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'''Yaku''' {{kana|役}} are [[List of yaku|specific hand patterns or conditions]] needed in order to score a hand, analogous to [[wikipedia:List of poker hands|poker hands]]. Yaku are worth specific [[han]] values, and various yaku can be combined into one hand. Basic mahjong knowledge involves learning the yaku, but it is not expected of new players to know them.  '''Most importantly, every hand must include at least one yaku in order to count as a winning hand'''.
'''Yaku''' {{kana|役}} are [[List of yaku|specific hand patterns or conditions]] that score points, analogous to [[wikipedia:List of poker hands|poker hands]]. Each yaku is worth a specific amount of [[han]], and multiple yaku can be combined into one hand. Basic mahjong knowledge involves learning the yaku, but it is not expected of new players to know all of them.  '''Most importantly, every hand must include at least one yaku in order to count as a winning hand'''.


==Han==
==Han==
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The different yaku focus on different types of patterns and circumstances.  They are mostly derived from the tiles within one's hand.  A number of yaku also involve the state of one's hand pertaining to the timing of certain tile draws and discards.
The different yaku focus on different types of patterns and circumstances.  They are mostly derived from the tiles within one's hand.  A number of yaku also involve the state of one's hand pertaining to the timing of certain tile draws and discards.


=== Discard based ===
===Riichi===
These two are yaku because the hand is tenpai during specific discard timings. As a result, these two yaku can never be won via drawing a tile.
A player can choose to declare [[riichi]] with any closed hand that is [[tenpai]] (one tile away from winning).


* [[Riichi]]
: Any closed hand in tenpai may choose to declare riichi, scoring this yaku.
* [[Double riichi]]
: A riichi on your first turn is a double riichi, which is worth more points.
* [[Ippatsu]]
: After declaring riichi, if you win by your next tile draw, you score this yaku. (Invalidated if anyone makes a [[naki|tile call]].)
=== Win location based ===
These yaku are dependent on how you win the hand. These yaku can allow otherwise "yakuless" hands to win.
'''Discard based'''
* [[Chankan]]
* [[Chankan]]
:Winning with a tile used for an [[shouminkan|added kan]] by another player.
:Winning with a tile used for an [[shouminkan|added kan]] by another player.
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:Winning off of the last possible discarded tile for the hand.
:Winning off of the last possible discarded tile for the hand.


=== Discretionary ===
'''Draw based'''
* [[Riichi]]
: This is the only yaku by which players have the option to declare or not. Otherwise, hands may possibly [[damaten|win without it]], if it remains closed with other valid yaku.
* [[Double riichi]]
:This is essentially riichi, but with the added luck of the hand being tenpai upon the [[haipai|initial tile deal]], or the opening hand.
 
=== Draw based ===
These are yaku by virtue of the drawn tile.  Thus, these three can never be won [[Ron|directly from other players]].
 
* [[Haitei raoyue]]
* [[Haitei raoyue]]
:Winning with the last tile draw.
:Winning with the last tile draw.
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=== Honor based ===
=== Honor based ===
Honor based tiles depends on the use of honor tile groups. Each of these cases also are mixed with the numbered tiles.
These yaku depend on the use of [[honor]] tile groups. These may be mixed with number tiles.


* [[Honitsu]]
* [[Honitsu]]
:Honor tiles with one suit.
: All tiles are the same suit or honor tiles.
* [[Honroutou]]
* [[Honroutou]]
:Honor tiles with terminals.
: All tiles are honor or terminal tiles.
* [[Shousangen]]
* [[Shousangen]]
:Specific collection of all three [[sangenpai|dragon types]].
:Specific collection of all three [[sangenpai|dragon types]].
* [[Tanyao]]
* [[Tanyao]]
:No honors or (terminal) are used.
:No honors or terminals are used.
* [[Yakuhai]]
* [[Yakuhai]]
:Specific collection of any dragon, [[Jikaze|seat wind]], or round wind tiles.
:A triplet of any dragon, [[Jikaze|seat wind]], or round wind tiles.
 
=== Riichi dependent ===
Ippatsu cannot occur without a call for riichi.
 
* [[Ippatsu]]
:Winning on or before the next tile draw after riichi.


=== Sequential ===
=== Sequential ===
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* [[Iipeikou]]
* [[Iipeikou]]
: By definition, this yaku uses two-identical sequences.
: Two identical sequences (two sequences with same suit and numbers).
* [[Ittsu]]
* [[Ittsu]]
: A complete string of 1-9 tiles, arranged into sequences of: 123, 456, and 789.
: A complete string of 1-9 tiles, arranged into sequences of: 123, 456, and 789.
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: Every tile group must be a sequence (among other conditions).
: Every tile group must be a sequence (among other conditions).
* [[Ryanpeikou]]
* [[Ryanpeikou]]
: By definition, this yaku uses two-identical sequences two times.
: "Two iipeikou"; two sets of identical sequences.
* [[Sanshoku]]
* [[Sanshoku]]
: By definition, this yaku uses three identically numbered sequences across the three suits.
: Three identically numbered sequences, one of each suit.


=== Terminal based ===
=== Terminal based ===
These yaku revolve around [[routouhai|terminals]], or complete lack thereof.
These yaku revolve around [[terminal]], or complete lack thereof.


* [[Chanta]]
* [[Chanta]]
:Every tile group with an honor or terminal.
:Every tile group, including the pair, has an honor or terminal.
* [[Honroutou]]
* [[Honroutou]]
:Only honor and terminal groups.
:Every tile is an honor or terminal.
* [[Junchan]]
* [[Junchan]]
:Every tile group with a terminal.
:Every tile group, including the pair, has an honor or terminal.
* [[Nagashi mangan]]
* [[Nagashi mangan]]
:Every discarded tile is either a [[terminal]] or [[honor]]
:Every discarded tile is either a [[terminal]] or [[honor]]
* [[Tanyao]]
* [[Tanyao]]
:No terminals (or honors) are used.
:No terminals or honors are used.


=== Triplet based ===
=== Triplet based ===
These yaku require at least one [[Koutsu|triplet]] in order to be valid.
These yaku require at least one [[Koutsu|triplet]] in order to be valid. [[Kan|Quads]] count as triplets for these yaku, but triplets don't count as quads.
* [[Sanankou]]
* [[Sanankou]]
: Three closed triplets.
: Three closed triplets.
* [[Sankantsu]]
* [[Sankantsu]]
: Requires three [[kan|quads]], which are considered as triplets plus one extra.
: Three [[kan|quads]].
* [[Sanshoku doukou]]
* [[Sanshoku doukou]]
: Needs three identically numbered triplets across the three suits.
: Three identically numbered triplets across the three suits.
* [[Shousangen]]
* [[Shousangen]]
: Triplets of [[sangenpai|dragon tiles]].
: Triplets of [[sangenpai|dragon tiles]].
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: Every tile group is a triplet.
: Every tile group is a triplet.
* [[Yakuhai]]
* [[Yakuhai]]
: Counted when the hand contains a triplet of a valid honor tile, namely: any dragon triplet, appropriate [[Jikaze|seat wind]], or the current [[Jikaze|round wind]].
: A triplet of: any dragon tile, your [[Jikaze|seat wind]], or the current [[Jikaze|round wind]].


=== Suit based ===
=== Suit based ===

Revision as of 21:17, 26 July 2024

Yaku 「役」 are specific hand patterns or conditions that score points, analogous to poker hands. Each yaku is worth a specific amount of han, and multiple yaku can be combined into one hand. Basic mahjong knowledge involves learning the yaku, but it is not expected of new players to know all of them. Most importantly, every hand must include at least one yaku in order to count as a winning hand.

Han

Each yaku is assigned a han value. Whenever a player wins, their hand's yaku are tallied up, and they score points based on the total amount of han. If a hand has multiple possible interpretations, the highest possible hand is scored.

Open vs closed

A hand is considered open if it makes a tile call from another player's discard. These include chii, pon, and open kan. Otherwise, it is closed.

Some yaku can only be scored closed; they are invalidated when the hand opens. Other yaku reduce in value if part of an open hand. The rest of the yaku score the same regardless if a hand is open or closed.

Nomi

Nomi 「ノミ」 is a hand that contains only one yaku and no dora. For example, riichi nomi 「リーチノミ」 means "riichi only". The term is mostly used for low value yaku, like tanyao and pinfu. It is acceptable to use it for higher value yaku, like chinitsu, but this is rarely done. The term is not used for yakuman, due to their value.

Yaku types

The different yaku focus on different types of patterns and circumstances. They are mostly derived from the tiles within one's hand. A number of yaku also involve the state of one's hand pertaining to the timing of certain tile draws and discards.

Riichi

A player can choose to declare riichi with any closed hand that is tenpai (one tile away from winning).

Any closed hand in tenpai may choose to declare riichi, scoring this yaku.
A riichi on your first turn is a double riichi, which is worth more points.
After declaring riichi, if you win by your next tile draw, you score this yaku. (Invalidated if anyone makes a tile call.)

Win location based

These yaku are dependent on how you win the hand. These yaku can allow otherwise "yakuless" hands to win.

Discard based

Winning with a tile used for an added kan by another player.
Winning off of the last possible discarded tile for the hand.

Draw based

Winning with the last tile draw.
Drawing the winning tile with a closed hand.
Drawing a winning tile after a kan call.

Honor based

These yaku depend on the use of honor tile groups. These may be mixed with number tiles.

All tiles are the same suit or honor tiles.
All tiles are honor or terminal tiles.
Specific collection of all three dragon types.
No honors or terminals are used.
A triplet of any dragon, seat wind, or round wind tiles.

Sequential

These yaku require sequential tile groups.

Two identical sequences (two sequences with same suit and numbers).
A complete string of 1-9 tiles, arranged into sequences of: 123, 456, and 789.
Every tile group must be a sequence (among other conditions).
"Two iipeikou"; two sets of identical sequences.
Three identically numbered sequences, one of each suit.

Terminal based

These yaku revolve around terminal, or complete lack thereof.

Every tile group, including the pair, has an honor or terminal.
Every tile is an honor or terminal.
Every tile group, including the pair, has an honor or terminal.
Every discarded tile is either a terminal or honor
No terminals or honors are used.

Triplet based

These yaku require at least one triplet in order to be valid. Quads count as triplets for these yaku, but triplets don't count as quads.

Three closed triplets.
Three quads.
Three identically numbered triplets across the three suits.
Triplets of dragon tiles.
Every tile group is a triplet.
A triplet of: any dragon tile, your seat wind, or the current round wind.

Suit based

All tiles are the same suit or honor tiles.
All tiles are the same suit.

Yakuman

Yakuman is a special class of yaku, by which the pattern itself is awarded the maximum point limit for a single hand pattern. These are among the most difficult to complete; and players may treat them as special.

Combining yaku

Different yaku may be implemented into a single hand. By doing so, the values applied to the different yaku also combine. In short, they stack. This aspect of the game is key towards developing larger scoring hands. With dora, the stacking effect becomes even greater.

Optional yaku

A list of optional yaku exist due to the game's complexity, which can further explore possible tile combinations and patterns. Regardless, the yaku list noted above is the more commonly accepted list.

See Also

External links

Yaku in Japanese Wikipedia
Wikipedia listing
Lists all the yaku occurrences in Tenhou.net by percentages and by room
Pointing out which yaku to learn first