Naki: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:14, 22 March 2024

Naki 「鳴き」, or "calls", are legal claims on an immediately discarded tile. When an opponent discards a tile you can claim, you can call it to add it to your hand. Upon claiming a discard, the player's hand is then considered open. An open hand is unable to call riichi and is unable to score yaku like menzen tsumo. In addition, some yaku decrease in value after opening. However, opening the hand can allow you to complete it faster.

Properties

For each immediate discard, players may claim a tile if:

The hand contains 2 out of the three tiles necessary to form a complete meld (see below).
The claim was made immediately after the discard, before the next player's turn. Otherwise, a discarded tile remains in the discard pile.
If the discarded tile completes a hand, then any player may call ron, overriding the other tile calls.

Calls are not mandatory. When making a call for a discarded tile (chii, pon, open kan), your hand is considered open. As mentioned above, open hands cannot call riichi, are ineligible for certain yaku, and receive -1 han for certain other yaku.

Any call, except riichi, will immediately invalidate tenhou, chiihou, double riichi, ippatsu, and the option for kyuushu kyuuhai.

Procedure

When making a call, the tiles used for the call are revealed and placed to the side. These tiles are still considered part of the player's hand, but cannot be changed. Therefore, each call reduces the number of tiles you can choose to discard. After making a call, the player discards a tile.

The claimed tile must be arranged sideways to indicate the claimed tile. It must also be arranged on the left, middle, or right to indicate the source of the claim. This notation helps with the enforcement of furiten, as a claimed tile is still a part of the original player's discard pile.

Tile calls

Main article: Mentsu

Tile calls can only be formed when it would complete a mentsu or complete a winning hand. These are shown below:

Chii	チー	Sequences
Pon	ポン	Three-of-a-kind
Kan	カン	Four-of-a-kind
Ron	ロン	Win on discard

Chii

Chii 「チー」 completes a sequence, to form minjun.

Only the player to the right of the discarded may call chii. In other words, you can only call chii from the left player's discards. Therefore, the tile turned sideways is always indicated on the left. Chii may be particularly subject to the rule of kuikae - when calling a sequence, you cannot discard a tile that would have completed the same sequence. See below for details.

Pon

Left	Across	Right

Pon 「ポン」 turns a pair of identical tiles into a minkou (open triplet).

Unlike chii, pon may be called from any player on the board. Because any player may call, sometimes a player's turn may be skipped.

Kan

Main article: Kan

Kan 「カン」 are triplets "upgraded" into four-of-a-kinds. Unlike the other calls, kan has some added procedures. In addition, there are three different types of kan:

Daminkan (open kan) are called like pon, except you need three of the same tile.
Ankan (closed kan) can be called when four of the same tile are in your hand (without needing to claim a discarded tile). Ankan does not open your hand. You are not allowed to call ankan immediately after calling pon or chii.
Shouminkan (added kan) can be called when you have previously called pon, then draw the fourth tile yourself. This call turns the called triplet into a kan call.

All forms of kan are still considered triplets, just with one extra tile. Therefore, in order to maintain the hand, one tile is drawn from the deadwall. Also, any form of kan reveals kandora. For more information, see the kan page.

Agari

Instance where Ron, Kan, Pon, or Chii may be called.

Agari 「アガリ」 is the generic call for a winning tile. However, this is a general term for the state of winning. It is rare, if ever, do anyone use this term to declare a winning hand.

Ron

Ron 「ロン」 is a specific tile call on a discard, when the discard actually completes the hand. Also, the hand must have a valid yaku. Under furiten, a player may not call ron, otherwise, it is a violation of rules and subject to chombo penalty.

Call precedence

When multiple players can call a tile, the following takes precedence:

Ron or Agari
Kan or Pon
Chii

It is impossible for kan and pon to be called simultaneously. A call for kan requires 3 copies of a tile, the call for pon requires 2 more copies of a tile, but there are only 4 tiles total. It is possible for pon/kan and chii to be called together; the player who calls pon gets the tile. A call for ron/agari will override any other tile call.

Kuikae

Main article: Kuikae

Kuikae is a rule which, when making a call, prevents you from immediately discarding a tile that could have completed that call. Under kuikae, calling pon on a 5-pin, then discarding a 5-pin is not allowed. Similarly, after calling chii on a 4-sou with 23-sou, you cannot discard a 1-sou or 4-sou. You are allowed to discard these tiles on any turn afterwards, just not on the turn you made the call. While it is not a fundamental rule, the kuikae restriction is common.

Kuisagari

Main article: List of yaku

Kuisagari 「喰い下がり」 is a property of some yaku to lose value when called open. When calling a discard and opening the hand, the player sacrifices 1-han per yaku affected by this rule. This is obviously a negative, though calling allows you to complete the hand faster.

The following yaku are affected directly by kuisagari:

From 2 han to 1 han	From 3 han to 2 han	From 6 han to 5 han
Sanshoku	Honitsu	Chinitsu
Ittsu	Junchan
Chanta

Similarly, some yaku can only be scored with a closed hand. Certain yaku, like chiitoitsu and mentsumo, are closed based on their structure or nature. Other yaku, like iipeikou, the requirement of a closed hand is entirely artificial. Unlike instances of kuisagari, you cannot use these yaku to fulfill the yaku requirement of an open hand: these are not considered 0 han yaku. For ryanpeikou in particular, if it were affected by kuisagari, it would score 2 han when opened. But in actuality, you cannot achieve ryanpeikou at all with an open hand.

Finally, some yaku are not affected by kuisagari. Even when open, they retain their original han value. These are yakuhai, toitoi, sanankou, sanshoku doukou, shousangen, sankantsu, as well as any yakuman that can be scored with an open hand.

Atozuke

Main article: Atozuke

A side effect to kuisagari involves atozuke. Tile calls may put a hand into position where one of its waiting tiles do not produce valid yaku. With this in mind, tile calls must be made with careful discretion.

Closed tile calls

Kan	カン	Forming a quad
Kita	キタ	Picking a North dora
Riichi	リーチ	Ready hand declaration
Tsumo	ツモ	Win by self-draw

These tile calls do not apply to discards, and therefore, do not open your hand. Just like the discard calls, these calls are announcements.

Kan

Main article: Kan

Apart from claiming a discard to form a quad, a quad may also be formed by adding the fourth tile from the hand to the open triplet, or by taking out four identical tiles form the hand.

Kita

Main article: Sanma

In some rules of three-player mahjong, North tiles may be picked and functions as a dora.

Riichi

Main article: Riichi

Riichi 「リーチ」 is a player's declaration for a ready hand. If desired, a player may announce riichi prior to discarding and invoke the rules involving riichi as a yaku. Riichi does not interrupt opponents' tenhou, chiihou, etc.

Tsumo

Tsumo 「ツモ」 is the declaration for winning by self-draw. This may apply to any hand, open or closed. With a closed hand, it also counts as for the yaku, mentsumo. Even when furiten, it is acceptable to win the hand.

Open vs closed

Main article: Naki strategy

Before making a tile call, players should consider "is it worth opening the hand, or is it better to remain closed?" Naturally, there are advantages to both. For starters, players should know the yaku and their hand values. A closed hand can call riichi and is worth more; an open hand is faster. Players should consider their point standing, hand value, number of tile draws left, and other factors before opening. For more details, see naki strategy.

Yakuman hands, assuming they can be won open, don't reduce in value after a call. Since they are so hard to complete, opening is often necessary to actually win with one.

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Naki''' {{kana|鳴き}} are legal claims on immediately discarded tiles.  The instant a discarded tile is declined for a claim, then it goes out of play and remains in the discard pile until the next hand.  Discarded tiles gives players another source of tiles for hand completion, other than the regular wall.  Upon claiming a discard, the player's hand is then considered to be '''open'''.  As a consequence, the player loses the option to call [[riichi]], and the hand is not eligible for the yaku, [[mentsumo]] among other closed only yaku.  Yet, some yaku allow the use of open hands, but they [[#Kuisagari|decrease in value by 1-han]], when opened.
+'''Naki''' {{kana|鳴き}}, or "calls", are legal claims on an immediately discarded tile. When an opponent discards a tile you can claim, you can call it to add it to your hand. Upon claiming a discard, the player's hand is then considered ''open''. An open hand is unable to call [[riichi]] and is unable to score yaku like [[menzen tsumo]]. In addition, some yaku decrease in value after opening. However, opening the hand can allow you to complete it faster.
-Tiles used for open calls are placed to the side.  When revealed, they are still part of a player's hand.  However, once placed to the side, tiles used for open calls can no longer be changed.  As a consequence, the number of tiles for discard selection in a player's hand decreases with each tile call.  From thirteen tiles, the count decreases to ten after one call; to seven after two calls; to four after three calls; and finally, to one after four calls.  With this, a player's ability to [[defense|defend]] is reduced with every tile call.
+== Properties ==
+For each '''immediate''' discard, players may claim a tile if:
+* The hand contains 2 out of the three tiles necessary to form a complete [[mentsu|meld]] (see below).
+* The claim was made immediately after the discard, before the next player's turn. Otherwise, a discarded tile remains in the discard pile.
+* If the discarded tile completes a hand, then any player may call ''ron'', overriding the other tile calls.
-Yet, players may benefit from open tile calling from increasing the speed of hand development, convenience, or the irrelevance of losing hand value by opening.  Players must also consider the number of tiles available.  Overall, tile calling is a discretionary move.  Especially with hands valued of [[scoring|mangan or greater]], opening the hand may be a better option than keeping it closed.
+Calls are not mandatory. When making a call for a discarded tile (chii, pon, open kan), your hand is considered open. As mentioned above, open hands cannot call riichi, are ineligible for certain [[yaku]], and receive -1 han for certain other yaku.
-Finally, the last discard cannot be claimed for any open calls, even if needed to attain [[tenpai]].  The call on the last discard is limited for winning hands, by which [[houtei raoyui]] is awarded.
+Any call, except riichi, will immediately invalidate [[tenhou and chiihou|tenhou]], [[chiihou]], [[double riichi]], [[ippatsu]], and the option for [[kyuushu kyuuhai]].
-==Mentsu and overview==
+=== Procedure ===
+When making a call, the tiles used for the call are revealed and placed to the side. These tiles are still considered part of the player's hand, but cannot be changed. Therefore, each call reduces the number of tiles you can choose to discard. After making a call, the player discards a tile.
+The claimed tile must be arranged sideways to indicate the claimed tile. It must also be arranged on the left, middle, or right to indicate the source of the claim. This notation helps with the enforcement of [[furiten]], as a claimed tile is still a part of the original player's discard pile.
+==Tile calls==
 {{main|Mentsu}}
-As a general rule, tile calls apply to the tile immediately discarded.  Naturally, players are not required to claim discarded tile; but they may do so under the condition of possessing 2 out of 3 tiles for a meld in the hand.  Every discarded tile not claimed by discard remain in the discard piles, until the [[Japanese_mahjong#End_of_a_hand|end of the hand]].
+Tile calls can only be formed when it would complete a [[mentsu]] or complete a winning hand. These are shown below:
-In addition, [[kuikae]] is an additional rule to tile calls.  Players may have melds within the hand; and a discarded tile may allow a tile claim.  If a player wishe to create an open meld using parts of an existing meld, then a player is not allowed to discard the remainder of the meld, until one full turn later.
-==Tile calls==
 {| class="wikitable" width=30%
 |-
@@ Line 25: / Line 31: @@
 | Ron ||align=center| ロン || Win on discard
 |}
-For each '''immediate''' discard, players have the option to make claims on discarded tiles based on the following conditions:
-* For all claims, a player must have 2 out of the 3 tiles in the hand necessary to form a complete [[mentsu|meld]].
-* Discard claims must be made immediately after discard, and before the next player's turn. Otherwise, a discarded tile remains in the discard pile and may not be claimed.
-* Players reveal their two tiles and append the claimed tile. Then these three revealed tiles are placed to the right corner of the player's area.
-* The claimed tile must be arranged sideways to indicate the claimed tile.
-* The claimed tile must be arranged on the left, middle, or right to indicate the source of the claim.
-* The open tile call notation helps with the enforcement of [[furiten]], as claimed tiles are still noted as part of player discards.
-* If the discarded tile completes a hand, then any player may call ''ron''.
 ===Chii===
 {{#mjt:1'23s}}
-'''Chii''' {{kana|チー}} is applied for opening sequential melds, to form minjun.  To claim and complete '''sequences''', the player to the right of the discarder may claim the tile and call chii. This means, any player calling chii may only claim tiles from the player to the left.  Therefore, the tile turned sideways is always indicated on the left.  Furthermore, this tile call may have a restriction named [[kuikae]], where chii is called using an existing sequential tile group.  In this case, the tile left over from the original, but now broken, tile group cannot be discarded.  The player is forced to discard another tile.
+'''Chii''' {{kana|チー}} completes a sequence, to form minjun.
+Only the player to the right of the discarded may call chii. In other words, you can only call chii from the left player's discards.  Therefore, the tile turned sideways is always indicated on the left. Chii may be particularly subject to the rule of [[#Kuikae|kuikae]] - when calling a sequence, you cannot discard a tile that would have completed the same sequence. See below for details.
 ===Pon===
@@ Line 47: / Line 46: @@
 | align=center| {{#mjt:1'11p}} || align=center| {{#mjt:11'1p}} || align=center| {{#mjt:111'p}}
 |}
-Toitsu, or pairs, may be upgraded to minkou, or open triplets.  Unlike "chii", the call for '''pon''' {{kana|ポン}} may be called from any player on the board.  As long as a player possess two identical tiles and a third is discarded, the player may call for that discarded tile regardless.  Because any player may call, sometimes a player's turn may be skipped.
+'''Pon''' {{kana|ポン}} turns a pair of identical tiles into a minkou (open triplet).
+Unlike chii, pon may be called from any player on the board. Because any player may call, sometimes a player's turn may be skipped.
 ===Kan===
 {{main|Kan}}
-'''Kan''' {{kana|カン}} may work like pon, except this call has some added procedures and additional situations.  Likewise, the tile arrangements works similarly to pon.  However, there is the addition of the other two kan types: [[ankan]] and [[shouminkan]].  For ankan, the hand remains closed, despite the use of a tile call.  Instead, such a call is used to invoke the rules specific to kan; and certainly, kan does have some specific rules applied.  Mostly, these relate to the [[dead wall]] and the revealing of additional [[dora]].
+'''Kan''' {{kana|カン}} are triplets "upgraded" into four-of-a-kinds. Unlike the other calls, kan has some added procedures. In addition, there are three different types of kan:
+*Daminkan (open kan) are called like pon, except you need three of the same tile.
+*Ankan (closed kan) can be called when four of the same tile are in your hand (without needing to claim a discarded tile). Ankan ''does not open your hand''. You are not allowed to call ankan immediately after calling pon or chii.
+*Shouminkan (added kan) can be called when you have previously called pon, then draw the fourth tile yourself. This call turns the called triplet into a kan call.
+All forms of kan are still considered triplets, just with one extra tile. Therefore, in order to maintain the hand, one tile is drawn from the deadwall. Also, any form of kan reveals [[kandora]]. For more information, see the [[kan]] page.
 ===Agari===
 [[Image:MultiNaki.png|thumb|right|250px|[http://tenhou.net/0/?log=2013111711gm-00c1-0000-a0d613bd&tw=3&ts=5 Instance] where Ron, Kan, Pon, or Chii may be called.]]
-'''Agari''' {{kana|アガリ}} is the generic call for a winning tile.
+'''Agari''' {{kana|アガリ}} is the generic call for a winning tile.  However, this is a general term for the state of winning.  It is rare, if ever, do anyone use this term to declare a winning hand.
 ===Ron===
@@ Line 63: / Line 70: @@
 ===Call precedence===
-The different tiles calls take precedence.
+When multiple players can call a tile, the following takes precedence:
 #Ron or Agari
 #Kan or Pon
 #Chii
-It is impossible for kan and pon to be called simultaneously.  However, either can simultaneously occur with chii.  Due to precedence, the player, who calls kan or pon, gains the right to a discarded tile over a chii call.  Overall, the call for ron or agari supercedes all tile discard calls.
+It is impossible for kan and pon to be called simultaneously. A call for kan requires 3 copies of a tile, the call for pon requires 2 more copies of a tile, but there are only 4 tiles total. It is possible for pon/kan and chii to be called together; the player who calls pon gets the tile. A call for ron/agari will override any other tile call.
-==Kuisagari==
+== Kuikae ==
-'''Kuisagari''' {{kana|喰い下がり}} is a property of some yaku to lose value when [[naki|called open]].  By calling on a discard and opening the hand, a player sacrifices the value of 1-han per yaku for the privilege.  Sometimes, the devalue may be viewed as disadvantageous; but the sacrifice for losing han value may be gained in the form of faster hand development.  If certain tiles may be previously discarded, a player may need to make the open call, or else risk not be able to finish the hand at all.  With the use of [[dora]], the value loss from an open call is regained or deemed worthwhile.
+{{Main|Kuikae}}
-Similarly, some yaku can be scored only with a closed hand. For some yaku, such as [[mentsumo]] or [[chiitoitsu]], this is necessarily the case based on their structure or nature, but for other yaku, such as [[iipeikou]], the requirement of a closed hand is entirely artificial. These yaku are not technically instances of kuisagari, because the yaku cannot be used to fulfill the yaku requirement of an open hand: they are not considered to be yaku worth 0 han. Additionally, for [[ryanpeikou]] in particular, if it were subject to kuisagari, it would score 2 han when open, but instead it is not scored at all in an open hand.
+Kuikae is a rule which, when making a call, prevents you from immediately discarding a tile that could have completed that call. Under kuikae, calling pon on a 5-pin, then discarding a 5-pin is not allowed. Similarly, after calling chii on a 4-sou with 23-sou, you cannot discard a 1-sou or 4-sou. You are allowed to discard these tiles on any turn afterwards, just not on the turn you made the call. While it is not a fundamental rule, the kuikae restriction is common.
-Finally, some yaku are not affected by kuisagari.  Even when open, they retain their original han value.  These are [[yakuhai]], [[toitoi]], [[sanankou]], [[sanshoku doukou]], [[shousangen]], [[sankantsu]], as well as any [[yakuman]] that can be scored with an open hand.
+==Kuisagari==
+{{main|List of yaku}}
-===Yaku affected by kuisagari===
+'''Kuisagari''' {{kana|喰い下がり}} is a property of some yaku to lose value when [[naki|called open]]. When calling a discard and opening the hand, the player sacrifices 1-han per yaku affected by this rule. This is obviously a negative, though calling allows you to complete the hand faster.
-{{main|List of yaku}}
-The following yaku are affected by kuisagari:
+The following yaku are affected directly by kuisagari:
 {| class="wikitable" width=50%
@@ Line 92: / Line 99: @@
 | [[Chanta]] || ||
 |}
+Similarly, some yaku can only be scored with a closed hand. Certain yaku, like [[chiitoitsu]] and [[mentsumo]], are closed based on their structure or nature. Other yaku, like [[iipeikou]], the requirement of a closed hand is entirely artificial. Unlike instances of kuisagari, you cannot use these yaku to fulfill the yaku requirement of an open hand: these are not considered 0 han yaku. For [[ryanpeikou]] in particular, if it were affected by kuisagari, it would score 2 han when opened. But in actuality, you cannot achieve ryanpeikou at all with an open hand.
+Finally, some yaku are not affected by kuisagari.  Even when open, they retain their original han value.  These are [[yakuhai]], [[toitoi]], [[sanankou]], [[sanshoku doukou]], [[shousangen]], [[sankantsu]], as well as any [[yakuman]] that can be scored with an open hand.
 ===Atozuke===
 {{main|Atozuke}}
-A side effect to kuisagari involves '''atozuke'''.  Tile calls may put a hand into position, where one of its waiting tiles do not produce valid yaku.  With this in mind, tile calls must be made with careful discretion.
+A side effect to kuisagari involves '''atozuke'''.  Tile calls may put a hand into position where one of its waiting tiles do not produce valid yaku.  With this in mind, tile calls must be made with careful discretion.
-== Other tile calls ==
+== Closed tile calls ==
-{| class="wikitable" width=30%
+{| class="wikitable" style="width:30%; min-width:250px;"
 |-
-| Kan ||align=center| カン || Forming a quad
+|nowrap| Kan    ||align=center nowrap| カン   || Forming a quad
 |-
-| Kita ||align=center| キタ || Picking a North [[dora]]
+|nowrap| Kita   ||align=center nowrap| キタ   || Picking a North [[dora]]
 |-
-| Riichi ||align=center| リーチ || Ready hand declaration
+|nowrap| Riichi ||align=center nowrap| リーチ || Ready hand declaration
 |-
-| Tsumo ||align=center| ツモ || Win by self-draw
+|nowrap| Tsumo  ||align=center nowrap| ツモ   || Win by self-draw
 |}
-These tile calls do not apply to discards.  Just like the discard calls, these calls are announcements.
+These tile calls do not apply to discards, and therefore, do not open your hand. Just like the discard calls, these calls are announcements.
 ===Kan===
@@ Line 118: / Line 129: @@
 ===Kita===
 {{main|Sanma}}
-In some rules of three-player mahjong, North tiles may be picked and functions as a [[dora]].
+In some rules of [[sanma|three-player mahjong]], North tiles may be picked and functions as a [[dora]].
 ===Riichi===
 {{main|Riichi}}
-'''Riichi''' {{kana|リーチ}} is a player's declaration for a [[tenpai|ready hand]].  If desired, a player may announce riichi prior to discarding and invoke the rules involving riichi as a yaku.
+'''Riichi''' {{kana|リーチ}} is a player's declaration for a [[tenpai|ready hand]].  If desired, a player may announce riichi prior to discarding and invoke the rules involving riichi as a yaku. Riichi does not interrupt opponents' tenhou, chiihou, etc.
 ===Tsumo===
-'''Tsumo''' {{kana|ツモ}} is the declaration for winning by self-draw.  This may apply to any hand, open or closed.  With a closed hand, it also counts as for the yaku, [[mentsumo]].  Even when furiten, it is acceptable to win the hand.
+'''Tsumo''' {{kana|ツモ}} is the declaration for winning by self-draw.  This may apply to any hand, open or closed.  With a closed hand, it also counts as for the yaku, [[mentsumo]].  Even when [[furiten]], it is acceptable to win the hand.
 == Open vs closed ==
-{{main|Haipai}}
+{{main|Naki strategy}}
-With regards to mahjong hands, the common question looks to determine the best practices of opening or closing a hand.  For starters, players should know the [[yaku]] and their han values.  Essentially, this begs the question: "Is it worth opening the hand, or is it better to remain closed?"  Naturally, there are advantages and disadvantages to either approach.  For both cases, the speed at which a hand attains [[tenpai]] rests on this decision.  If a hand does not improve its [[shanten]] count, then it may not be worth calling, unless a specific goal is in mind.
+Before making a tile call, players should consider "is it worth opening the hand, or is it better to remain closed?" Naturally, there are advantages to both. For starters, players should know the [[yaku]] and their hand values. A closed hand can call riichi and is worth more; an open hand is faster. Players should consider their point standing, hand value, number of tile draws left, and other factors before opening. For more details, see [[naki strategy]].
-For various [[yakuman]] hands, it is certainly advantageous to make calls on specific tiles.  The sheer difficulty of yakuman hands overall make it necessary to make use of tile calls to even come near completion, much less score one.
+[[Yakuman]] hands, assuming they can be won open, don't reduce in value after a call. Since they are so hard to complete, opening is often necessary to actually win with one.
 ==External links==
 [[Category:Terminology]]
 [[Category:Game rules]]
-[[Category:Strategy]]