Toncha (East 1) - The First Hand of the Game

What is Toncha?

Toncha (East 1) is the first hand of a mahjong game. Also written as “East 1” or “E1,” it’s the opening hand of the East round where the chicha (first dealer) becomes dealer.

In a hanchan game with East round (4 hands) and South round (4 hands) for minimum 8 hands, East 1 is particularly important as it sets the tone for the entire game.

Notation

Notation	Reading	Meaning
East 1	Ton-icha	Formal
E1	East-one	Abbreviated
1st hand	First hand	General

Dealer Determination

East 1 dealer:

Determined by dice roll
Highest roll becomes chicha
Chicha is East 1 dealer

Common Usage

Example 1: Confirming round

"East 1 start"
"Beginning from toncha"

Example 2: Strategic talk

"Parent mangan tsumo in E1"
"Good start from toncha"

Example 3: Review

"Had good haipai in East 1"
"Wild game from toncha"

Chicha: First dealer
Tonba: East round
Hanchan: East + South rounds
Haipai: Initial 13 tiles
Oya: Dealer

Common Mistakes

Pronunciation confusion
- Toncha: East 1
- Tonba: East round (whole)
Chicha understanding
- East 1 dealer = chicha
- Determined by dice
Hand progression
- E1 → E2 → E3 → E4
- Then South round
Renchan handling
- Renchan stays E1
- Honba increases

Importance of East 1

Game Impact

Reason	Content	Effect
Starting point	Game begins	Sets momentum
Haipai impact	Initial 13 tiles	Direction set
Dealer advantage	Chicha is dealer	High score chance
Psychological	Good/bad omen	Mental effect

Dealer Advantage

Dealer in East 1
  ↓
1.5× point values
  ↓
Renchan adds honba
  ↓
Advantageous start

East 1 Strategy

As Dealer (Chicha)

Attack aggressively
- 1.5× points as dealer
- Aim for renchan
Riichi decisions
- Aggressive riichi
- Maximize dealership
High value aims
- Target mangan+
- Use dora

As Non-Dealer

Stop the dealer
- Prevent renchan
- Win early
Defensive awareness
- Avoid dealing in to dealer
- Safety priority
Observe
- Check your haipai
- Set direction

Haipai Evaluation

In East 1

Quality	Content	Strategy
Good	Good shapes	Attack
Average	Standard	Balance
Bad	Scattered	Defend

Dealer Haipai Strategy

【Good haipai】
Aggressive riichi
Aim mangan+
Target renchan

【Bad haipai】
Defense focus
Accept dealer rotation
Hope for next hand

Point Situation

Starting Points

All players: 25,000 (standard)
Or 30,000 (some rules)
No point gap yet

After East 1

Result	Point Change	Next Hand Impact
Dealer win	+high points	Renchan advantage
Non-dealer	+normal	Dealer rotates
Draw	±small	Honba increases

Psychology

Good Start Value

Mental advantage
- Build momentum
- Gain confidence
Point advantage
- Secure lead
- Create buffer
Strategic advantage
- Can play aggressive
- Take risks

Dealing In at East 1

Risks:

Fall behind early
Chasing position
Mental disadvantage

East 1 vs East Round

Term Distinction

Term	Scope	Content
East 1	1 hand	First hand only
East round	4 hands	E1 through E4
East seat	1 role	Dealer (rotates)

Summary

Toncha (East 1) is the first hand of the game where the chicha becomes dealer. As the opening hand of a hanchan, haipai quality and results here significantly affect the entire game flow. Beginners should learn “East 1 = first hand” and understand the dealer’s advantage. Attack aggressively as dealer aiming for renchan; avoid dealing in to dealer as non-dealer while seeking early wins. A good start in East 1 is the path to victory.