Noten (Not in Tenpai) - When You're Not Ready to Win

What is Noten?

Noten means your hand is not in tenpai - you’re more than one tile away from a winning hand. On a draw (ryuukyoku), noten players must pay penalties to tenpai players.

Understanding noten vs tenpai is fundamental to mahjong, affecting both gameplay decisions and end-of-round payments.

Noten vs Tenpai

State	Description	On Draw
Tenpai	One tile away from winning	Receive payment
Noten	Not one tile away	Pay penalty
Keishiki tenpai	Tenpai but no yaku	Still counts as tenpai

Noten Penalties

Standard 3,000 point pool:
- 1 noten: Pays 3,000 (1,000 each to 3 tenpai)
- 2 noten: Each pays 1,500 (to 2 tenpai)
- 3 noten: Each pays 1,000 (to 1 tenpai)
- 4 noten: No payment (all noten)
- 0 noten: No payment (all tenpai)

What Counts as Noten

State	Classification
2+ shanten	Noten
1-shanten (iishanten)	Noten
Chonbo riichi	Noten + penalty
Incomplete hand	Noten

Keishiki Tenpai (Shape Tenpai)

Even without a valid yaku, these count as tenpai:

Pattern	Valid for Tenpai?
Yakuless ryanmen	Yes
Yakuless tanki	Yes
Furiten	Yes
Yakuman wait	Yes

Strategic Decisions

When to Push for Tenpai

Situation	Reason	Action
Close scores	Penalty affects ranking	Get tenpai
Oorasu (last round)	Final chance	Tenpai priority
You’re dealer	Affects renchan	Maintain tenpai
Others likely noten	Get paid	Safe tenpai

When Noten is Acceptable

Large lead: Safety over penalty
Dangerous tiles required: Don’t deal in
Too far behind: Penalty won’t help

Betaori and Noten

Full defense choice:
- Accept noten penalty
- Avoid deal-in risk
- When: Riichi threat, weak hand

Risk calculation:
- Deal-in cost: Often 8,000+
- Noten penalty: 1,000-3,000
- Usually better to fold

Oorasu Strategy

By Placement

1st place:

- Safe noten is fine
- Don't risk for tenpai
- Protect your lead

2nd place:

- Situational
- Consider point gaps
- Tenpai if it gains rank

3rd place:

- Generally push for tenpai
- Even keishiki is good
- Reverse is possible

4th place:

- Sometimes accept noten
- High hands needed anyway
- Penalty won't help much

Common Mistakes

Yakuless = noten confusion
- No yaku but tenpai shape = still tenpai
- Penalty is avoided
Furiten = noten confusion
- Furiten can’t win, but it’s tenpai
- No penalty paid
1-shanten misconception
- 1 away from TENPAI = still noten
- Must be 1 away from WINNING

Tenpai: Ready to win
Noten-bappu: Noten penalty
Keishiki-tenpai: Shape-only tenpai
Betaori: Full defense

Summary

Noten means not being in tenpai - more than one tile away from winning. On draws, noten players pay penalties while tenpai players receive them. Learn to judge when tenpai is worth pursuing vs when accepting noten is safer. Even shape-only or furiten hands avoid the penalty, making them valuable in end-game situations.