“My Hand Is Complete, But Why Can’t I Win!?”
If you’ve just started playing mahjong, have you had this experience?
“I got 4 sets and 1 pair! Ron!” ”…Wait, why can’t I win?” “What? No yaku…? What’s yaku?”
Actually, I hit the same wall when I started. Having assembled all the tiles but unable to win due to “no yaku”… I totally understand that frustration.
But don’t worry! Today, let’s learn together about “yaku” in mahjong. Once you understand this, you’ll be able to create hands that “can actually win next time.”
Why Are Yaku Necessary?
Shape Alone Isn’t Enough in Mahjong!
The “4 sets and 1 pair” we learned last time is like the “container” in mahjong. But a container alone without food inside is meaningless, right?
Yaku 用語の説明が見つかりません are like the “food” itself.
In other words:
- 4 sets and 1 pair = container (shape)
- Yaku = food (content)
- Only when both come together do you have a “feast” (winning hand)!
Yaku Are Proof of “Beauty” or “Difficulty”
Why are yaku necessary? It’s to make mahjong more interesting and profound.
For example:
- Just randomly collecting tiles → Boring
- Assembling only one color → Oh, beautiful! (yaku achieved)
- Made only with terminals and honors → Amazing! Difficult! (yaku achieved)
Having yaku creates strategic depth in “what kind of hand to aim for.”
What Is “Han”? The Unit Measuring Yaku Size
Yaku 用語の説明が見つかりません have different sizes, measured in units called ** han 用語の説明が見つかりません **.
- 1 han yaku = Easy yaku (but important!)
- 2 han yaku = Somewhat difficult yaku
- 3+ han = Quite difficult yaku
- Yakuman = Super rare! Maximum difficulty!
Important: You need at least 1 han worth of yaku to win!
Immediately Usable! 3 Essential Yaku for Beginners
First, just memorize these 3 yaku! You can win more than half your games with these alone.
1. Riichi The Beginner’s Strongest Ally
Requirements:
- Closed hand 用語の説明が見つかりません (no calls)
- Declare when you reach tenpai 用語の説明が見つかりません (one tile away from winning)
- Place 1000 points on the table (you get it back if you win)
Why is it beginner-friendly?:
- Magic declaration that works with any hand shape
- Just say “Riichi!” and that’s it
- Also puts pressure on opponents
Example:
When you’re one away from winning, declare “Riichi!” and that alone makes it a 1 han yaku!
2. Honor Tiles (Yakuhai) Just Collect 3 of a Kind
Requirements: Collect 3 of the following honor tiles 用語の説明が見つかりません to make a triplet
- Dragons 用語の説明が見つかりません :
(White), 
(Green), 
(Red) - Prevailing wind: (East) when it’s East round
- Seat wind: (East) when you’re the East player
Why is it beginner-friendly?:
- Just collect 3 tiles
- Yaku doesn’t disappear even if you call (pon)
- Easy to understand
Example:
Just collecting 3 Green () gives you 1 han!
3. Tanyao (All Simples) Make With Only 2-8
Requirements:
- Form 4 sets and 1 pair using only 2-8 suit tiles
- Don’t use any 1, 9, or honor tiles
Why is it beginner-friendly?:
- Many usable tiles (lots of 2-8s)
- Simple and easy to understand
- High occurrence rate
Example:
Not a single 1, 9, or honor tile! This achieves tanyao.
Power Up With Yaku Combinations!
You Can Make Multiple Yaku Simultaneously
The interesting thing about mahjong is you can combine yaku!
Example: Riichi + Tanyao
- Tanyao (only 2-8) = 1 han
- Riichi = 1 han
- Total 2 han!
More Yaku = Higher Score
- 1 han = 1000+ points
- 2 han = 2000+ points
- 3 han = 3900+ points
- 4 han = 7700+ points (mangan)
Increasing yaku dramatically raises the points you receive!
Common Beginner Questions
Q: What should I do if I realize I have no yaku?
A: Don’t panic, change direction!
- If still early, rebuild to include yaku
- If close to tenpai, aim for riichi
- Worst case, play defensively (avoid dealing in)
Q: I don’t know which yaku to aim for…
A: Start with this priority order:
- Honor tiles if you have them, collect them first
- Tanyao if you have mostly 2-8
- Aim for riichi when in doubt
Q: Do I need to memorize the entire yaku list?
A: No! These 3 are enough to start. Learn more gradually while playing actual games.
How to Build Yaku in Real Games
Check Your Starting Hand First
- Honor tile check: If you have 2+ of , , , aim for honor yaku
- Terminal check: If you have many 1s and 9s, give up on tanyao
- Balance check: If neither applies, aim for riichi
Real Example of Building Yaku
Starting hand:
Thinking process:
- Two tiles → One more for honor yaku!
- Have and → Tanyao is impossible
- Conclusion: Aim for Green (), or riichi if that fails
Next Steps
Yaku for When You Want to Learn More
Once comfortable, try these yaku too:
- Pinfu: Beautiful hand made only with sequences
- Tsumo: Winning with a self-drawn tile
- Dora: Bonus tiles worth 1 han just for holding
Tips for Learning Yaku
- Use them in games: Playing is 100 times better than just reading
- Find favorites: “This yaku is cool!” is perfectly fine
- Don’t push yourself: The 3 basic yaku are enough to compete
Summary: Yaku Makes Mahjong 10 Times More Fun!
What we learned today:
✅ 4 sets and 1 pair + yaku = winning hand ✅ Need at least 1 han worth of yaku ✅ Riichi, honor tiles, tanyao are all you need ✅ Yaku can be combined
Once you become conscious of yaku, you’ll see the depth of mahjong. Playing while thinking “Let me try building this yaku next” or “This hand can aim for two yaku!” is truly enjoyable.
Now, armed with these 3 basic yaku, let’s practice in real games!