Question
Answer and Explanation
In the context of Japanese Mahjong, "1-shanten" (一向聴, pronounced "iishanten") refers to a hand that is one step away from being ready to declare a winning hand (tenpai). Essentially, it means you need just one more tile to achieve tenpai. Let's break down what this means:
Understanding Shanten:
Shanten is a measure of how many tiles you need to reach tenpai. A 0-shanten hand is a tenpai hand, meaning it is ready to win with a discard or draw. A 1-shanten hand means you are one tile away from tenpai. Higher numbers indicate that more tiles are needed to be in a winning position.
Characteristics of a 1-Shanten Hand:
A 1-shanten hand means your current hand structure requires only one more tile to complete a valid set or sequence. This can involve:
- Completing a pair into a triplet (pon) or quad (kan)
- Completing a sequence (chi) in a suit
- Completing a pair for eyes if the rest of the hand is in groups
Example:
Let's assume you have the following hand:
`1-Man, 2-Man, 3-Man, 5-Pin, 6-Pin, 7-Pin, 8-Sou, 8-Sou, 9-Sou, East, East, Red Dragon, White Dragon `
This hand is 1-shanten. If you draw a 4-Man, you would form a complete sequence, putting you in tenpai. You can also get into tenpai by drawing a 7-Sou, 9-Sou, an East or a White Dragon. Drawing any of these tiles will make your hand tenpai.
Strategic Implications of 1-Shanten:
When you're at 1-shanten, you are in a strong position. It's often a good time to consider your possible waiting tiles carefully. You'd typically focus on:
- Discarding Safely: If you are already in 1-shanten, it is important to choose which tiles to discard carefully in order to avoid giving someone a chance to win.
- Optimizing Waits: Discarding tiles that result in a larger number of potential winning tiles.
- Pushing for Tenpai: If the discard is relatively safe, pushing towards reaching tenpai.
In summary, understanding the concept of 1-shanten is crucial for playing Japanese Mahjong effectively. It signals that you are very close to being able to win the hand and influences your subsequent strategic decisions.