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'''Damaten''' is a strategy used for closed [[tenpai]] hands. This strategy may also be referred to as a "hidden tenpai".  [[Riichi]] is an optional play, rather than a mandatory one. For damaten, a player opts not to utilize riichi. During damaten, the player usually already has a valid yaku in their hand.
[[Image:Damaten.png|250px|right|thumb|Damaten applied to a standalone baiman hand. [http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2014070418gm-0089-0000-092c00f3&tw=2]]]
'''Damaten''' {{kana|黙聴}} (or "hidden tenpai") is a closed [[tenpai]] hand that has not called [[riichi]]. Typically, a dama hand will have a [[yaku]] without riichi; otherwise, [[menzen tsumo]] (or another circumstantial yaku) would be needed to win. An older term '''yamiten''' {{kana|闇聴}} refers to the same thing.


==Meaning==
==Usage==
There are many reasons to dama. In most cases, it's when the extra points do not matter:
*When the call for riichi wouldn't increase the hand's value by itself. For example, a [[haneman]] is scored if you have 6-7 han. If you have an 6 han hand, the +1 han for riichi wouldn't increase the score. Declaring riichi could still increase score with a tsumo, ippatsu, and/or ura dora, but these aren't reliable.
*When the hand is valuable. Because players will often [[defense|defend]] against a riichi hand, declaring riichi will generally lower your hand's win rate. So if your hand is already a guaranteed [[mangan]] or higher, you may wish to dama to get the existing value. Plus, once mangan is reached, each han afterwards has reduced value.
*When winning at all is the only thing that matters. If you are far in the lead, dama can be used to increase your win rate (thus, ending the game faster). If the game is in [[oorasu|all last]], and winning with riichi wouldn't improve your placement (even with ippatsu ron), dama can also be considered.
*When you wish to change your hand. Riichi locks your hand in, preventing you from upgrading the wait or gaining yaku. If your hand has many upgrades, you may wish to dama.
*When the hand is bad. You might get to tenpai on what would be a riichi-only bad wait hand and decide it's not worth it. If someone else reaches tenpai, you can [[betaori|abandon the hand]].


==Usage==
That being said, you should not overuse dama. Riichi's +1 han is valuable, since each han below 4000 will roughly double your score. Plus, you can get even more han from ippatsu and ura dora. See [[riichi strategy]] for more details.
The major weakness of riichi stems from the inability to change the hand after making the call. In doing so, a player makes oneself vulnerable to the changing conditions of the game. In turn, the player may become susceptible to playing into another player's hand.


Also, adding the yaku of riichi may not actually improve the value of a hand instantly. For example, a haneman hand is worth 6 or 7 han.  Well, if a player's hand currently appears to be valued 6 han, it may not be necessary to take the risk of riichi just to upgrade the hand from 6 han to 7.
==Game examples==
{{jpwiki|黙聴}}
* [http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2012072018gm-0009-0000-x4ff970f2baf7&tw=3 Usage]
: Multiple instances where damaten was employed.


Finally, a player may not actually want to announce their hand as a tenpai hand.  Instead, a damaten hand awaits for other players to unexpectedly play into the hand.
{{Navbox strategy}}


==External links==
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Strategy]]
[[Category:Strategy]]

Latest revision as of 08:53, 18 March 2024

Damaten applied to a standalone baiman hand. [1]

Damaten 「黙聴」 (or "hidden tenpai") is a closed tenpai hand that has not called riichi. Typically, a dama hand will have a yaku without riichi; otherwise, menzen tsumo (or another circumstantial yaku) would be needed to win. An older term yamiten 「闇聴」 refers to the same thing.

Usage

There are many reasons to dama. In most cases, it's when the extra points do not matter:

  • When the call for riichi wouldn't increase the hand's value by itself. For example, a haneman is scored if you have 6-7 han. If you have an 6 han hand, the +1 han for riichi wouldn't increase the score. Declaring riichi could still increase score with a tsumo, ippatsu, and/or ura dora, but these aren't reliable.
  • When the hand is valuable. Because players will often defend against a riichi hand, declaring riichi will generally lower your hand's win rate. So if your hand is already a guaranteed mangan or higher, you may wish to dama to get the existing value. Plus, once mangan is reached, each han afterwards has reduced value.
  • When winning at all is the only thing that matters. If you are far in the lead, dama can be used to increase your win rate (thus, ending the game faster). If the game is in all last, and winning with riichi wouldn't improve your placement (even with ippatsu ron), dama can also be considered.
  • When you wish to change your hand. Riichi locks your hand in, preventing you from upgrading the wait or gaining yaku. If your hand has many upgrades, you may wish to dama.
  • When the hand is bad. You might get to tenpai on what would be a riichi-only bad wait hand and decide it's not worth it. If someone else reaches tenpai, you can abandon the hand.

That being said, you should not overuse dama. Riichi's +1 han is valuable, since each han below 4000 will roughly double your score. Plus, you can get even more han from ippatsu and ura dora. See riichi strategy for more details.

Game examples

Damaten in Japanese Wikipedia
Multiple instances where damaten was employed.
Tile efficiency
Defense
Scoring
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