What is Yakuman? The Ultimate Mahjong Hands Explained for Beginners

What is Yakuman?

Yakuman (役満) refers to the highest scoring special hands in mahjong. Formally called “yakumangan” (役満貫), it awards 32,000 points for child and 48,000 points for parent.

Yakuman is extremely difficult to achieve, with an occurrence probability of about 0.03% (roughly 1 in 3,000 hands). However, this rarity and high score make it a dream for mahjong players.

Detailed Explanation of Yakuman

Basic Yakuman Information

List of Yakuman Types

Main Yakuman (13 types):
1. Kokushi Musou (Thirteen Orphans)
2. Suuankou (Four Concealed Triplets)
3. Daisangen (Big Three Dragons)
4. Tsuuiisou (All Honors)
5. Shousuushii (Little Four Winds)
6. Daisuushii (Big Four Winds)
7. Chinroutou (All Terminals)
8. Ryuuiisou (All Green)
9. Chuuren Poutou (Nine Gates)
10. Suukantsu (Four Kans)
11. Tenhou (Heavenly Hand)
12. Chiihou (Earthly Hand)
13. Renhou (Hand of Man)*
*Renhou may be yakuman or baiman depending on rules

Usage Examples

Real Game Situations

Example 1: Basic Usage

"Got a yakuman!"
"Yakuman with Kokushi"
"Deal into yakuman..."

Example 2: Aiming Expression

"Going for yakuman"
"Yakuman hand shape"
"Yakuman tenpai"

Example 3: Exclamation

"First yakuman of my life!"
"Yakuman is just a legend"
"Direct yakuman hit hurts"

Related Terms

• Kazoe Yakuman: 13+ han treated as yakuman
• Double Yakuman: Combined yakuman
• Yaku: Scoring patterns
• Mangan: 8,000 points (child)
• Tenpai: One tile away from winning

Common Mistakes and Points to Note

Points Beginners Often Mistake

1. Point Calculation Misunderstanding

   • Not always 32,000/48,000 points
   • Tsumo: All players pay
   • Add honba sticks

2. Yakuman Stacking

   • Normally don’t stack
   • Double yakuman is special
   • Depends on rules

3. Yakuman and Regular Yaku

   • Yakuman doesn’t need other yaku
   • Riichi not required
   • Dora doesn’t matter

4. Underestimating Difficulty

   • Can’t force yakuman
   • Extremely low probability
   • Heavy luck factor

Representative Yakuman Explained

Relatively Achievable Yakuman

Kokushi Musou Example

Kokushi Musou pattern:
1m-9m-1p-9p-1s-9s-East-South-West-North-White-Green-Red-Red
└────────── 13 different terminals/honors ──────────┘└pair┘

Wait: 13-sided wait is strongest

Suuankou Example

Suuankou pattern:
222m 555p 888s East-East-East Green-Green
└triplet┘ └triplet┘ └triplet┘ └triplet┘ └pair┘

Note: Ron only on tanki wait

Special Yakuman

Conditional Yakuman

Timing-dependent yakuman:
1. Tenhou (Heavenly Hand)
   - Dealer wins on dealt hand
   - Probability: ~0.0003%

2. Chiihou (Earthly Hand)
   - Non-dealer wins on first draw
   - Probability: ~0.0008%

3. Renhou (Hand of Man)
   - Ron on first round
   - Treatment varies by rules

Ultra-Rare Yakuman

Should You Aim for Yakuman?

When to Aim

Situations favorable for yakuman:
1. Far behind in points
   - Only a comeback matters
   - No other options

2. Good starting hand
   - Many honors
   - Close to specific pattern

3. Casual games
   - Not playing to win
   - Pursuing romance

Realistic Judgment

Defending Against Yakuman

Warning Signs

Danger signals:
1. Not discarding honors
   - Especially dragons
   - Possible daisangen

2. Keeping terminals/honors
   - Only discarding simples
   - Watch for kokushi

3. Unusual calls
   - Multiple honor pons
   - Yakuhai-based yakuman

Defensive Response

Yakuman Statistics

Occurrence Probability

Probability by yakuman (estimate):
1. Tenhou: 0.0003% (1 in 330,000)
2. Chiihou: 0.0008% (1 in 120,000)
3. Chuuren Poutou: 0.0003%
4. Suukantsu: 0.0001%
5. Kokushi Musou: 0.043%
6. Suuankou: 0.042%
7. Daisangen: 0.033%

Average: A few times in a lifetime

Pro Achievement

Double/Triple Yakuman

Double Yakuman Examples

Stackable combinations:
1. Suuankou Tanki + Daisuushii
2. Tsuuiisou + Daisuushii
3. Kokushi 13-sided wait (rule-dependent)
4. Junsei Chuuren Poutou (rule-dependent)

Points: 64,000 (child) / 96,000 (parent)

Rule Confirmation

Conclusion

Yakuman is the crown jewel of mahjong - the highest scoring hands. With extremely low occurrence probability, it can’t be forced, but achieving one brings unmatched joy. Child 32,000 points, parent 48,000 points - these extreme scores can decide a game instantly.

Beginners should start by learning yakuman types and patterns. In actual games, don’t force it - only attempt when your hand naturally points that way. Think of yakuman as “lucky if it happens” and focus on steady mahjong for improvement.