What is Pinfu? Conditions and Scoring Explained for Beginners

What is Pinfu (All Sequences)?

Pinfu (平和) is a fundamental mahjong yaku worth 1 han, made with a shape that gains no fu. Meaning “peaceful win,” while it’s the most basic and simple shape, it can be somewhat difficult for beginners to understand.

Established when closed (no calling), all sets are sequences, open wait, and non-scoring pair conditions are met. High occurrence frequency and easy combination with other yaku make it an important fundamental yaku.

Detailed Explanation of Pinfu

Pinfu Establishment Conditions

Pinfu requires all 4 of the following conditions:

Pinfu Examples

Valid pinfu hand:

Hand: 123-man 456-pin 789-sou 23-sou 55-pin
Wait: 14-sou (open wait)

Invalid pinfu examples:

Usage Examples

Real Game Situations

Example 1: Hand Building Direction

"Many sequences, let's aim for pinfu"
"This starting hand can go pinfu-tanyao either way"

Example 2: Wait Selection

"Choose open wait to make pinfu"
"Kanchan wait won't be pinfu, let's change discard"

Example 3: Calling Judgment

"Calling breaks pinfu, better not to"
"Give up pinfu, aim for quick win by calling"

How to Remember Pinfu

Beginner-Friendly Memory Method

Remember “Pinfu is all smooth”:

• Sequences: Smoothly arranged shape (123, 456, etc.)
• Open wait: Smooth wait (from both sides)
• Non-scoring pair: Smooth pair (nothing special)
• Closed: Smoothly make by yourself

Pinfu Checklist

1. ✓ Not called (closed)
2. ✓ All 4 sets are sequences
3. ✓ Has open wait
4. ✓ Pair is not yakuhai

All 4 checks = pinfu established!

Related Terms

• Menzen: Closed hand state
• Shuntsu: 3 consecutive tiles
• Ryanmen Machi: Two-sided wait
• Tanyao: Yaku compatible with pinfu
• Riichi: Yaku that easily combines with pinfu

Common Mistakes and Points to Note

Points Beginners Often Mistake

1. Overlooking wait shape

   • Kanchan or penchan waits aren’t pinfu
   • Shanpon wait isn’t pinfu either

2. Forgetting pair restrictions

   • Self wind (dealer has east) isn’t pinfu
   • Round wind (east in east round) isn’t pinfu
   • Dragons (white, green, red) aren’t pinfu

3. Difference between tsumo and ron

   • Tsumo: Pinfu + tsumo = 2 han
   • Ron: Pinfu only = 1 han

4. Scoring specificity

   • Pinfu is always 30 fu (20 fu for tsumo)
   • Don’t need to learn fu calculation

Yaku That Combine with Pinfu

Commonly Combined Yaku

Pinfu’s Strongest Form

Riichi-Pinfu-Tanyao-Tsumo (Called: Mentanpin-tsumo)

• Total 4 han with high occurrence
• Basic form beginners should aim for

Tactical Points

When to Aim for Pinfu

1. Many sequence-types in starting hand

   • Many taatsu (proto-sets)
   • Few pairs

2. Aiming for quick win

   • Easy basic shape
   • Can expect combinations too

3. Certainty over points

   • Want reliable win even at 1 han
   • Point boost via riichi combination

Pinfu Cautions

• Must be closed hand
• Low fu requires han count
• Wait limited so easily read

Scoring

Pinfu Score Quick Reference

Fu Calculation Exception

Pinfu is special:

• Ron case: Always 30 fu
• Tsumo case: Always 20 fu
• No other fu applies

Conclusion

Pinfu is the yaku of “the simplest and most beautiful shape.” While remembering the 4 conditions is challenging for beginners, once understood it’s easy to make and combines well with other yaku. Especially “mentanpin” is a basic mahjong form you should definitely master. Understanding pinfu is the first step toward efficient hand building.