What is Haipai?
Haipai (Starting Hand) refers to the initial tiles dealt to each player at the start of a round, as well as the dealing process itself. The dealer receives 14 tiles (including first draw), while non-dealers receive 13 tiles.
Your haipai largely determines your strategy for the hand - a good starting hand allows aggressive play, while a poor one may require defensive focus.
Dealing Process
Standard procedure:
1. Determine dealer (dice roll)
2. Build and shuffle wall
3. Break wall based on dice
4. Deal tiles:
- 4 tiles at a time, 3 rounds
- Then dealer 2, others 1 each
5. Dealer: 14 tiles, Others: 13 tilesTile Counts
| Player | Tiles | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer | 14 | 13 + first draw |
| Non-dealer | 13 | Standard deal |
Evaluating Your Haipai
Good Haipai Signs
| Indicator | Example | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Low shanten | 1-2 shanten | Excellent |
| Connected tiles | 345, 567 | Good |
| Multiple yakuhai | Dragons, winds | Good |
| Dora in hand | 2+ dora | Good |
Poor Haipai Signs
| Indicator | Example | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| High shanten | 4+ shanten | Poor |
| Isolated tiles | Scattered honors | Poor |
| Many penchan | 12, 89 | Poor |
| No suit focus | All scattered | Poor |
Strategic Directions
Based on Haipai Type
1. Many yakuhai
→ Honitsu or Toitoi direction
2. Same-suit heavy
→ Consider flush (honitsu/chinitsu)
3. Many terminals
→ Chanta or Junchan route
4. Many pairs
→ Chiitoitsu or ToitoiGeneral Guidelines
| Haipai Quality | Approach | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Aggressive | Quick win |
| Average | Balanced | Read situation |
| Poor | Defensive | Minimize loss |
| Terrible | Fold early | Accept noten |
Dealing Etiquette
| Action | Proper Manner | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Don’t peek | Wait until deal ends | Fairness |
| Don’t organize | Keep tiles as dealt | Anti-cheating |
| Wait quietly | Until dealing completes | Game flow |
| Verify count | Check tile numbers | Prevent errors |
Haipai Psychology
Mental Approach
| Situation | Feeling | Best Response |
|---|---|---|
| Good haipai | Optimistic | Stay calm |
| Bad haipai | Discouraged | Don’t give up |
| Streak of bad | Frustrated | Reset mentally |
| Streak of good | Overconfident | Stay careful |
Key mindset:
1. Luck averages out over time
2. Bad haipai → Still play optimally
3. Good haipai → Don't get carelessCommon Mistakes
-
Looking before deal ends
- Wait for completion
- Considered bad manners
-
Miscounting tiles
- Dealer = 14, others = 13
- Always verify
-
Organizing too early
- Wait until deal finishes
- Prevents issues
-
Misjudging hand value
- Count shanten correctly
- Don’t over/underestimate
Common Expressions
- “Haipai is godlike”: Exceptionally good start
- “Haipai is trash”: Very poor start
- “1-shanten haipai”: One away from tenpai
- “Chiitoitsu haipai”: Many pairs dealt
- “Kokushi haipai”: Many terminals/honors
Related Terms
- Oya: Dealer (14 tiles)
- Ko: Non-dealer (13 tiles)
- Yama: The wall
- Tsumo: Drawing tiles
- Shanten: Tiles away from tenpai
Summary
Haipai is your starting hand - dealer gets 14 tiles, others get 13. Evaluate your shanten, look for connections and potential yaku, then plan accordingly. Good haipai demands aggressive play; poor haipai may require defensive patience. Learn to assess your starting position quickly to make sound strategic decisions from the first discard.