Oya-nagare (Dealer Rotation) - When Dealer's Turn Ends

What is Oya-nagare?

Oya-nagare (dealer rotation) is when the dealer position moves to the next player after the dealer is noten at exhaustive draw. Also called “dealer flows,” it means the dealer’s advantage ends and someone else becomes dealer next hand.

Contrasting with renchan (dealer continues), oya-nagare represents dealer failure and loss of dealership, so dealers should strive to maintain tenpai.

Conditions for Oya-nagare

Renchan vs Oya-nagare

Oya-nagare Flow

1. Exhaustive draw (wall depleted)
   ↓
2. Tenpai declarations
   ↓
3. Dealer is noten
   ↓
4. Tenpai payments exchanged
   ↓
5. Dealer rotates
   ↓
6. Next hand (0 honba)

Dealer Rotation Direction

East 1: East is dealer
  ↓
Oya-nagare
  ↓
East 2: South is dealer
  ↓
Oya-nagare
  ↓
East 3: West is dealer
  ↓
Oya-nagare
  ↓
East 4: North is dealer

Strategic Implications

Dealer’s Perspective

Non-dealer’s Perspective

• Remove dealer’s advantage
• Stop renchan
• Become dealer yourself
• Change the flow

Preventing Oya-nagare

Dealer Tactics

As dealer
  ↓
Achieve tenpai at all costs
  ↓
Even just formal tenpai
  ↓
Protect dealership

Cost-Benefit

Noten Penalties

【All tenpai or all noten】
→ No point movement

【Dealer noten, 3 others tenpai】
→ Dealer pays 3,000 (1,000 each)

【Dealer tenpai, 1 other tenpai】
→ 2 noten players pay 1,500 each

Dealer Losses

1. Immediate loss

   • 3,000 pts noten penalty

2. Future loss

   • Lose dealership
   • Lose renchan chances

3. Psychological loss

   • Lose momentum
   • Flow worsens

Honba Reset

【Renchan case】
Honba increases
2 honba → 3 honba

【Oya-nagare case】
Honba resets
2 honba → 0 honba

Common Mistakes

1. Noten penalty misunderstanding

   • Dealer noten → pay 3,000
   • Non-dealer noten → pay 1,000

2. Honba reset confusion

   • Oya-nagare → 0 honba
   • Renchan → honba increases

3. Rotation direction

   • Counter-clockwise
   • Next player (shimocha) is dealer

4. Riichi stick handling

   • Stays even with oya-nagare
   • Riichi sticks carry over

Related Terms

• Oya: The dealer
• Renchan: Opposite concept
• Ryuukyoku: Exhaustive draw
• Tenpai: Prevents oya-nagare
• Noten: Causes oya-nagare

Summary

Oya-nagare is when the dealer rotates after being noten at exhaustive draw. If dealer is tenpai, renchan occurs; if noten, dealer “flows” and loses their position. Beginners should remember “dealer noten at draw = oya-nagare” and always try to maintain tenpai as dealer. Oya-nagare means paying 3,000 pts and losing dealer advantages - a big loss. Conversely, non-dealers can strategically end the dealer’s advantage and change the flow.