Category-a-Day 5, Section 1: Trivial Patterns

This category collects patterns that are very easy to attain.

1.0 Trivial Patterns

1.1    All Sequences        :   5

1.2    Concealed Hand       :   5

1.3    No Terminals         :   5

1.1 All Sequences

Also called Four Sequences, All Sequences, Four Chows, All Chows, or Pinfu (ピンフ / 平和) or Peace in riichi. In Chinese Classical, chows counted for no points. The origin of this pattern was that you got no points in your hand, only points for going out, but a valued honor pair was worth two points. That's why MCR and riichi respectively require you to have no honor tiles or no value honor tiles. Zung Jung simplifies things a bit, so any four sequences and any pair will do.

This pattern does combine with sets of chows nicely. If you have a nine-tile straight or three similar sequences with any fourth sequence; or two identical sequences twice, don't forget to count this one.

1.2 Concealed Hand

This is not a pattern, but a situational score. You must have claimed no tiles before going out. You can draw the winning tile yourself, or you can claim your last tile for mahjong. In riichi, having this and announcing you're ready to win is enough to meet the minimum score requirement. In Zung Jung, it is awarded out of tradition, but it is valued so low that it's not worthwhile to go for without anything else. By placing such a low score on this situation, Zung Jung encourages claiming tiles. MCR and riichi also award points for getting all 14 tiles yourself. Zung Jung does not give a bonus for getting the last tile from the wall.

1.3 No Terminals

Also called All Simples, No Terminals or Honors, Inside Hand, or Tanyao (断么九 / タンヤオ). You can think of this as the opposite to Outside Hand (from Category 8: Terminals). To score this pattern your hand must not contain any 1's, 9's, or honor tiles. If you claim tiles, it may become obvious what you are going for, but people may not try to stop your attempt at scoring five points.

Scoring all three of these together is not all that difficult. In riichi it's so common that it's called "Men-tan-pin" for the first three syllables of those patterns. All Sequences and No Terminals are particularly easy patterns to achieve.

In Zung Jung, you should first look for patterns in the middle range of 25 to 40 points. Patterns like nine-tile straight, three similar sequences, or one suit and honors should be your first thoughts. If it becomes clear that someone else is going for a big hand such as one suit only, or big three dragons, these patterns are your weapons. In tournaments, minimum scores are sometimes required, and these would be the easiest scores to get.