What is Honitsu? The 3-Han Half Flush Yaku Explained for Beginners

What is Honitsu?

Honitsu (混一色) is a yaku in mahjong where your hand consists of only one type of number tiles (manzu, pinzu, or souzu) plus honor tiles (winds and dragons). Also called “half flush” in English, it’s a 3-han yaku and a representative flush hand that’s popular for its versatility.

When menzen (closed), it’s worth 3 han; when called, it drops to 2 han due to kuisagari. The ability to use honor tiles makes it easier than chinitsu and combines well with yakuhai, making it a relatively achievable high-scoring yaku.

Detailed Explanation of Honitsu

Conditions for Completion

To complete honitsu, you must meet these conditions:

Menzen vs Called Difference

※Kuisagari means han drops by 1 when calling

Usage Examples

Real Game Situations

Example 1: Confirming the Yaku

"Honitsu confirmed"
"Half flush with manzu and honors"

Example 2: Hand Building

"Collecting manzu for honitsu"
"Can use honors so going honitsu"

Example 3: Calling Decisions

"Even called honitsu is 2 han"
"Pon yakuhai and proceed with honitsu"

Honitsu Hand Shapes

Basic Form

Hand: 123m 456m 789m EEE WW
Complete: Manzu + honor tiles only

Common Practical Forms

With calls:

Pon: EEE (sideways)
Hand: 234m 567m 999m GG
→ Manzu + honors = honitsu

Combined with yakuhai:

Hand: 11123m 555m 789m WWW
→ Honitsu 3 han + Yakuhai (White) 1 han = 4 han

Related Terms

• Chinitsu: One suit only, no honors (6 han)
• Yakuhai: Commonly combined yaku
• Toitoi: Can combine with honitsu
• Kuisagari: Han reduction from calling

Common Mistakes and Points to Note

Points Beginners Often Mistake

1. Confusing with Chinitsu

   • Honitsu: One suit + honors OK
   • Chinitsu: One suit only (no honors)

2. Using Multiple Number Suits

   • Manzu + pinzu = invalid
   • Must be exactly one suit

3. Honor Tiles Not Required

   • Honors are optional
   • Without honors = chinitsu

4. Kuisagari Calculation

   • Calling drops 3 han → 2 han
   • Calculate with other yaku

Tactics for Aiming at Honitsu

Judgment from Starting Hand

Guidelines for aiming at honitsu:

Calling Decisions

When to call:

1. Early game calls

   • Actively pon yakuhai
   • Fix direction early

2. Mid game calls

   • Consider when target suit appears
   • Speed priority

3. Late game calls

   • Even 2 han has value
   • Prioritize winning

Honitsu in Practice

Path to Honitsu

Typical flow:

Starting hand: 7 manzu + 3 honors
↓
Early: Cut other suits
↓
Mid: Collect manzu and honors
↓
Late: Honitsu complete, tenpai

Processing Other Suits

Procedure:

1. Cut from edges

   • Process 1/9 tiles first
   • Consider danger level

2. Keep safe tiles

   • Honor tile genbutsu
   • Suji tiles

3. Dora decisions

   • Cut other suit dora early
   • Protect dora of your suit

Compatible Yaku Combinations

Commonly Combined Yaku

Combination Example

Honitsu + Yakuhai (White) + Dora 1:

Hand: 123m 456m 789m WWW EE
Menzen: 5 han (Mangan)
Called: 4 han (7,700 pts)

Honitsu Probability and Value

Occurrence Rate

Statistics:

• Menzen completion: ~1.5%
• Including calls: ~3.0%
• Most common among flush hands

Comparison with Other High-Scoring Yaku

Ease of completion:

1. Toitoi (~1.5%)
2. Honitsu (~3%)
3. Sanshoku Doujun (~2%)
4. Chinitsu (~1%)
5. Honchantaiyao (~1%)

Honitsu Strategy Points

Early Game Decisions

Starting hands to aim for:

• Many of one suit (7+ tiles)
• Have yakuhai pair
• Dora in that suit
• Can use honor tiles

Starting hands to abandon:

• 3 suits evenly distributed
• Few honor tiles
• Other yaku more promising

Mid Game Hand Building

Efficient progression:

1. Process other suits early

   • Safer tiles first
   • Secure fold tiles

2. Utilize honor tiles

   • Yakuhai priority
   • Also as safe tiles

3. Flexible response

   • Consider switching to chinitsu
   • Abandonment is also important

Late Game Finishing

Path to tenpai:

• Prioritize good shapes
• Watch for furiten
• Utilize dora

Choosing Between Honitsu and Chinitsu

When to Choose Honitsu

Honitsu advantages:

• Can use honor tiles
• Easy to combine with yakuhai
• Relatively easy to make
• Easy to call

When to Choose Chinitsu

Chinitsu advantages:

• High han count (6 han)
• Can cut honor tiles
• Pure beauty
• Haneman+ when menzen

Conclusion

Honitsu (half flush) is a 3-han yaku made with one suit of number tiles plus honor tiles. Menzen is 3 han, called drops to 2 han due to kuisagari, but it combines well with yakuhai and is a relatively achievable high-scoring yaku that’s popular. Beginners should learn the basics of “one suit + honors OK,” and when you have many tiles of one suit and yakuhai pairs in your starting hand, actively aim for it. Easier to make than chinitsu, and the ability to utilize honor tiles is a big advantage.