Let non-empty finite set C be a color set and N⊂N be a suit set. A tilexk∈C×N is defined by a pair of color and integer.
Example
For ordinary mahjong, C={b,c,d} is consists three color. b, c, d stand for bamboo, character, dot, respectively. More commonly, C also has windw and dragon δ.
b3-b6 are mutually suzi, unlike b3-b4 or b3-c3.
Usually, xk for k>9 doesn’t exist.
We say wind tile and dragon tile as honor. The honor tile has no suit, so subscript may refer specific identifier, like north wind wN and green δG.
Non-terminal and non-honor tile is called by simple.
taz
Definition
A multiset of n tiles X={x1,⋯,xn} is called by n-taz. The suit range of taz X, R(X) is defined by difference of maximal suit and minimal suit of all simple tile in X.
Example
A 14-taz is called by hand.
A 2-taz with two same tiles is called by toiz.
A 3-taz is called by menz or meld.
A menz with all same tiles is called by kutz.
A menz with serial tiles is called by shunz, {Xk−1,Xk,Xk+1}.
Here is called “Nine Gates” hand:
{d1,d1,d1,d2,d3,d4,d5,d6,d7,d8,d9,d9,d9}
wait and better taz
The wait of n-taz X, W(X) is a number of (n+1)-taz including X and the difference of suit range is less than 3. That is,
W(X)=card{Y⊃X:∣Y∣=n+1∧R(Y)<R(X)+3}.
For two n-tazs A and B, we say A is better than B and denote A>B if W(A)>W(B). Similiary, the equality A=B holds if W(A)=W(B).
Theorem
The terminal tile is the worst.
{xk}>{x1}={x9},∀k∈[2,8]
proof
Without loss of generality, we only have to observe x1,x2,x3.
There are only three 2-taz including x1:
{x1,x1},{x1,x2},{x1,x3}
There are four 2-taz including x2:
{x1,x2},{x2,x2},{x2,x3},{x2,x4}
There are five 2-taz including x3:
{x1,x3},{x2,x3},{x3,x3},{x3,x4},{x3,x5}