a single tile, that needs to be matched with the exact same tile type.  However, example 6 does not have yaku as it stands. It'll require [[haitei]], [[houtei]], [[rinshan]], or [[chankan]] to gain yaku.

'''Karaten''' {{kana|カラテン}}, or '''empty tenpai''', is a state where a [[tenpai]] hand does not have the ability to win. If all four copies of each winning tile are in play, then it is considered karaten. These "visible tiles" may have been discarded, used as a dora indicator, or exist in one's own hand. Furthermore, they may be held in other player's hands or even reside within the dead wall. However, the latter case is beyond a player's visibility.

'''Keishiki tenpai''' {{kana|形式聴牌}}, or '''shaped tenpai''', applies to tenpai hands with no yaku. While these hands cannot win normally, they are still considered tenpai for the tenpai vs noten payment done at ryuukyoku. Even if a hand has no built-in yaku, it may still win with a conditional yaku ([[haitei]], [[houtei]], [[chankan]], [[rinshan]]).

This is a common pitfall for many beginners. A new player might build a hand to tenpai, but due to limited knowledge of yaku, are unable to declare a win. Often the hand lacks yaku, otherwise, [[furiten]] may prevent ron.

 

 

A [[dead hand]] involves a minor penalty, but not subject to [[chombo]].  Dead hands often involve minor mistakes, such as a certain number of accidental bumps to the wall or a mistake regarding [[naki|open calls]].  A player with a [[dead hand]] is never considered tenpai, even if the tiles in the hand show a state of tenpai.

At the end of the hand where all tiles have been drawn other than those in the [[dead wall]], points are rewarded to tenpai hands. Yet, even while in tenpai, players may opt to take the '''noten penalty''', instead of revealing the hand.

'''Iishanten''', or 1-shanten, is the state of the hand before attaining tenpai. While tenpai is 1-tile away from winning the hand, iishanten is 1-tile away from attaining tenpai.

With regards to tenpai, this may be a critical juncture to the hand as, in order to attain tenpai, the player must discard a particular tile. Ideally, that tile should be a [[genbutsu|safe tile]].  Likewise, it may also be a point where the player needs to decide upon [[riichi]] or utilize [[damaten]] (or hidden tenpai).  Regardless, when the hand is at iishanten, a player must be ready to anticipate these kinds of decisions, when tenpai does occur.