Japanese mahjong: Difference between revisions

*A hand must have at least one [[yaku]]. Yaku can be compared to "poker hands" - they are patterns/criteria that score points. For example, a "pair" in poker means having two of the same number. [[Toitoi]] ("All Triplets") is when the hand consists entirely of triplets (that is, having 4 triplets in total). In general, yaku that that are harder to get scores more [[han]], which calculates to more points.

Mahjong is a zero-sum game - whenever a player gains points, the other players lose a total of that many points. Therefore, [[tile efficiency|developing hands quickly]] and [[defense|minimizing point losses]] are important aspects to the games. Sometimes, it is best to [[betaori|give up winning]] in order to prevent paying for others' hands.

This continues until the [[#End of a hand|hand ends]].

*'''Triplets:''' Triplets are three identical tiles. Any type of tile may be used in a triplet.

A winning hand is 14 tiles, however, in mahjong, you can only hold 13 tiles in your hand. Therefore, players must get to '''[[tenpai]]''' (ready hand) - a hand that is one tile away from winning - first. Once reaching tenpai, you can win the hand by either drawing a winning tile, or winning from an opponent's discard. With a normal hand structure, there are two ways to get to tenpai:

'''Tenpai #1 - 3 complete groups + 1 incomplete group + 1 pair:'''

'''Tenpai #2 - 4 complete groups + 1 tile waiting to be paired'''

:{{#mjt:234m666888s3567p}} - May win off: {{#mjt:3p}} to complete the pair. (This type of tenpai is generally rarer than tenpai #1)

There are two exceptions to the 4 tile groups and a pair pattern: [[chiitoitsu|Seven Pairs]] and [[kokushi musou|Thirteen Orphans]].

 

*Cons: Riichi declares that you are about to win, and you are required to bet 1000 points. The 1000-point bet goes to whoever wins next (which may or may not be you). Also, you are not allowed to change your hand anymore. Therefore, you may end up dealing into other players, if you don't win first.

*Pros: Riichi is a yaku, allowing otherwise yakuless hands to win. It is always worth at least one han, and gives the chance for even more han, which both can greatly increase the value of the hand.

'''Furiten''' is a rule that may prevent a player from winning off other's discards.

Depending on the rules, multiple player may win from a hand. This occurs when more than one player is waiting on the same tile, and that tile is discarded. This event is called a '''double ron''' or even '''triple ron'''. Some rules allow double ron but not triple ron. Some rules allow triple ron. Other rulesets apply the head bump rule ([[atamahane]]) - only one player wins the hand. When atamahane is used, the player closest in turn order to the next player claims the win.

Various conditions may allow players to abort the hand. In other words, a mahjong hand may end prematurely before anyone claims a win or before all the tiles are drawn and discarded. In these events, no points are exchanged; and no penalties are enforced. Instead, the hand ends, and the tiles are reshuffled.

A '''chombo''' is a penalty for an illegal procedure. Chombo are often awarded when a player does something that would prevent the game from continuing normally, e.g. knocking off an entire wall of tiles. In these cases, the hand restarts. Chombo may also be awarded after a hand ends, e.g. for an illegal [[riichi]].

 

In the event of chombo, the player must pay out a penalty of points, usually [[mangan]]. In casual settings, chombo may be ignored. In serious settings, it may be increased. Often, the chombo penalty is done after the game ends, in order to not waste time during the game.

Out of all the mahjong variants, riichi has the most complicated scoring system.  

*Hands score [[han]] (based on [[yaku]] and [[dora]] in hand) and [[fu]] (based on certain hand composition).

*A hand scores ''points'' based on the han and fu count.

*Depending on if a hand won on ron or tsumo, other player(s) pay out the hand accordingly.

 

Naturally, when playing online, the point exchanges are automatically handled. Even some automatic tables are capable of scoring calculations.  Otherwise, players go on to [[Score table memorization|memorize the point values]], or look at a [[scoring table]].

Dealers receive ~50% more points than non-dealers for all wins. However, if a non-dealer wins by self-draw, then the dealer must pay roughly 50% while non-dealers pay roughly 25% each. The winner of a hand collects any riichi bets on the table and additional points allowed by [[honba]].

A game is organized into rounds, which are named after winds. Each wind round, every player gets a chance to be a dealer. Like player order, the round's wind rotates from East ->  South -> West -> North. For example, East 1 means it is the first round and the first player's dealer turn. East 2 means it is the first round, and the second player's dealer turn. This continues until East 4, then the game continues to South 1.

When a dealer wins the round, the game repeats and one [[honba]] is added. So a game at East 1, 4 honba means the dealer won four times in a row. In many rulesets, the dealer also gets to keep the seat if in [[tenpai]] (and no one won the round).

 

For shorter games, players may play a single East round. Here players only have the opportunity to hold the dealer seat once. After the conclusion of four wind rotations, then the game is brought to the end. Yet, the points may invoke the extra round and bring the game into the South Round.

Typically, the game ends after the final hand of the last round, when at least one player has at least 30,000 points. This figure may differ (it depends on ruleset). However, the entire game may end prematurely. A game end may occur under the following conditions:

* '''Negative points'''. When any player's points falls below 0, then the game ends immediately. At that point, the player has run out of point sticks. The game can continue when a player has exactly 0 points. (Some rules allow the game to continue even when a player has negative points)

* '''Win and finish'''. On the final hand of the last round, if the dealer wins the hand, the dealer may choose to continue the game or end the game.

* '''Extra rounds'''. When no player has scored 30,000 points or more, players may opt to continue playing rounds until a player does reach that goal, after which the game ends. (Whether this happens or not will depend on the rules.)

Once the game ends, points are tallied, and places get a rank from 1st to 4th.

 

With the [[oka and uma]] systems, players get a bonus or penalty based on rank. 4th place pays 1st place some amount of points, and 3rd place pays second place some amount of points. This system was originally designed for gambling, but it can also be used for tournament or competitive play.

Many rules of the game may be subject to various customization and house rules. Many simply resort towards allowing or disallowing certain rules and even [[yaku|hand patterns]].  Others involve different methods of enforcement and point values.

For any 1-on-1 situation, even a two-player variation is possible. Though gameplay becomes even more limited than that of the three-player variation. The tile count is even less; and often, it is down to a single suit.

'''Washizu mahjong''' is a variant where three out of four tiles are transparent - other players can see them. This reveals most (but not all) of players' hands.

The game may be played under a number of different environments. New players may engage under casual settings where rule enforcement is not so strict, and play speed might not be so rigorous. In addition, the pressure of winning is smaller. The formality is increased under tournament settings. In Japan, commercial play is hosted in [[Jansou|mahjong parlors]], where players come to pay-to-play.  Either at the parlors, casinos, or residences, gambling may be involved, whether it be legal or not legal. Finally, professional play involves televised games; and a staff may take detailed record of games and their results. Naturally, participants are expected to be knowledgeable of the rules and strategies.