Yaku: Difference between revisions

'''Yaku''' (役) are specific hand patterns or conditions needed in order to score a hand.  In a sense, they are synonymous to "poker hands".  Yet, unlike poker hands, yaku are worth specific "[[scoring|han values]]"; and various yaku may be combined together into one hand. basic mahjong knowledge involves learning the yaku, but it is not expected of new players to know them.

Each yaku is assigned han values. Most have static values, regardless of the hand being closed or open.  However, some decrease in han value while being open. Furthermore, some also require hands to remain closed in order to count.  For hands to maximize the total han value, different yaku may be combined into a single hand.

==The list==

{{main|List of yaku}}

This is a quick, short list of the standard yaku. A number of [[optional yaku]] exist as well.

===Yaku===

{{term list

| Romaji    = [[Menzenchin tsumohou|Menzen tsumo]]

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| Explanation = This is a special yaku applied to closed tenpai hands, which requires the player to make a declaration and "wager".

| Romaji    = [[Riichi#Ippatsu|Ippatsu]]

| Explanation = This is applied when the player calling riichi wins within 4 tile draws/discards. In addition, the cycle must not be interrupted by tile calls.

{{term list

| Romaji    =[[Pinfu]]

| Explanation = Typically known as "all sequences", this is a hand that does not gain fu based on composition, other than that of a closed ron.

| Explanation = The hand is completed with the last tile on the wall.

{{term list

| Explanation = The hand is completed with the very last discarded tile.

| Explanation = This yaku is awarded upon winning with a tile from the dead wall.

| Explanation = A hand with at least one group of dragon tiles, seat wind, or round wind tiles.  This hand can be valued at 1 han for each group.

| Romaji    = [[Riichi#Double_riichi|Double riichi]]  

| Explanation = This hand has a complete sequence of 1 through 9 of a single suit.  As a note, the sequence of 1-9 are actually three groups of sequences numbered 123, 456, and 789.

| Romaji    = [[Sankantsu]]

| Explanation = Three kans are called for this hand.

| Explanation = This hand is composed of seven pairs.  It is one of two exceptions to the standard 4 melds and a pair pattern.

| Romaji    = [[Honroutou]]

| Explanation = The hand is composed of nothing but all terminals and honors.<br>† This hand may be considered as 4 han, because it is impossible to score this hand without either chii toitsu or toi toi.

| Explanation = The hand contains two sets of 3 dragon tiles and a pair of the third dragon tiles.<br>† This hand may be considered as 4 han, because it is impossible to score this hand without two sets of yakuhai, from the two sets of dragons.

{{term list

| Explanation =This is a single suit hand mixed with some honor tiles.

| Explanation =This hand has two sets of "[[Iipeikou|iipeikou]]".  This hand does not combine with chii toitsu, even though the hand can be interpreted as one.

| Romaji    = [[Chinitsu]]

| Explanation = This hand is composed entirely of tiles from only one of the three suits.  It is the only yaku set at 6 han, where the number drops to 5 han when opened.

===Yakuman===

This is a specific set of "yaku", known as '''yakuman'''. 

{{term list

| Romaji    = [[Kazoe yakuman]]

| Explanation = This is a special class of yakuman, where a hand is composed of 13+ han based on the combination of above regular yaku and/or [[Dora|dora]].

| English  =  

| Explanation = This hand has one of each of the 13 different terminal and honor tiles plus one extra terminal or honour tile.  Some rules may allow double yakuman for a 13-wait set.

| English  =  

| Explanation = This hand is composed of four sets of closed triplets.  When this hand has a shanpon pattern and the win is via ron, then it would not be counted as suu ankou.

| English  =  

| Romaji    = [[Kaze yakuman|Shousuushi]]  

| Explanation = This hand has three groups of the wind tiles plus a pair of the fourth kind.

| Romaji    = [[Kaze yakuman|Daisuushi]]

| Kanji      = 大四喜

| English  =

| Explanation = This hand has four groups of all four wind tiles.

{{term list

| Romaji    = [[Tsuuiisou]]

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{{term list  

| Explanation = A hand composed entirely of green tiles: 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 Sou and/or Hatsu.

| English  =  

| Explanation = A hand consisting of the tiles 1112345678999 in the same suit plus any one extra tile of the same suit.

{{term list  

| Explanation = This hand with four Kan's.

{{term list | Romaji    = [[Tenhou (yakuman)|Tenhou]]

| Kanji      = 天和

| English  =

| Explanation = The dealer hand is a winning hand even before discarding a tile.

| Romaji    = [[Chiihou]]