Curriculum · 11 / 50
Yakuhai
Yakuhai, also called fanpai, is a triplet of value tiles (a dragon or a useful wind), worth one han and still valid when your hand is open.
The principle
A yakuhai is a triplet (kotsu) of value tiles: the three dragons (haku, hatsu, chun), the round wind (bakaze), and your seat wind (jikaze). Each such triplet is worth one han, and a kan of the same tile counts the same. Because it is a full yaku, it alone makes your hand a legal win, on both ron and tsumo.
Rule and example
Mind the winds: only the round wind and your seat wind count. The two remaining winds (otakaze, the guest winds) give no han at all. Special case: when a tile is both the round wind and your seat wind, for example East while you sit East in the East round, the triplet counts double (two han).
What changes
Yakuhai is simple to identify and remains valid with an open hand without losing han. Calling pon on the third copy then secures that yaku, but the decision still depends on shanten, visible copies, target value and the danger of the following discard.
Mistake to avoid
Common pitfall: a guest wind triplet is not a yaku, so a hand with no other yaku cannot win on it. Likewise, a mere pair of a dragon is not enough, you need the complete triplet. Always check that your wind is the right one before committing to it.
Rules references
- Tenhou rulesReference profile used for game mechanics and scoring.
- WRC Rules 2025International rules compared whenever their options differ from Tenhou.