Mastering Yaku: The Ultimate Guide to Riichi Mahjong
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Understanding Yaku in Mahjong
- Yaku Han
3.1 Each
3.2 Menzen Chin
3.3 Tanya or All Symbols
3.4 Sumo or Fully Concealed Hand
3.5 Seat Wind and Prevalent Wind
3.6 Dragons
3.7 Pinfu
3.8 Tanyao or All Terminals and Honors
3.9 Yipeekaiyay or Pure Double Sequence
3.10 Chankan or Robbing a Kong
3.11 Under the Sea and Under the River
3.12 Ippatsu or One-Shot
- Yaku Tou Han
4.1 Double Reach
4.2 Sanshoku or Three Quads
4.3 Toitoi or All Triplets
4.4 Sanankou or Three Concealed Triplets
4.5 Shousangen or Little Three Dragons
4.6 Honroutou or All Terminals and Honors
4.7 Chiitoitsu or Seven Pairs
4.8 Chanta or Half Outside Hand
4.9 Ittsuu or Pure Straight
4.10 Sanshoku Doujun or Mixed Triple Chow
4.11 Honitsu or Half Flush
4.12 Chinitsu or Full Flush
4.13 Nagashi Mangan or Manga at Draw
Article:
Understanding Yaku in Mahjong
Mahjong is a beloved game that requires skill and strategy, and one of the key elements of the game is the concept of Yaku. Yaku refers to specific hand patterns or combinations that allow players to win the game. In this article, we will explore the various types of Yaku in Mahjong and how they can enhance your gameplay.
Yaku Han
Each
One of the most important Yaku to understand is Each. This Yaku is also known as Menzen Chin, which means a closed hand. To obtain Each, a player must not have taken anyone else's tiles throughout the game. This is a crucial Yaku because it allows a player to win regardless of the overall quality of their hand. Additionally, Each opens up the possibilities of other Yaku such as Ikotsu and Uradura.
Tanya or All Symbols
Tanya, also known as All Symbols, is a relatively simple Yaku to obtain. To achieve Tanya, a player must not have any of the symbol tiles in their hand. This Yaku does not require any additional conditions and can be obtained by simply having the absence of specific tiles.
Sumo or Fully Concealed Hand
Sumo, also known as Fully Concealed Hand, is a Yaku that requires a player's hand to be entirely closed. This means that the player has not made any calls to obtain tiles from other players. Winning via Tsumo, which is when a player draws the winning tile, is the key to achieving Sumo. However, calling Reach and winning by taking another player's discarded tile does not qualify for Sumo.
Seat Wind and Prevalent Wind
Seat Wind and Prevalent Wind are Yaku that involve specific wind tiles. Seat Wind requires a player to have three of their own wind tiles, while Prevalent Wind requires three tiles of the current round's prevailing wind. For example, if East is the prevailing wind and a player is sitting in the East position, having three East tiles would fulfill both Seat Wind and Prevalent Wind, resulting in two Yaku.
Dragons
Dragons are the red, white, and green tiles in Mahjong. If a player has three of any of these dragon tiles, they automatically have a Yaku. This Yaku applies to both open and closed hands, making it relatively easy to obtain.
Pinfu
Pinfu is a slightly more complex Yaku to explain. Some people refer to Pinfu as "all sequences," but that is not the complete definition. To achieve Pinfu, a player's hand must consist entirely of sequences. However, the tiles that the player is waiting for must have a specific waiting pattern called "Ryanmen wait." This means that the winning tiles are adjacent to each other in the sequence. For example, a winning hand of 2-3-4, 5-6-7, and 5-6 would be considered Pinfu because the waiting pattern is valid. Understanding this waiting pattern is crucial to successfully obtaining Pinfu.
Yipeekaiyay or Pure Double Sequence
Yipeekaiyay, also known as Pure Double Sequence, is a Yaku that requires the player to have two identical sequences of the same suit. For example, having the sequences 5-5-6-6-7-7 at first glance may appear as seven pairs, but it can be divided into two identical sequences: 5-6-7 and 5-6-7. Having these two sequences fulfills the requirements for Yipeekaiyay, resulting in a Yaku.
Chankan or Robbing a Kong
Chankan, also known as Robbing a Kong, is a very rare Yaku that can only be obtained under specific circumstances. Chankan occurs when a player declares a concealed Kong (adding a fourth tile to a triplet) and then subsequently claims a fourth tile discarded by another player. It is essential to note that Chankan can be achieved in addition to other Yaku, not just after a concealed Kong. This Yaku broadens the opportunities for winning in Mahjong.
Under the Sea and Under the River
Under the Sea and Under the River are Yaku that occur when the winning tile is either the last tile drawn by the player or the last tile discarded by another player, respectively. To qualify for these Yaku, the player must have worked their way through the game to be in the position to win with the last tile. Both Under the Sea and Under the River add excitement and strategy to the game.
Ippatsu or One-Shot
Ippatsu is a Yaku that can only be obtained if a player wins within the same round that they have declared Reach. It adds an extra level of difficulty and timing to the game, as any call made by another player after the Reach declaration nullifies the possibility of achieving Ippatsu.
Yaku Tou Han
Double Reach
Double Reach is a variation of the regular Reach Yaku. To obtain Double Reach, a player must declare Reach from the very beginning of the game. By doing so, the player is doubling the number of points awarded for reaching, adding an extra layer of risk and reward to their gameplay.
Sanshoku or Three Quads
Sanshoku is a Yaku that involves having three identical sequences in three different suits. For example, having a sequence of 1-1-1 (character suit), 2-2-2 (bamboo suit), and 3-3-3 (circle suit) would fulfill the requirements for Sanshoku. It is important to note that the sequences can be either open or closed.
Toitoi or All Triplets
Toitoi, also known as All Triplets, is a Yaku that requires a player's hand to consist entirely of triplets or quads (four identical tiles). This Yaku rewards players who focus on collecting sets of tiles rather than sequences. Toitoi is relatively easy to obtain and adds an element of simplicity to the game.
Sanankou or Three Concealed Triplets
Sanankou is a Yaku that occurs when a player has three triplets entirely obtained by themselves, meaning they have not collected any tiles from other players. It does not matter if the overall hand is open; as long as the three triplets are concealed (not made by calling), Sanankou is achieved. This Yaku emphasizes self-reliance and strategic tile collecting.
Shousangen or Little Three Dragons
Shousangen, also known as Little Three Dragons, is a Yaku that requires a player to have two triplets of any of the three dragon tiles (red, white, and green). Additionally, the hand must contain a pair of the third dragon tile. This Yaku can be obtained with both open and closed hands, making it relatively accessible to players.
Honroutou or All Terminals and Honors
Honroutou is a Yaku where a player's hand consists entirely of either terminal tiles (ones and nines) or honor tiles (winds and dragons). It is the opposite of All Symbols, which required the absence of these specific tiles. Honroutou rewards players who focus on collecting specific types of tiles, adding strategy and variety to each round.
Chiitoitsu or Seven Pairs
Chiitoitsu, also known as Seven Pairs, is a popular Yaku due to its simplicity. To achieve Chiitoitsu, a player's hand must consist of seven pairs (14 tiles in total). This Yaku does not require any further combination of sequences or triplets, making it a straightforward goal for players. It rewards players who focus on collecting pairs of tiles rather than creating sequences or triplets.
Chanta or Half Outside Hand
Chanta, also known as Half Outside Hand, is a Yaku that requires every sequence or triplet in the player's hand to contain either a terminal tile or an honor tile. This distinguishes it from Jun Chan, which requires every set to contain a terminal. Chanta allows for more flexibility in hand creation and rewards players who strategically incorporate terminal and honor tiles into their sets.
Ittsuu or Pure Straight
Ittsuu, also known as Pure Straight, is a Yaku that occurs when a player has a completely uninterrupted sequence of tiles from one to nine within a single suit. However, if the player makes any calls (e.g., Pon, Chi) during the game, the Yaku is downgraded to one Han. Ittsuu rewards players who focus on collecting sequences without any disruptions.
Sanshoku Doujun or Mixed Triple Chow
Sanshoku Doujun, also known as Mixed Triple Chow, requires a player to have three identical sequences of consecutive numbers across three different suits. For example, having the sequences 1-2-3 (character), 4-5-6 (bamboo), and 7-8-9 (circle) would fulfill the requirements for Sanshoku Doujun. This Yaku encourages players to collect and strategize sequences across multiple suits.
Honitsu or Half Flush
Honitsu, also known as Half Flush, is a Yaku that occurs when a player's hand consists entirely of tiles from one specific suit, along with any number of honor tiles. Honitsu adds an extra level of complexity to the game, as players must focus their efforts on collecting tiles from one suit while also considering the presence of honor tiles.
Chinitsu or Full Flush
Chinitsu, also known as Full Flush, is a Yaku that requires a player's hand to consist entirely of tiles from one specific suit, with no honor tiles present. Achieving Chinitsu demonstrates a player's ability to collect a full hand of tiles from one suit, showcasing their strategic skills and control over the game.
Nagashi Mangan or Manga at Draw
Nagashi Mangan is an extremely rare Yaku that can only be achieved under specific circumstances. To obtain Nagashi Mangan, every tile discarded by the player throughout the game must be a terminal or an honor tile. Additionally, none of the player's tiles can be claimed by other players. Nagashi Mangan is a rewarding Yaku that showcases a player's ability to navigate the game while keeping a strategic hold on their tiles.
Conclusion:
Yaku plays a vital role in Mahjong, adding depth and complexity to the game. Understanding the different types of Yaku and how to achieve them can significantly improve your gameplay. From the basic Each and Tanya to the more intricate Chankan and Nagashi Mangan, each Yaku offers its own challenges and rewards. So, grab a Mahjong set, familiarize yourself with the Yaku, and dive into the exciting world of Mahjong strategy.
💡 Highlights:
- Yaku are specific hand patterns or combinations in Mahjong that allow players to win.
- Each is the most important Yaku as it allows a player to win regardless of their hand's quality.
- Different Yaku have various conditions, such as having specific wind tiles or sequences.
- Achieving Yaku requires strategic tile collecting and knowledge of specific waiting patterns.
- Yaku Tou Han offers more complex combinations and scoring opportunities.
- Nagashi Mangan is an extremely rare Yaku achieved by discarding only terminal or honor tiles.
FAQ:
Q: How many Yaku are there in Mahjong?
A: There are numerous Yaku in Mahjong, each with its own requirements and scoring value.
Q: Are there any rare Yaku in Mahjong?
A: Yes, some Yaku, such as Chankan and Nagashi Mangan, are considered rare due to their specific conditions and opportunities for scoring.
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