Mixed Triple Sequence

What is Mixed Triple Sequence in Japanese Mahjong

Mixed Triple Sequence is a yaku in Japanese Riichi Mahjong that involves forming the same sequence in all three suits (Pin, Sou, and Man). Mixed Triple Sequence requires forming the same numbered sequence in all three suits. It typically awards 2 han if your hand is closed or 1 han if it’s open, making it a valuable yet flexible yaku that can be melded if you need speed or kept concealed if you aim for a bigger payout. Its synergy with other yaku like Pinfu and Riichi can lead to sizable hands, though collecting the right tiles across three suits can be a challenge under defensive pressure from opponents.

How to Achieve Mixed Triple Sequence？

Identical Sequences in Three Suits: You must have one sequence (chow) in Man, another identical sequence in Pin, and a third identical sequence in Sou. For example, 4–5–6 of Man, 4–5–6 of Pin, and 4–5–6 of Sou.

Standard Hand Structure: A valid winning hand in Riichi Mahjong has four sets (each set can be a triplet/quad or a sequence) plus one pair. Three of these sets will be the “triplet sequence” portion (i.e., the same run in each suit), and the fourth set can be any valid set. You still need one pair to complete the hand.

Value Changes if Open or Closed:

• 2 han if your hand is fully concealed.
• 1 han if your hand is open (any meld taken from another player’s discard).

What is the Strategy and Risk of Mixed Triple Sequence?

Closed vs. Open: If you can maintain a concealed hand until completion, you’ll receive 2 han for Mixed Triple Sequence. However, calling (chow) on one or more of the sequences can speed up completion, though it typically reduces the yaku’s value to 1 han.

Combining with Other Yaku

• Pinfu: If your hand is fully concealed and the pair is valueless, you can potentially combine Mixed Triple Sequence with Pinfu for extra scoring.
• Riichi: Declaring Riichi (while concealed) can add +1 han, possibly leading to a bigger payout if you win.
• All Simples: Usually incompatible with Mixed Triple Sequence, because you must include sequences that often contain 1s or 9s if your chosen run is 1–2–3 or 7–8–9. That breaks the “All Simples” requirement (2–8 only). However, if your three sequences are 2–3–4, 3–4–5, 4–5–6, 5–6–7, or 6–7–8, Tanyao could combine—assuming you also ensure the pair contains only tiles from 2–8.
• Fully Concealed Hands: If you self-draw your winning tile while remaining concealed, you add +1 han on top of Mixed Triple Sequence’s 2 han.

Efficient or Risky?

• Waiting for three identical sequences can be somewhat tile-intensive. If opponents discard early key tiles, you might have to switch strategies.
• Conversely, if you have two sequences in different suits that happen to be identical, it can be natural to push for the third sequence in the remaining suit.

Opponent Awareness: If you start calling chows that look suspiciously like 4–5–6 across different suits, opponents may deduce you’re going for Mixed Triple Sequence. They could respond by withholding certain tiles to disrupt your completion.