Renchan Rules: When the Dealer Stays in Their Seat
Sep 23, 2026 · 4 min read
Renchan ("dealer continuation") is the rule that decides when the dealer position STAYS with the same player for the next hand, instead of rotating clockwise as usual.
When Renchan Happens
- The dealer wins (via Ron or Tsumo) that hand.
- The hand ends in a draw (ryuukyoku) AND the dealer was tenpai at that point.
If either condition is met, the next hand is played again with the same round wind and dealer, marked by an increasing Honba counter (a stick/marker that tracks the count).
How Honba Affects Scoring
Each Honba adds a bonus to the next win -- usually 300 points per Honba for a Ron (paid in full by whoever dealt in), or 100 points per Honba from each opponent for a Tsumo.
A dealer who keeps winning can build up a long Honba streak, making the next win bigger with each passing hand -- one reason the dealer seat can be very favorable when played aggressively.
Learn why the dealer seat is generally favorable overall.
Read About Round Wind →