Complete Mahjong Yaku List | Comprehensive Guide from Beginner to Advanced

To win at mahjong, knowledge of yaku is essential. No matter how good your hand is, you cannot win without yaku. This article organizes all mahjong yaku by han value, explaining formation conditions and practical applications in detail from 1 han yaku to yakuman.

Understanding Basic Yaku Rules

What is Han Count?

Yaku have a standard called han count for scoring:

• 1 han yaku: Basic yaku (Riichi, Tanyao, etc.)
• 2 han yaku: Moderately difficult yaku (Toitoi, Chiitoitsu, etc.)
• 3+ han: High-scoring yaku (Honitsu, Chinitsu, etc.)
• Yakuman: Maximum scoring yaku (Kokushi Musou, Suuankou, etc.)

Relationship Between Calling and Yaku

1 Han Yaku

Closed Hand Only 1 Han Yaku

Riichi (Ready Hand)

Han: 1 han Calling: × (Closed hand only) Formation: Declare “riichi” when reaching tenpai with closed hand, then win

Practical Points:

• Basic mahjong strategy
• Requires 1000 point riichi stick
• Can combine with ippatsu, tsumo, dora

Pinfu (All Sequences)

Han: 1 han Calling: × (Closed hand only) Formation:

• All sets are sequences
• Pair is not yakuhai
• Wait is open-ended

Example:

Practical Points:

• Excellent combination with riichi
• Low fu, so combining with other yaku is important

Iipeikou (Pure Double Sequence)

Han: 1 han Calling: × (Closed hand only) Formation: Make two identical sequences

Example: pattern

Luck-Based Yaku

Callable 1 Han Yaku

Yakuhai (Honor Tiles)

Han: 1 han Calling: ○ Formation: Make triplet of , , , seat wind, or prevailing wind

Practical Points:

• Most basic calling yaku
• Can combine multiple yakuhai

Tanyao (All Simples)

Han: 1 han Calling: ○ Formation: Only 2-8 suit tiles (no terminals or honors)

Practical Points:

• Most recommended yaku for beginners
• Easy to call and build hand

2 Han Yaku

Closed Hand Only 2 Han Yaku

Chiitoitsu (Seven Pairs)

Han: 2 han Calling: × (Closed hand only) Formation: Make 7 pairs (special shape)

Example:

Practical Points:

• Special shape different from normal sets
• Cannot use 4 identical tiles

Double Riichi

Han: 2 han Calling: × (Closed hand only) Formation: Riichi on first turn before anyone calls

Sanankou (Three Concealed Triplets)

Han: 2 han Calling: ○ (but needs 3 concealed triplets) Formation: Make 3 concealed triplets

Example:

Callable 2 Han Yaku

Toitoi (All Triplets)

Han: 2 han Calling: ○ Formation: All sets are triplets/quads

Example:

Sanshoku Doujun (Three Color Straight)

Han: 2 han (1 han when open) Calling: ○ Formation: Same numbered sequences in all three suits

Example:

Sanshoku Doukou (Three Color Triplets)

Han: 2 han Calling: ○ Formation: Same numbered triplets in all three suits

Example:

Ikkitsuukan (Pure Straight)

Han: 2 han (1 han when open) Calling: ○ Formation: 1-9 sequences in same suit

Example:

Honchantaiyaochuu (Mixed Outside Hand)

Han: 2 han (1 han when open) Calling: ○ Formation: All sets and pair contain terminals or honors

Example:

Shousangen (Little Three Dragons)

Han: 2 han Calling: ○ Formation: Two triplets and one pair of dragon tiles ( White, Green, Red)

Example:

Practical Points:

• Use three dragon tiles for pair + 2 sets
• Remaining 2 sets can be anything (sequences or triplets)
• Can call (pon, chi, or kan)
• Any wait type is acceptable
• One step before daisangen
• Often combines with yakuhai (2 additional han from 2 dragon types)

Other 2 Han Yaku

3 Han Yaku

Ryanpeikou (Twice Pure Double Sequence)

Han: 3 han Calling: × (Closed hand only) Formation: Make two iipeikou

Example:

Junchantaiyaochuu (Pure Outside Hand)

Han: 3 han (2 han when open) Calling: ○ Formation: Chanta without honor tiles (only terminals 1 and 9)

Example:

Honitsu (Half Flush)

Han: 3 han (2 han when open) Calling: ○ Formation: One suit type + honor tiles

Example:

Practical Points:

• Relatively easy high-scoring yaku
• Honor tile management is key

6 Han Yaku

Chinitsu (Full Flush)

Han: 6 han (5 han when open) Calling: ○ Formation: Only one suit type

Example:

Practical Points:

• Highest han count among regular yaku
• Hand easily read by opponents
• Three types: Characters, Dots, or Bamboo chinitsu

Yakuman

Relatively Achievable Yakuman

Kokushi Musou (Thirteen Orphans)

Calling: × Formation: One each of terminals and honors + pair of any

Example: + any one

Daisangen (Big Three Dragons)

Calling: ○ Formation: All three dragons ( ) as triplets

Suuankou (Four Concealed Triplets)

Calling: × Formation: 4 concealed triplets + pair

Example:

Important: For ron win, only tanki wait is valid

Ultra-Rare Yakuman

Tsuuiisou (All Honors)

Calling: ○ Formation: Only honor tiles

Example:

Ryuuiisou (All Green)

Calling: ○ Formation: Only + (Green)

Chinroutou (All Terminals)

Calling: ○ Formation: Only terminals (1 and 9)

Example:

Chuuren Poutou (Nine Gates)

Calling: × Formation: One suit with three 1s, three 9s, one each 2-8, + any matching tile

Example: + any ~

Suukantsu (Four Quads)

Calling: ○ Formation: Make 4 quads

Example:

Four Winds Yakuman