Yakuhai: Difference between revisions

|value      = 1 han per counted meld

'''Yakuhai''' {{kana|役牌}} is a group of [[List of yaku|yaku]] that focus on [[jihai]], or honor tiles.  Along with [[tanyao]], these yaku are one of the easiest and most frequently occurring yaku in the game.

 

 

 

{| class="wikitable" align=right style="margin:0.5em"

Players are assigned a particular '''wind seat''', or'''[[jikaze]]''' {{kana|自風}}, relative to the dealer position, who is always seated East. As a note, players need to remember the wind order of: '''East, South, West, and North''' {{kana|東、南、西、北}}, which is always the turn order barring calls for [[pon]] or [[kan]].

For the seat wind yaku, players must collect their own set of wind tiles.  For this, it is necessary for players to be aware of the current wind seating.  This can easily be noted by paying attention to the dealer position.  If a wind is neither seat nor round wind, it is considered as an '''otakaze''' {{kana|客風}} (''off wind'' or ''guest wind''). A set of such a wind is not counted towards yakuhai.  Open calls for such wind tiles forces players to resort to other yaku for completion.

Furthermore, the game has an assigned round wind.  Typically, the round wind is denoted by either East or South.  Occasionally, the game moves into [[Shaakyoku|West round]] as well, where the West wind counts as the '''bakaze''' {{kana|場風}}, or '''round wind'''.  Marked by the dealer indicator, the round wind is the same for all players; and it only changes after all players had a chance to sit as East for at least one hand, when the game moves from the East round to the South round. Collecting a set of this wind satisfies the round wind yaku.  Essentially, the round wind functions like the dragon tiles, where any player may collect them and have them counted for yakuhai.  Finally, a tile grouping of the round wind work in conjunction with the wind seating.  When seated as the same wind with the round wind, then the tile group counts double, such as Double East or Double South.

Finally, four yakuman utilizes the honor tile groups.  All three groups of sangenpai in one hand creates [[daisangen]]. The wind tiles can be used for either [[shousuushi]] or [[daisuushii]].  An assorted groups of honor tiles form [[tsuuiisou]].  Both daisangen, shousuushii, or daisuushii can mix with tsuuiisou for [[multiple yakuman|double yakuman]].

Along with [[tanyao]], yakuhai are among the easiest yaku to learn and use. It is the simple collection of particular wind tiles or any group of dragon tiles.  As for the rest of the hand, players are free to form any tile grouping, that they wish whether open or closed. Typically, yakuhai are open hands, as possession of the appropriately paired tiles makes it easy to complete by calling on the discarded third tile, or sometimes fourth. This ability makes this yaku exceptionally convenient, for the completion of fast hands.  Therefore, this yaku is also called "express ticket".

Each yakuhai koutsu (triplet) is a separate yaku worth 1 han. However, the value can be dramatically increased if the particular yakuhai koutsu is indicated as the dora.  As dora, a hand is already guaranteed 4 han.

| YAK || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}

|}

Yakuhai essentially works with any yaku, that has room or allows the use of honor tile groups, which gives it a great amount of versatility. [[Shousangen]] requires not just one, but two yakuhai.  [[Honitsu]] is most effective, with the use of at least one yakuhai group. Finally, different groups of yakuhai tiles may be collected into one hand; and so, this yaku is compatible with itself.

The definitions of [[tanyao]], [[junchan]], and [[chinitsu]] eliminates the use of honor tiles all together.  As for [[chiitoitsu]], honor tiles may be used, but its inability to use triplets deem its incompatibility.  Finally, yakuhai groups generate fu; and this does not work with [[pinfu]].