Baiman

Baiman

Baiman (倍満) is a hand scoring level in mahjong worth 6-7 han or 8,000 basic points for non-dealers and 12,000 basic points for dealers. The term literally means “double full” and represents exactly double the payment of a mangan hand.

Detailed Explanation

In the standard mahjong scoring system, baiman occupies a specific tier in the hierarchy of hand values. It sits between haneman (half-limit) and sanbaiman (three times full), serving as an important threshold for competitive play.

Scoring Structure

A baiman hand requires either:

• Exactly 6 or 7 han (with any fu value), or
• 8,000 base points or higher (up to mangan level)

The actual payment received depends on the player’s position:

Non-dealer (ko): 8,000 points

• Each other player pays 8,000 points
• Total: 24,000 points from all three opponents

Dealer (oya): 12,000 points

• Each other player pays 12,000 points
• Total: 36,000 points from all three opponents

This doubling relationship to mangan (4,000 base points for non-dealer, 8,000 for dealer) makes baiman a significant scoring milestone that can rapidly shift game momentum.

Practical Context

Baiman hands are relatively uncommon in casual play but become increasingly frequent in competitive mahjong. Achieving a baiman requires either multiple expensive yaku or a hand with substantial fu combined with moderate han. Common patterns include hands with 6 han from cheaper yaku combinations, or 7 han hands from single expensive yaku like yakuhai with additional melds.

The baiman threshold is psychologically important because it represents genuine high-scoring territory. While not as rare as yakuman or sanbaiman, baiman hands are prestigious enough to significantly impact match scores and require opponents to respect the player’s winning potential.

Usage Example

In a riichi variant game, a player declares riichi with a hand containing:

• Riichi (1 han)
• Tanyao (1 han)
• Pinfu (1 han)
• Sanshoku doujun (2 han)
• Ippatsu (1 han)

This totals 6 han. Upon winning, the hand qualifies as baiman regardless of the fu value. If the player is the dealer, they receive 12,000 points from each opponent.

Alternatively, a non-dealer might win with:

• Honroutou (2 han)
• Shousangen (3 han)
• Sanshoku (2 han)

This 7-han hand is also baiman, paying 8,000 points per opponent.

Related Terms

Mangan - The scoring tier below baiman, worth 2,000-3,000 base points. Baiman represents exactly double the mangan payment.

Haneman - The tier above baiman, worth 1.5 times mangan. Haneman falls between baiman and sanbaiman in the scoring hierarchy.

Sanbaiman - Three times the mangan value, representing the next major scoring threshold above baiman. Sanbaiman requires 11-12 han or special scoring conditions.

Yakuman - The highest standard hand category, worth 8,000 base points (non-dealer) or 16,000 (dealer). Yakuman hands are fundamentally different from baiman, based on specific hand patterns rather than han count.

Han - The unit of hand value in mahjong scoring. Baiman requires 6-7 han, making it a relatively high-han threshold.

Dealer - The player position (oya) that affects baiman payment amounts. Dealers receive 50% more from baiman hands compared to non-dealers.

Riichi - A betting declaration common in Japanese mahjong that often contributes to baiman-level hands, particularly when combined with other yaku that accumulate han quickly.