What is Penchan? Meaning, Wait Types, and How to Handle Explained for Beginners

What is Penchan (Edge Wait)?

Penchan (辺張) is a wait shape in mahjong where you have 2 edge-adjacent tiles like 12 or 89, waiting for the outside tile. With 12 you wait for 3, with 89 you wait for 7.

The character “辺” means “edge” and “張” means “wait,” referring to waiting at the edge of numbered tiles, hence the name penchan.

Detailed Explanation of Penchan

Types of Penchan Taatsu

Characteristics of Penchan

1. Most Limited Taatsu

   • Only 2 patterns: 12 and 89
   • Just 2 patterns per suit

2. Few Acceptance Tiles

   • Only 4 tiles of 1 type
   • Same efficiency as kanchan

3. Low Improvement Potential

   • Limited possibilities for good shape change
   • Most desirable taatsu to eliminate

Usage Examples

Real Game Situations

Example 1: Wait Explanation

"Tenpai with 89 penchan wait...rough"
"Penchan wait but 3 dora so riichi"

Example 2: Hand Building Decision

"Should eliminate penchan taatsu early"
"12 penchan is worse than kanchan"

Example 3: Starting Hand Evaluation

"3 penchan shapes...this is a tough start"
"Need to fix the penchan or hand won't progress"

Problems with Penchan

Why Penchan is Bad

How to Handle Penchan

1. Cut Early

Starting hand: 12m 45p 67p South-South Red-Red White North 89s

→ Process 12m and 89s early

2. Transform to Other Shapes

3. At Minimum Complete the Sequence

12 → Draw 3 → 123 (sequence completed)
89 → Draw 7 → 789 (sequence completed)

Related Terms

• Ryanmen: Open-ended wait
• Kanchan: Closed wait
• Taatsu: Incomplete set
• Gukei: General term for bad waits
• Pen 3 / Pen 7: Penchan wait tiles

Common Mistakes and Points to Note

Points Beginners Often Mistake

1. 23 or 78 Are Not Penchan

   • These are ryanmen taatsu
   • Penchan is only 12 and 89

2. Clinging to Penchan

   • 3 or 7 often won’t come
   • Early cutoff is important

3. Failed Penchan Discard

   • When you have other bad taatsu
   • Consider overall balance

4. Confusion with Isolated 1 or 9

   • Single 1 or 9 is isolated tile
   • 12 or 89 is penchan taatsu

Penchan Tactics

Priority Order for Penchan

Order of Elimination

1. Isolated honors
2. Isolated 1 or 9
3. Penchan taatsu
4. Kanchan taatsu
5. Ryanmen taatsu

Should You Riichi with Penchan Wait?

Worth Riichi

• High score (mangan+)
• Ippatsu and ura dora expectation
• Orasu comeback etc.

Better to Dama

• Low-value hand
• Defensive situation
• Good shape change possible

Special Forms with Penchan

Nobetan

1234 → 1 or 4 wait (tanki × 2)

Developed from penchan

Penchan in Junchan Taiyao

• 12 or 89 are required shapes
• Penchan has value here
• Leads to high score

Penchan Statistics

Frequency

• Starting hand: ~15% chance of penchan taatsu
• Most disliked taatsu
• Even pros eliminate early

Conclusion

Penchan is an edge shape with 12 or 89, the least efficient taatsu. With few acceptance tiles and limited improvement potential, beginners should practice eliminating it early. However, with high-value hands or when aiming for special yaku, penchan can have value. Learning to handle penchan enables more efficient hand building.