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Japanese mahjong: Difference between revisions
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'''Japanese mahjong''', otherwise known as '''riichi mahjong''', {{kana|麻雀、 麻将、 or マージャン}} is the Japanese varation to the 4-player table card game of mahjong, whose objective an be best described as a combination of gin rummy and poker. Even though tiles are primarily used to play the game, the game is available online and can be played with regular mahjong playing cards. It's a four player game that combines the elements of calculation and strategy that is found in chess with the elements of risk assessment, observation skills, and luck. | '''Japanese mahjong''', otherwise known as '''riichi mahjong''', {{kana|麻雀、 麻将、 or マージャン}} is the Japanese varation to the 4-player table card game of mahjong, whose objective an be best described as a combination of gin rummy and poker. Even though tiles are primarily used to play the game, the game is available online and can be played with regular mahjong playing cards. It's a four player game that combines the elements of calculation and strategy that is found in chess with the elements of risk assessment, observation skills, and luck. | ||
Gin rummy can trace its origins back to the mahjong that was played in China. Gin rummy is a card game which centers itself towards developing [[mentsu| | Gin rummy can trace its origins back to the mahjong that was played in China. Gin rummy is a card game which centers itself towards developing [[mentsu|tile groups]] of sequences (1-2-3, 6-7-8) and/or triplets (9-9-9). | ||
Besides the | Besides the tile groups, players also need to meet another condition called a ''[[List of yaku|yaku]]''. The ''yaku'' can be synonymous to "poker hands", where ''yaku'' are a set of patterns or conditions. Just like a poker hand, for example the "full house", each ''yaku'' is associated with a name. In addition, ''yaku'' directly affect the value of a player's hand. The ''yaku'' add richness and depth to the game but at the same time requires some additional starting knowledge. When mahjong is not played on/via a computer, scoring by hand also requires additional starting knowlege. | ||
In addition, all players begin with a certain number of points, usually 25,000. It is the objective of each player to develop their hands to accumulate more points than any of the opponents. In combination with ''yaku'' and ''dora'', the number of ''han'' and ''fu'' correlates to a specific number of [[Scoring|points]] to determine the value of a hand, in the event of winning a hand. | In addition, all players begin with a certain number of points, usually 25,000. It is the objective of each player to develop their hands to accumulate more points than any of the opponents. In combination with ''yaku'' and ''dora'', the number of ''han'' and ''fu'' correlates to a specific number of [[Scoring|points]] to determine the value of a hand, in the event of winning a hand. | ||
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This example hand is a ''tenpai'' hand waiting three tiles . If any of those tiles are in the player's discard pile, then the player cannot claim ''ron''. A player can get out of ''furiten'' by changing the hand composition. | This example hand is a ''tenpai'' hand waiting three tiles . If any of those tiles are in the player's discard pile, then the player cannot claim ''ron''. A player can get out of ''furiten'' by changing the hand composition. | ||
This rule forces players to take extra consideration, when making discards. Often, a player must have good reason to discard particular tiles, especially when they are already part of a | This rule forces players to take extra consideration, when making discards. Often, a player must have good reason to discard particular tiles, especially when they are already part of a tile group. | ||
==Hand development== | ==Hand development== | ||
{{main|Tile efficiency}} | {{main|Tile efficiency}} | ||
The process of drawing and discarding, as well as making claims to discard is the process of hand development. As a player, after the initial deal of hands, players have a ''start hand''. So, the aim of a player is to develop this hand into a ''complete hand''. A complete mahjong hand is composed of '''4 | The process of drawing and discarding, as well as making claims to discard is the process of hand development. As a player, after the initial deal of hands, players have a ''start hand''. So, the aim of a player is to develop this hand into a ''complete hand''. A complete mahjong hand is composed of '''4 tile groups and a pair'''. The hand may be '''open''' or '''closed''' and have '''at [[Yaku|minimum 1-yaku]]'''. This is a total of 13 tiles plus 1 (the winning tile), like so: | ||
:{{#mjt:234m666s11p11666z}} May win with: {{#mjt:1p}} or {{#mjt:1z}} | :{{#mjt:234m666s11p11666z}} May win with: {{#mjt:1p}} or {{#mjt:1z}} | ||
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A hand that is one tile away from being complete is in ''tenpai''. A hand that is one tile away from ''tenpai'' is one ''shanten''. A hand that is two tiles away from ''tenpai'' is two ''shanten'', and so on. Experienced players may sense how likely they are to win a hand based on their initial ''shanten'' number. | A hand that is one tile away from being complete is in ''tenpai''. A hand that is one tile away from ''tenpai'' is one ''shanten''. A hand that is two tiles away from ''tenpai'' is two ''shanten'', and so on. Experienced players may sense how likely they are to win a hand based on their initial ''shanten'' number. | ||
There are two notable '''exceptions''' to the 4 | There are two notable '''exceptions''' to the 4 tile groups and a pair pattern. Players can try to form [[Chiitoitsu|seven pairs]] or the rare [[Kokushi musou|thirteen orphans]] hand. Both of these hands are closed by default. | ||
===Tile groupings=== | ===Tile groupings=== | ||