What is Kanchan Machi (Closed Wait)?
Kanchan machi (嵌張待ち) is a tenpai pattern that waits for the middle tile of a sequence. For example, holding 
and waiting for 
, or holding 
and waiting for 
.
This is one of the “bad waits” (gukei), but it’s an unavoidable wait pattern in actual play.
Detailed Explanation of Kanchan Machi
Types of Kanchan Machi
| Hand pattern | Waiting tile | Acceptance count |
|---|---|---|
| | 4 tiles |
 | | 4 tiles |
 | | 4 tiles |
 | | 4 tiles |
 | | 4 tiles |
 | | 4 tiles |
 | | 4 tiles |
Kanchan Machi Characteristics
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Acceptance count | 4 tiles (only 1 type) |
| Efficiency | Half of ryanmen machi |
| Classification | Bad wait |
| Change possibility | Can improve to good wait |
Usage Examples
Real Game Situations
Example 1: Tenpai Declaration
"Kanchan machi, but should I riichi..."
"Tenpai on :4s: kanchan with :5s:"Example 2: Riichi Judgment
"High points, so riichi even on kanchan"
"Cheap hand kanchan, staying dama"Example 3: Wait Improvement Judgment
"Wait for good wait change rather than immediate kanchan riichi"
"Ippatsu cancel, riichi even on kanchan"Problems and Solutions for Kanchan Machi
Problems
| Issue | Detail |
|---|---|
| Inefficient | Only accepts 4 tiles |
| Easy to read | Can be read through suji |
| Waiting tile gets used | Middle tiles are commonly used |
Solutions
-
Improve to good wait
:3m::5m: (:4m: wait) → Draw :6m: → :5m::6m: (:4m::7m: wait) -
Push with high points
- Riichi even on kanchan if mangan or higher
- Riichi, tsumo, dora for haneman, etc.
-
Situational judgment
- Point situation
- Remaining turns
- Opponent movements
Related Terms
- Ryanmen Machi: Most efficient wait
- Penchan Machi: Edge wait, bad form
- Tanki Machi: Pair wait form
- Gukei: General term for bad waits
- Ryokei Henka: Change to good wait
Common Mistakes and Points to Note
Points Beginners Often Mistake
-
Overlooking waiting tile
- Missing wait with
- Missing kanchan in compound forms
- Missing
-
Careless riichi
- Kanchan riichi with low points
- Giving up possibility of good wait change
-
Insufficient furiten check
- Kanchan waiting tile in discards
- Easy to overlook
-
Misunderstanding suji
- 1-4-7, 2-5-8, 3-6-9
- Kanchan is easy to read
Riichi Judgment on Kanchan Machi
When to Riichi
| Situation | Reason |
|---|---|
| High points | Worth gambling on mangan or higher |
| Dora wait | Opponents reluctant to discard |
| Late game | No time for wait improvement |
| Chase riichi | Ippatsu cancel + pressure |
When Dama is Better
| Situation | Reason |
|---|---|
| Cheap hand | Not worth the risk |
| Early-mid game | Possibility of good wait |
| Defense focus | Avoid dealing in risk |
| With yaku | Can win on dama |
Special Kanchan Machi Forms
Aida Yonken (Multiple Kanchan)
:1m::3m::5m::7m: → :2m::4m::6m: three-sided waitMulti-way wait from multiple kanchan
Kanchan Attachment
:3m::5m: + :6m::7m: → :3m::5m::6m::7m: (:4m: wait + ryanmen change)Changing from Kanchan to Good Wait
Change Patterns
| Original form | Draw | After change | New wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| ( wait) | | | wait |
| ( wait) | | | wait |
| ( wait) | | | wait |
Kanchan Machi Statistics
Win Rate Comparison
- Ryanmen machi: About 40%
- Kanchan machi: About 20%
- Penchan machi: About 20%
- Tanki machi: About 15%
Conclusion
Kanchan machi is a bad wait accepting only 4 tiles of one type, but it’s a frequently occurring wait pattern in mahjong. Beginners should avoid careless riichi on kanchan machi and strive to wait for good wait changes when possible. However, with high points or depending on the situation, it’s important to actively gamble even on kanchan machi. Learning to properly handle kanchan machi enables more flexible mahjong play.