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Occult mahjong: Difference between revisions
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'''Occult mahjong''', or '''flow mahjong''', is a school of thought that focuses on luck and the "flow" of luck. For example, an occult style of thought believes that the luck from one hand carries over, or "flows", onto | '''Occult mahjong''', or '''flow mahjong''', is a school of thought that focuses on luck, instinct, superstition, and the "flow" of luck. For example, an occult style of thought believes that the luck from one hand carries over, or "flows", onto the next. | ||
The converse of occult mahjong is dubbed '''digital mahjong''' or "scientific mahjong". A digital mindset focuses on probability and statistics. | The converse of occult mahjong is dubbed '''digital mahjong''' or "scientific mahjong". A digital mindset focuses on probability and statistics. | ||
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Before the internet became widespread, occult mahjong was reportedly quite popular.<ref>''Riichi Mahjong Theory Reformist'' (リーチ麻雀論改革派) criticizes the then-popular style of occult play.</ref> Many professionals focused on how to improve your luck. However, in the modern day, digital mahjong is the dominant philosophy. | Before the internet became widespread, occult mahjong was reportedly quite popular.<ref>''Riichi Mahjong Theory Reformist'' (リーチ麻雀論改革派) criticizes the then-popular style of occult play.</ref> Many professionals focused on how to improve your luck. However, in the modern day, digital mahjong is the dominant philosophy. | ||
==Occult mahjong | ==Occult mahjong takeaways== | ||
The use of the term "occult" can be seen as pejorative - saying "occult" dismisses the entire thing as | The use of the term "occult" can be seen as pejorative - saying "occult" dismisses the entire thing as bogus. It's true that there were many silly superstitions, such as "calling discards to shift the tile luck to you". However, there are a few takeaways that can prove useful when playing. | ||
More specifically, it | More specifically, it can be useful to '''read players''' (and sometimes, the room's atmosphere). It is possible to gain information by knowing players' habits, behaviors, and/or subconscious cues. These things are hard to substantiate, so they don't really fit into a "digital mahjong" mindset. | ||
*For a more obvious example, if you know a player tends to discard [[hatsu]] after [[haku]]/[[chun]], then that is useful. | *For a more obvious example, if you know a player tends to discard [[hatsu]] after [[haku]]/[[chun]], then that is useful. | ||
*Emotions can be read, just like in poker. Players could be visibly excited/anxious when they have a big hand and show it through the behavior, or annoyed when they have a bad hand. | *Emotions can be read, just like in poker. Players could be visibly excited/anxious when they have a big hand and show it through the behavior, or annoyed when they have a bad hand. | ||
*Reading discards | *Reading discards to get a sense of what their hand may contain can also be considered "occult". Basic examples, like "a player discarded a lot of souzu/pinzu, so they are likely to have a manzu honitsu" can be considered basic probability, in the realm of digital mahjong. But trying to get a precise read on the hand's contents, e.g. feeling that a given [[riichi]] is a cheap or expensive hand, is in the realm of occult play. | ||
As you may surmise, these tips are more useful when playing with physical tiles or with a specific group. In online clients, you'll often encounter a player once and never play them again, and reading emotions is impossible. | As you may surmise, these tips are more useful when playing with physical tiles or with a specific group. In online clients, you'll often encounter a player once and never play them again, and reading emotions is impossible. | ||