Tuesday (February 3)

---

Game 1

Taro Time

February 3, Game 1, E2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p7047

In E2-0, Taro is in a 2nd place tie early on, 1,400 behind 1st place Akutsu.

Taro starts off the hand 4-shanten for a standard hand (3-shanten for seven pairs) with a secured red 5m and a pair of red dragons. Within the first row, he makes the red dragon and the 3s into a triplet, giving an option for toitoi. By the end of the second row, Taro adds 7p and 9p pairs to his hand, actually putting him one-away from a potential yakuman.

Soon after, though, he is faced with a riichi by Nakabayashi, waiting on a 7s kanchan.

Two turns later, Date gets to tenpai and calls riichi on an 8m kanchan.

When Nakabayashi discards the 9p right after, Taro calls pon and gets to tenpai on a 5m/7p shanpon. On his very next turn, he draws the 5m and wins the hand. Taro wins the hand with Toitoi/Sanankou/Red Dragon/Aka 1 for 3,000/6,000.

---

Jaga Stare

February 3, Game 1, S1-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p10545

In S1-1, Nakabayashi is the dealer in 2nd place, 9,200 behind 1st place Taro.

Nakabayashi starts out the hand at 3-shanten with a connected dora 4p and a secured red 5s. Within the first four turns, Nakabayashi is rid of all terminals and honours and sits at iishanten. Through the rest of the first row and into the second row, Nakabayashi does some reorganization to maximize his tenpai chances. In the middle of the row, Nakabayashi calls pon on the 8m and gets to tenpai on a 25p ryanmen.

Soon after, Taro gets to tenpai on a 3m kanchan.

On Nakabayashi’s next turn, he draws a fourth 8m and calls an added kan. Though the rinshan doesn’t help. the 3m in his hand (and Taro’s wait) becomes the new dora. In the 3rd row, Akutsu throws the 2p trying to call riichi on a three-sided wait and deals into Nakabayashi. Nakabayashi wins the hand with Tanyao/Dora 2/Aka 1 for 12,000+300 plus a riichi stick, moving into 1st.

---

Results

Game 227

---

Game 2

Takamiya Time

February 3, Game 2, E4-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p8549

In E4-0, Takamiya is in 4th place, 9,600 behind 3rd place dealer Yu and 15,000 behind the 1st place tie.

Takamiya starts out the hand at 3-shanten with two 8p dora. In the first row, Takamiya leans her hand towards tanyao, giving herself shapes to call with. By the end of the row, she is 2-shanten with only simple tiles in hand. On turn 7, Takamiya gets to a ryanmen-ryanmen iishanten. A turn later, he gets to tenapai and calls riichi on a 58s ryanmen, guaranteed at least a mangan and is one han away from a baiman. At the end of the row, Takamiya draws the 8s and wins the hand. Takamiya wins the Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Tanyao/Dora 2 for 3,000/6,000. With the win, she is now in a three-way tie for 1st place with Futoshi and Shibukawa.

---

Rinshan

February 3, Game 2, S4-2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p7048

In S4-2, Futoshi is in 3rd place, 1,000 behind 2nd place Takamiya and 5,000 behind 1st place Shibukawa. With three riichi sticks and two honba in the pot, any hand except for a 1/30 ron or a 1/40 ron will move him into 1st place.

Futoshi starts out the hand at 3-shanten with a pair of green dragons. On turn 3, Futoshi draws a third green dragon to secure a yaku. At the end of the first row, Futoshi calls a 678s sequence and gets to tenpai on a 58p ryanmen. A tsumo would be enough for 1st place, but a ron off Yu or Takamiya would put him 400 short.

Across from him, 1st place Yu wants to rush the hand with his south pair. When the 1s comes out, he calls chii to get it going. After calling pon on the 7p and creating a 789m sequence, Yu discards the 8p to take a 3p/south shanpon. He is only allowed to win on the south, but Takamiya holds the other pair.

Even as the winning 8p comes out, Futoshi chooses not to take it, instead trying to go for 1st place.

With the 8p discard, Takamiya calls pon, revealing two more of Futoshi’s winning tiles. Though disappointing, it does open up the possibility of winning by chankan.

Two turns later, Shibukawa calls pon on the white dragon and gets to tenpai on a 3p kanchan.

In the middle of the row, Futoshi draws the fourth green dragon. With the kan, Futoshi now has enough fu to win from anyone and be 1st place. With the kandora flip, his 7s in his call is now the dora, giving even more value. And with the rinshan, Futoshi draws…

…the 5p and wins the hand! Futoshi wins with Rinshan/Green Dragon/Dora 1 for 2,000+200/4,000+200 plus three riichi sticks. From passing a cheap ron, Futoshi has won a mangan to win the game.

---

Results

Game 228

---

Intro | Standings