Reachmahjong.com

Here\'s what I\'m getting at:

You have, for example, closed tan-pin-san, which is 4 han and 30 fu(or 5 han for the tsumo).

Reach makes this 5 or 6.

Assuming you are playing against regularly defensive players (i.e. they won\'t deal in), would you reach hoping for the tsumo or a dora to make it a haneman?

Riichi is not only used to increase your score, but also to scare your opponents.

Considering there is no real difference between 4 han 30 fun and 5 han, I\'ll not reach for points unless I absolutely need an haneman.

But, I may reach to frighten opponents and make them break their hands. Especially if they are \"regularly defensive players\".

I agree with Shirluban, the fear element of reach is bound to stop people. In tournament play, I would reach, probably not in a home game, since you have to use every chance you get for points in tournaments.

You can also look at it this way. This is not every time, but normally when someone reaches, a defensive player would usually take apart their original hand to favor a safer tenpai. Even if you were to deal in, it \"usually\" isn`t that terrible of a hit. On the other hand, even defensive players take risks when they are packing power, in which case those tiles you need could still flow out.

You also have to think about your wait here. Are you waiting on a 4,7 or a 2,5? Are you waits alive? Does it look like they will flow out? I`m way more likely to reach with a 2,5 wait than a 4,7, setting my aims on the 2. Watch for the suigs in the discard piles and try to set up your waits accordingly.

Shirluban wrote:Riichi is not only used to increase your score, but also to scare your opponents.

Considering there is no real difference between 4 han 30 fun and 5 han, I\'ll not reach for points unless I absolutely need an haneman.

But, I may reach to frighten opponents and make them break their hands. Especially if they are "regularly defensive players".

Ah, Shirluban, you, like Bobby Fischer, like to see your opponents squirm!

Gg