Joban (Early Game) - The Opening Phase of a Mahjong Round

What is Joban?

Joban (early game) refers to the opening phase from the deal through around turn 6. This is a crucial phase for deciding your hand’s direction.

In joban, offense takes priority. Focus on tile efficiency while securing safe tiles for later. Dangerous tiles are relatively likely to pass, allowing aggressive hand development.

Game Phase Division

Phase	Turns	Characteristics
Joban	Deal-6	Hand building focus
Chuuban	7-12	Attack/defense balance
Owari	13+	Defense priority

Joban Goals

Goal	Content	Priority
Hand direction	Decide yaku target	High
Reduce shanten	Get closer to tenpai	High
Secure safe tiles	Keep honors	Medium
Tile efficiency	Efficient building	High

Basic Strategy

Offense Priority

Joban
  ↓
Offense priority
  ↓
Tile efficiency focus
  ↓
Aim for tenpai

Efficient Hand Building

Action	Reason
Cut isolated tiles	Zero acceptance
Keep taatsu	Wide acceptance
Prioritize ryanmen	Good shape wait
Mind yaku	Winnable hand

Tile Handling

Tiles to Cut

Isolated tiles
- Completely isolated numbers
- Tiles with no acceptance
Terminals (1/9)
- For tanyao direction
- Unless going chanta
Unneeded honors
- Non-yakuhai honors
- Honors that won’t pair

Tiles to Keep

Yakuhai
- 1 han confirmed
- Waiting to pon
Dora
- Value increase
- Use if possible
Safe tile candidates
- Live honor tiles
- For late game

Tactical Patterns

With Good Hand

【Closed progression】
- Aim for riichi
- Pinfu/Tanyao
- Target high value

【Open play option】
- If yaku confirmed
- Speed priority

With Bad Hand

【Wait and see】
- Play defensive
- Secure safe tiles
- Process isolated tiles

【Calling expected】
- Kuitan target
- Yakuhai target
- Speed priority

Calling Decisions

When to Call

Situation	Decision	Reason
Yakuhai	Active	1 han confirmed
Kuitan	Depends	Speed priority
Flush	Active	High value target
Toitoi	Careful	Balance with value

When to Stay Closed

Many good taatsu
Pinfu/iipeikou target
Riichi target
Many dora

Safe Tile Management

Securing for Later

【Tiles to keep】
1. Live honor tiles
2. 1/9 (situational)
3. Unusable numbers

【Don't cut】
- Be careful with honors even in joban
- Prepare for late game

Honor Handling

Honor Type	Handling	Reason
Yakuhai	Keep	1 han + safe tile
Otakaze	Lean keep	Safe tile candidate
Bakaze	Keep	Slightly dangerous
Live	Keep	For late game

Reading in Joban

Limited Information

Joban
  ↓
Little information
  ↓
Standard play
  ↓
Follow basics

Watching Discards

Discards	Inference
1/9 heavy	Tanyao direction
One suit absent	Possible flush
Many honors	Number flush?

Common Mistakes

Over-defending
- Joban is offense time
- Don’t over-defend
No direction
- Have a plan
- Purposeful building
Cutting safe tiles
- Keep honors
- Prepare for late game
Ignoring efficiency
- Keeping isolated tiles
- Breaking taatsu

Joban Psychology

Aggressive Atmosphere

Everyone attacking
High risk tolerance
Active calling

Hand Quality Effect

Good deal
  ↓
Aggressive play
  ↓
Offensive development

Bad deal
  ↓
Defensive play
  ↓
Wait and see

Joban to Chuuban Transition

Transition Timing

Timing	Situation
Turn 6-7	General guideline
Riichi called	Defense begins
Many calls	Attack/defense balance

Strategy Shift

Joban: Offense priority
  ↓
Chuuban: Balance
  ↓
Owari: Defense priority

Joban Riichi

Early Riichi Merits

Ippatsu chance
- Defense is thin
- Likely to hit
Seize initiative
- Force opponents defensive
- Suppress attacks
First strike
- Quick win
- Grab momentum

Early Riichi Risks

Dama might be better
Counter-riichi possible
Reveals information

Haipai: Starting point
Hai-koritsu: Key joban concept
Chuuban: Next phase
Shanten: Distance to tenpai
Anzen-hai: Secured in joban

Summary

Joban is the early phase from deal to around turn 6 - crucial for setting hand direction. Offense takes priority with tile efficiency focus while securing safe tiles. Beginners should remember “joban = offense priority” - process isolated tiles and build efficiently. Keep live honors as safe tiles. Joban hand building greatly affects subsequent development, so balance efficiency and safe tile preparation.