Tanyao (断幺九) is a yaku, consisting of tile groups using numbered tiles 2-8 of any of the three main suits. Conversely, this yaku must lack the terminal tiles (1 and 9) as well as any honor tiles. Among the yaku, this is one of the more easier to attain. In turn, it is also a cheap yaku. In addition, this yaku may be subject to rule variation of allowing or disallowing its count when opened.

Tanyao
Type Yaku
Kanji 断幺九
English All simples
Value 1 han
Speed Very fast
Difficulty Very easy

Tile pattern

              Winning tile:   or  

Formation

Tiles numbers 2-8 are designated as "simples". Its converse, the 1 and 9 tiles plus honor tiles, is grouped as the terminals and honors. So, in order to form a hand with tanyao, players simply discard the terminal and honor tiles. Given the range of the simple tiles, the number of tiles available to form this yaku is a wide range. This availability makes this yaku a particularly fast one to develop. It is even faster, when used in open fashion. Although, some rules may vary, which disallows the use of tanyao for open hands.

Kuitan

Kuitan (喰い断) is a rule allowing open tanyao. If kuitan is disallowed, then it would be specified as "kuitan nashi". Tanyao takes special interest, due to the ease of its viability. This ease is due to overall number of available tanyaochuu, or simples tiles numbered 2 through 8.

Compatability

^ Ippatsu requires riichi to be of any use.

RCH DRI IPP^ SMO TAN PFU IPK ITT YAK SDJ SDO TOI SNA SNK CHA JUN RPK SSG HRO HON CHN CHI RIN HAI HOU CHK
TAN                                                  

Naturally, tanyao is compatible with any yaku that does not utilize yaochuuhai, which are the terminals (1's and 9's) or honor tiles. The six yaku incompatible with tanyao all use such tiles in some way or another.

Value

The speed of the hand's development justifies the value of the hand at 1-han. This speedy play is associated with cheap value. However, if red fives and other dora are incorporated, then a simple tanyao hand can easily become a very high-scoring one.

External links

Tanyao in Japanese Wikipedia