Shanten Counting Hack: for better strategy

【Chapters】
0:00 Opening
0:56 What is Shanten Number?
1:31 Why is The Shanten Number important?
3:55 How to count the Santen Number
5:55 Exception of 8-Point Rule
【Who am I?】
・Japanese Mahjong Player
・Tenhou 6 dan(≒ Saint 1 in Mahjong Soul)
・Using generative AI Speech
Thank You!
#Mahjong
#mahjongsoul
#tenhou
#riichimahjong
#Shanten
#ShantenCountingHack
#8PointRule

[@usagijoou]

Thank you for the great content! Very useful, I was able to see only iishanen and ryanshanten before! But I have a question to 100% clarify the method. You say, that if there is no pair in the hand it's minus 1 point from the sum. But when you say "pair" what exactly do you mean? A distinct pair like 88, that has nothing to do with any other taatsu, or ANY pair like in 7889 or 1335 or 5677, that will be partly counted in some other block?

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you for your sharp question again this time! In such cases, you should recognize pairs to maximize the Shanten Number. For example, when you have 7889, you can count it as 789 and 8, 78 and 89, and 79 and 88. They are all 2 points. However, if you don't have any pairs in your hand, you should see 7889 as 79 and 88 to avoid -1 point. In mahjong, there are multiple perspectives for evaluating a hand. When counting the shanten number, it is advisable to perceive the hand composition as the configuration that maximizes the shanten count.

[@usagijoou]

@@MahjongSamurai thank you so much! when you say "maximize" you mean that maximum is iishanten (or tempai^_^)? 79 and 88 example implies it^_^

[@MahjongSamurai]

@@usagijoou Oh, sorry! I apologize for causing the confusion. Yes, exactly. The meaning of 'Maximize' is the ‘best’ shanten, like iishanten, or tempai. Let's take a look at some concrete examples. [45m12367p7889sES] This hand can be recognized in the following three patterns. A: 45m + 123p + 67p + 789s +8sES= 3-shanten. B: 45m + 123p + 67p + 78s +89s+ES = 3-shanten. C: 45m + 123p + 67p + 79s +88s + ES = 2-shanten. Among these three patterns, the one with the ‘best’ shanten count is Pattern C. Therefore, in this hand, interpreting 7889 as 79+88 and considering it as 2-shanten is correct.

[@usagijoou]

@@MahjongSamurai thanks! Now it is absolutely clear! I use your method every day on MS!

[@Szarps]

Oh my god i needed this SO BAD, im still very much scratching intermediate and i have lots of trouble counting shanten in the short amount of time the turn is given, this is an entire boat in the storm i was swimming on. Thank you so much, now ppl will be more focused on hating me based on my amazing luck than my slow decision making lol

[@doggyrabbit1128]

Your video is so amazing. Simple and clear but no BS. Please continue to teach us Mahjong, You are a great sensei

[@undefinedcaveman9582]

The advises given in this video is so helpful, especially 2:54. I vaguely knew about Shanten number before but I learned how to actually apply it into my games and now I reached Master rank on Mahjong Soul, thank you.

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you for saying helpful! I'm glad to hear that. And congratulations on reaching the Master rank!

[@carsonthorell3509]

I really like the first AI voice you use in the “2 Essential Techniques make you Expert” All the other AI voices sound robotic. Thank you for the great videos.

[@MahjongSamurai]

I also like her energetic voice, but it seems that there are people like her voice and people doesn't like hers. So for a while, I'm thinking of trying with the current calm voice. Thank you very much for the feedback!

[@8ritorneloz]

I learn this reading an article, this method is slight different but simpler! thank you

[@ozzi9816]

Very cool! This will definitely help. This might be a slightly niche/advanced topic, but do you think you could make a video on 7 pairs? I’m never really sure what’s best to cut in order to get into tenpai fast with 7 pairs. Thank you!

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you for your request! I will definitely make a seven pairs video in the future! However, I apologize, but I still have a few topics that are more helpful for improving your mahjong skills so I think it will be some time before I can release a video about Seven Pairs. Though, if I were to tell you the tips for the fastest Tenpai in Seven Pairs, keeping the following types of tiles in your hand will make it easier to reach Tenpai quickly: - Honor tiles - Tiles that are not visible in the discarded tiles - Tiles near the early discards of your opponents (for example, if 2m is discarded in the second turn, keep 1m and 3m in your hand) I hope you can look forward to and patiently await the creation of the video on Seven Pairs!

[@ashurafury]

Please make more videos!

[@bricedeleporte5896]

This is just what I needed to get out of my expert stagnation phase. Thank you so much!

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you as well! I hope you will be a Master with my videos! Good luck👍

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you as well! I hope you will be a Master with my videos! Good luck👍

[@akira54vv]

Love this hack! Please do more videos!

[@naileddownslug]

Very useful. Thank you. Subscribed.

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you as well! I’m so happy for your subscription!

[@RJP0409]

This is really helpful, thanks. Now I just need to remember to use it when I play

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you! Please remember and practice this method. I'm sure you'll get used to it quickly!

[@tylwythteg]

YEAAAAAAA ありがとうございます!

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you!!!! ありがとう！！！

[@CeliriaRose]

Personally my method has always been to count the number of complete groups plus one of any existing pairs, subtract that from how many complete groups are needed for the hand then add 1 for each block I am beneath that number So if I have 456m 88p 344p 123s 6s 9s then thats four blocks with two complete sets and one pair so 4-3+1=2 so two away. With seven pairs it might be 11m 33m 22p 33p 77p 5s 8s and a white dragon so 7-5=2 making it two away. Though I’m getting to the point where it’s just memorization and I know if I have five blocks and one complete set and a pair then thats two away.

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you for your comment! As you know, there are various ways to count, and I believe any counting method is acceptable. Thank you for introducing us to other counting methods!

[@ame-kd6oz]

thank you. i think it easy to understand and easy to implement

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you! Please implement this method and win more!

[@ZethKeeper]

Hey, Samurai! Are you okay? You haven't uploaded in a while.

[@gzbil7256]

Thx for the videos it's helping alot

[@MahjongSamurai]

You're welcome! Thank you as well!

[@1Rook1600]

Thank you for the videos! I am a bit confused if this works everytime, since some complex shapes can be counted in ways that give diferent points. For example: 56677 can be either: - multiple ways to arrange it to give 2 points: 56, 67, 7 or 5, 66, 77 - one way that gives 3 points: 567, 67 Is there a rule that decides how we should count them correctly?

[@MahjongSamurai]

Thank you for your great question! And sorry for my delay in replying. In that case, we should count it as 3 points. When multiple points can be counted, always count the maximum point.

[@dabstablook7774]

can you please make a video for mahjong key terms i find it quite difficult to know all the mahjong terms as a new player ,thank you

[@diegomastro5681]

こんにちは！ １ハンがあるだけでも、役牌ポンしてもいいですか？　 どうすればいい？ 日本語まだ悪い、すみません

[@MahjongSamurai]

こんにちは! 日本語ありがとう! Yes! When you can Pon Yakuhai tile, it is generally good to Pon even just 1-han! Of course, as you become more advanced, there are situations where not pon is the correct choice. However, if you're a beginner, it's generally okay to go ahead and pon the Yakuhai tile for now!