What is Keishiki Tenpai?
Keishiki Tenpai (formal tenpai) is a state where your hand appears to be in tenpai structurally, but you cannot actually win. This happens when all waiting tiles are visible on the table or you’re in furiten.
“Keishiki” means “formal/structural” and “tenpai” means ready to win. It’s important for avoiding noten (no-tenpai) penalties at exhaustive draws.
Conditions for Keishiki Tenpai
| Condition | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| All tiles used | All waiting tiles visible | All 4 in discards/melds |
| Furiten | Waiting on your own discard | Can’t ron |
| No yaku | No valid yaku to win | Yami-ten situation |
Types of Keishiki Tenpai
1. Complete keishiki tenpai
→ Physically impossible to win
2. Furiten keishiki tenpai
→ Tsumo possible but no ron
3. No-yaku keishiki tenpai
→ Hand complete but can't winExamples
All Tiles Used
Hand: 123m 456p 789s 34s EE
Wait: 2-5s
Situation:
- All four 2s visible
- All four 5s visible
Result: Keishiki tenpai (no physical outs)Furiten Example
Hand: 123m 456p 789s 67m WW
Wait: 5-8m
Situation:
- Previously discarded 5m
- 8m still in wall
Result: Furiten keishiki tenpai (can't ron 5m)Keishiki Tenpai and Noten Penalties
Penalty Rules
| Status | Tenpai Payment | Noten Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Regular tenpai | Receive | None |
| Keishiki tenpai | Receive | None |
| Noten | None | Pay |
Payment Calculation
At exhaustive draw:
- Check tenpai count
- Keishiki counts as tenpai
1 tenpai: Receives 3000 points
2 tenpai: 1500 each
3 tenpai: 1000 eachStrategic Use
Intentionally Creating Keishiki Tenpai
| Situation | Tactic | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Far behind | Aim for keishiki | Avoid penalty |
| Low points | Any tenpai OK | Survive the round |
| Dealer in oorasu | Prioritize tenpai | Renchan possible |
Special Cases
Keishiki Tenpai After Riichi
All waits become visible after riichi
→ Can't tsumo either
→ Complete keishiki tenpai
Still counts as tenpaiNo-Yaku Keishiki Tenpai
Hand structurally complete but no yaku
→ Can't riichi
→ Can't win even on tsumo
Still counts as tenpaiJudgment Checklist
Places to Check
- Your discards (furiten check)
- All players’ discards (tile count)
- Called melds (pon/chi/kan)
- Dora indicators
- Dead wall (kan situations)
Timing of Judgment
| Stage | Judgment | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Too soon | Situation can change |
| Middle | Start watching | Count tiles |
| Late | Consider switching | Prioritize certainty |
Common Mistakes
-
Giving up on keishiki tenpai
- It’s still counted as tenpai
- No noten penalty
-
Trying to riichi
- Furiten can’t riichi
- No yaku can’t riichi
-
Confusing with noten
- Keishiki tenpai ≠ noten
- Still treated as tenpai
-
Not counting remaining tiles
- Check all locations
- Discards, melds, indicators
Related Terms
- Tenpai: One tile from winning
- Noten: Not in tenpai
- Furiten: Can’t ron state
- Noten Bappu: Noten penalty
- Tenpai Ryou: Tenpai payment
Summary
Keishiki tenpai is a state where your hand looks like tenpai but winning is impossible. It’s important for avoiding noten penalties at exhaustive draws. Beginners should learn to count remaining tiles accurately and always check for furiten. Understanding that keishiki tenpai still counts as tenpai helps make appropriate decisions based on the situation.