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Estimating hand value
Estimate a hand by counting yaku and dora, anticipating fu, then converting the result for dealer status and ron or tsumo.
The principle
For an ordinary hand, first confirm at least one yaku, then add han from yaku and dora. Dora raise value but can never make a yakuless hand legal. Open or closed status also changes the value of several yaku. A genuine yakuman follows its fixed payout and ignores dora.
Rule and example
Below a fixed limit, fu depend on the pair, triplets, kan, wait and win method. Under Tenhou, 4 han 30 fu pays 7,700 on a non-dealer ron and 13 han or more becomes kazoe yakuman. WRC 2025 applies kiriage mangan to 4 han 30 fu and 3 han 60 fu, then yonbaiman from 13 han.
What changes
Final payment depends on seat and win method: outside pao liability, ron is paid by the discarder while tsumo is split; the dealer pays or receives more. Then add honba and the riichi deposits actually collected. A ron on a declaration discard does not collect that voided riichi deposit. A useful estimate therefore states a range and its assumptions.
Rules references
- Tenhou rulesReference profile used for game mechanics and scoring.
- WRC Rules 2025International rules compared whenever their options differ from Tenhou.