Suuankou (Four Concealed Triplets) - The Most Common Yakuman

What is Suuankou?

Suuankou (Four Concealed Triplets) is a yakuman where all 4 melds are concealed triplets (ankou) that you drew yourself. The most frequently occurring yakuman, requiring both luck and discipline.

Single wait (tanki) suuankou is often counted as double yakuman.

Requirements

Condition	Detail	Notes
4 ankou	All self-drawn	No pon allowed
Menzen only	No calls	Ankan OK
Ron restriction	Shanpon = no	Tanki = OK

Wait Types

Wait	Tsumo	Ron	Value
Shanpon	Suuankou	Sanankou only	Single yakuman
Tanki	Suuankou	Suuankou	Double (often)

Example Hands

Shanpon Wait (Normal)

Hand: 111m 333p 555s 777s 99m
Wait: 9m (shanpon)
Note: Ron = sanankou only

Tanki Wait (Special)

Hand: 111m 333p 555s 777s EEE S
Wait: S (tanki)
Feature: Ron also valid

Building Suuankou

From the Deal

Pairs	Decision	Reason
5+ pairs	Go for it	Good odds
4 pairs	Situational	See early draws
3 or less	Usually skip	Low probability

Basic Approach

Protect pairs
- Keep them all
- Wait for 3rd tile
Cut isolated tiles
- Non-pair tiles
- Sequence parts
Resist pon temptation
- Stay menzen
- Patience key

Suuankou vs Toitoi

Situation	Choice	Reason
Early 3 ankou	Suuankou	Good chance
Late 2 ankou	Switch to Toitoi	No time
Opponents fast	Depends	Speed matters

Probability

Statistics:

Regular Suuankou: ~0.049%
Tanki Suuankou: ~0.0016%
Most common yakuman

Compared to Others:

Suuankou (~0.049%)
Daisangen (~0.039%)
Kokushi (~0.037%)
Shousuushii (~0.0105%)

Psychology

Pressure Effect

Unreadable
- Discards don’t reveal
- Pair-heavy unclear
Unstoppable
- Tsumo = you lose
- No defense
Intimidation
- Many pairs dealt
- Creates fear

Hiding Your Hand

Natural discards
- Look ordinary
- Hide pair-heavy
Composure
- Stay calm
- Control excitement
Steady tempo
- Act normal
- No tells

Local Rules

Tanki Treatment

Rule	Tanki	Regular
Common	Double yakuman	Single
Some areas	Same	Single
Competitive	Varies	Single

Ankan Treatment

Ankan counts as ankou
4 ankan = still Suuankou
No restriction

Common Mistakes

Pon confusion
- Pon ≠ ankou
- One pon = invalid
Ron limitation
- Shanpon ron = sanankou
- Only tanki works
Ankan handling
- Ankan = OK
- Still counts
Wait recognition
- Know if shanpon or tanki
- Different values

Ankou: Concealed triplet
Sanankou: 3 ankou
Toitoi: All triplets
Yakuman: Limit hands
Double Yakuman: 2x value

Summary

Suuankou is the most common yakuman, made with 4 self-drawn concealed triplets. Requires menzen play and patience with pairs. Remember shanpon ron = sanankou, but tanki ron = full suuankou. Beginners should try when dealt 5+ pairs. As the most accessible yakuman, Suuankou is many players’ first limit hand achievement.