Tonba (Honba) - Counter Sticks and Point Addition

What is Tonba?

Tonba is the point addition from honba (counter sticks) during consecutive deals or draws. When the dealer continues (renchan) or draws occur, counter sticks accumulate, adding 300 points × honba count to winning hands.

Officially called “honba,” the term “tonba” (from “East round” pronunciation) became common slang. Higher honba counts significantly affect scoring.

Honba Conditions

Point Addition

※1 honba = 300 point addition

Common Usage

Example 1: Checking honba

"2 honba so +600 points"
"Tonba is stacking up"

Example 2: Renchan

"Dealer's 3rd renchan, 3 honba"
"Honba is piling up"

Example 3: Scoring

"8000 plus 2 honba = 8600"
"Mangan with honba bonus"

Related Terms

• Renchan: Dealer continues
• Ryuukyoku: Exhaustive draw
• Oya: Dealer
• Kyoutaku: Riichi stick deposits
• Tenpai: Ready to win

Common Mistakes

1. Wrong addition amount

   • 1 honba = 300 pts
   • 100 pts × 3 players

2. Tsumo vs Ron difference

   • Tsumo: split among all
   • Ron: from dealer-in only

3. Reset timing

   • Non-dealer wins = 0 honba
   • Dealer rotates = 0 honba

4. Confusion with kyoutaku

   • Tonba: honba points
   • Kyoutaku: riichi sticks (1000 pts)

Calculation Examples

Tsumo Win

Non-dealer tsumo (2000 pts, 2 honba):

Base: 2000 from dealer, 1000×2 from non-dealers
Honba: 100 pts from each

Total:
Dealer: 2000+100 = 2100 pts
Non-dealer: 1000+100 = 1100 pts × 2
Total received: 4400 pts

Ron Win

Non-dealer ron (8000 pts, 3 honba):

Base: 8000 pts
Honba: 300 × 3 = 900 pts

Total: 8900 pts

Strategic Meaning

High Honba Decisions

Dealer Strategy

Dealer renchan
  ↓
Honba increases
  ↓
Next win = high points
  ↓
Advantageous position

Point Examples

Various Cases

High Honba Impact

At 10 honba:

Cheap hand:
1000 pts → 4000 pts (4×)

Mangan:
8000 pts → 11000 pts (1.4×)

Dealer baiman:
24000 pts → 27000 pts

Honba Reset Conditions

When It Resets

1. Non-dealer wins

   • Dealer rotates
   • Honba resets

2. Dealer rotates

   • Dealer noten at draw
   • Next hand begins

3. Round changes

   • East to South
   • Always resets

When It Continues

• Dealer wins (renchan)
• Dealer tenpai at draw
• All tenpai draw
• All noten draw

Recording Honba

Physical Display

Place counter sticks by dealer
1 honba: 1 stick
2 honba: 2 sticks
5 honba: 5 sticks

Online Mahjong

• “X honba” number display
• Auto-calculated
• Clearly visible

Honba Plus Kyoutaku

When Both Exist

Base points: 3900
Honba: 3 (900 pts)
Kyoutaku: 2 riichi sticks (2000 pts)

Total: 3900 + 900 + 2000 = 6800 pts

Calculation Order

1. Calculate base points
2. Add honba
3. Add kyoutaku
4. Pay total

Summary

Tonba/Honba is the point addition from counter sticks - 300 points per honba count added to winning hands. Tsumo wins get 100 from each player; ron wins get 300×honba from the dealer-in. Beginners should learn “1 honba = +300 points” and not forget to add it when winning. High honba significantly affects point totals, making dealer renchan strategy and non-dealer honba-breaking important tactical considerations.