South Round
By Kenji Tanaka · Updated
Definition
The South round (nanba) is the back half of a hanchan, with South triplets now scoring as the round wind. It contains the endgame: placement decides most rule sets, so the score gaps start dictating play, trailing players push, leaders defend, and the final hand (all-last) is the sharpest positioning moment in the game.
South Round
South Round (南場, なんば) is the second and final round of a standard hanchan (full game) in riichi mahjong, where the prevailing round wind is South. It follows the East Round and concludes when all four players have served as dealer at least once with South as the round wind.
Understanding South Round
Structure and Position
A complete hanchan consists of:
- East Round (Tonba): First round, round wind is East
- South Round (Nanba): Second round, round wind is South
The South Round begins immediately after the East Round concludes. Like the East Round, each player must serve as dealer at least once, resulting in a minimum of four hands during South Round (though dealer wins can extend this).
Round Wind Significance
During South Round, the round wind changes to South. This shift affects scoring:
Yakuhai Changes: Triplets of South wind now earn yakuhai (1 han) for all players because South matches the round wind. The player seated South earns 2 han (round wind + seat wind). Conversely, East wind triplets no longer qualify for round wind yakuhai (though they still count for players seated East as seat wind).
Strategic Shift: Players adjust their strategies based on the South round wind. Hands containing South winds become more valuable, while East wind-based strategies from the previous round lose some appeal.
Game Conclusion
End Condition: The South Round continues until all four players have served as dealer at least once. Once this occurs and the current dealer fails to win or be in tenpai during a draw, the game ends.
Final Scoring: At the end of South Round, final scores are tallied. Players receive uma (placement bonuses) based on their final ranking, and riichi bet sticks on the table are awarded to the first-place finisher.
Score Differential Importance: Because South Round is the final round, point differentials become critical. A player in second place might play aggressively to overtake first, while the leader plays defensively to maintain their position. Unlike East Round where players have another round to recover, South Round mistakes are permanent.
Example: South Round in a real hand
The game enters South Round after completing East Round. The dealer for South 1 is the player who dealt the very first hand, now back in the East seat. The player currently seated South wins with a triplet of South tiles, scoring 2 han from yakuhai (seat + round wind). They retain dealership (renchan) and win again. After several hands, all four players have been dealer. The current dealer loses without being in tenpai, triggering the end of the game. Final scores determine placement and uma bonuses.
Related Terms
East Round
東場
The East round (tonba) opens every game, with East as the prevailing wind: East triplets score yakuhai for everyone, and the deal passes once through all four seats. A tonpuu game ends when it does; a hanchan continues into the South round. It is where positions get established and where hot dealers do their early damage.
Hanchan
半荘
A hanchan is the standard game length: an East round plus a South round, the deal passing through all four seats in each, for a minimum of eight hands. It is the format serious play assumes; tonpuusen, the East-only game, is the quick alternative. Early hands reward building value, and the late South round turns into a placement battle where the score gaps dictate who pushes and who protects.