What is Wanpai?
Wanpai (Dead Wall) refers to the 14 tiles reserved at the end of the wall that cannot be drawn during normal play. These tiles serve specific purposes: dora indicators, ura dora, and rinshan (replacement) tiles for kan declarations.
The term “wan” (王) means “king” or “dead” - these are “dead tiles” that remain unused in regular draws.
Wanpai Structure
| Section | Tiles | Purpose | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dora indicators | 5 | Show dora tiles | Top row |
| Ura dora indicators | 5 | Revealed on riichi win | Below dora |
| Rinshan tiles | 4 | Drawn after kan | Right end |
| Total | 14 | Fixed | End of wall |
Wall Breakdown
Total tiles (136):
- Starting hands: 13×4 = 52
- Dealer's first draw: 1
- Dead wall: 14
- Live wall: 69
─────────────────
Total: 136
Dead wall layout:
├─ Rinshan (4) ─ Kan replacement draws
├─ Dora indicators (5) ─ Show bonus tiles
└─ Ura dora (5) ─ Riichi bonus tiles
*Always kept at exactly 14 tilesWanpai Functions
| Function | Explanation | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed draw count | Clear end point | Fair play |
| Dora display | Shows bonus tiles | Score boost |
| Kan guarantee | Ensures rinshan | Kan possible |
| Game termination | Tile #122 = haitei | Clear ending |
Dora System
| Type | Tiles | When Revealed |
|---|---|---|
| Dora indicator | 1 | After deal |
| Kan dora | 1 per kan | After kan |
| Ura dora | Same as dora | On riichi win |
Rinshan Order
Rinshan draw order:
1st kan: Rightmost tile
2nd kan: Second from right
3rd kan: Third from right
4th kan: Fourth (last)
*Must draw in orderRules and Guidelines
| Rule | Detail | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Count | Always 14 | Game fairness |
| Position | Wall’s right end | Standard rule |
| Access | Special cases only | Normal draws forbidden |
| Visibility | Dora only | Rest hidden |
Kan and Wanpai
All kan types use wanpai:
1. Daiminkan (open kan) → Draw rinshan
2. Ankan (concealed kan) → Draw rinshan
3. Shouminkan (added kan) → Draw rinshan
Each kan:
- Takes 1 rinshan tile
- Reveals 1 new kan dora
- Adds 1 ura dora potentialStrategic Considerations
| Situation | Strategy | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Holding dora | Play aggressively | High value |
| Dora is dangerous | Be careful | Deal-in risk |
| Many kan dora | Stay alert | Big hands possible |
| Aiming for ura | Riichi | Bonus potential |
Common Mistakes
-
Wrong count
- Must be exactly 14
- Fewer = rule violation
-
Drawing from wanpai
- Normal draws forbidden
- Only kan allows access
-
Dora indicator position
- Fixed location
- Don’t reveal incorrectly
-
Rinshan order
- Must be sequential
- Can’t skip tiles
Related Terms
- Rinshan-hai: Replacement tile
- Dora: Bonus tile
- Kandora: Kan bonus dora
- Haitei: Last drawable tile
- Kan: Declaring a quad
Summary
The dead wall (wanpai) contains 14 reserved tiles including dora indicators and rinshan tiles. It cannot be accessed during normal draws - only kan declarations allow you to take rinshan tiles from it. Understanding wanpai is essential for grasping dora mechanics and kan rules in mahjong.