Three Concealed Triplets

What is Three Concealed Triplets in Japanese Mahjong

Three Concealed Triplets is a two-han yaku in Japanese Riichi Mahjong. It requires having three concealed triplets (or quads) in your winning hand. Three Concealed Triplets is a two-han yaku achieved by forming exactly three triplets (or quads) that are not obtained through pung or open kong. Its nuanced nature lies in maintaining concealment: you must self-draw the tiles for at least three triplets (especially the third one) to preserve their concealed status. Although it can slow down your hand, combining Three Concealed Triplets with other yaku—particularly All Triplets or Yakuhai—can yield a high-scoring result.

How to Achieve Three Concealed Triplets？

Three Concealed Triplets: You must have exactly three triplets (or quads) that are concealed; that is, you did not call (pung) to form those triplets. A concealed triplet means all three (or four, if a quad) of those identical tiles originated entirely from your own draws—or you upgraded a fully concealed set to a concealed kong. Exposed triplets (where you claimed another player’s discard with a pung) do not count toward Three Concealed Triplets.

Fourth Set and Pair: A standard Riichi Mahjong hand has four sets (triplets or sequences) plus one pair. For Three Concealed Triplets, exactly three of those sets must be concealed triplets/quads. The fourth set can be open or closed, and it can be a triplet or a sequence. You still need one pair to complete the hand.

Winning on a Concealed Triplet: The final winning tile for the third concealed triplet generally comes from your own draw. If you claim ron (win off another player’s discard) to complete the third concealed triplet, that particular triplet is no longer considered concealed. This would disqualify you from Three Concealed Triplets unless your final wait was on a pair or a sequence, rather than the third triplet.

Two-Han Value: Three Concealed Triplets is worth two han, regardless of whether the rest of the hand is open or closed. However, practically speaking, most of the hand will be concealed if you’re aiming for this yaku.

What is the Strategy and Risk of Three Concealed Triplets?

Concealment vs. Calling: Because you need three triplets formed entirely by your own draws, you must refrain from punging for those particular triplets. This can slow down your progress if you’re not drawing the necessary tiles.

Possible Combinations: If your fourth set is also a triplet, you can combine Three Concealed Triplets (two han) with All Triplets (two han) for a total of four han, plus any additional yaku or dora. Yakuhai: If any of your concealed triplets are of a round wind, seat wind, or dragon, you gain one extra han per such set.

Final Wait Consideration: One key detail: if you complete your third concealed triplet by discarding someone’s tile, it counts as exposed. Hence, you typically want your final wait to be on the pair or a sequence. Alternatively, if you’re in tenpai with your final wait on the third concealed triplet, you must win by self-draw to keep that third triplet concealed.

Risk and Reward: Pursuing Three Concealed Triplets may require patience and a willingness to pass on obvious calls that would speed up your hand. If achieved, especially when stacked with other yaku or dora, it can yield substantial points.

Three Concealed Triplets Example Hand

• Concealed Triplet 1: 1 of Sou × 3 (all drawn by yourself)
• Concealed Triplet 2: 9 of Pin × 3 (all drawn by yourself)
• Concealed Triplet 3: Red Dragon × 3 (all drawn by yourself)
• Fourth Set: 4-5-6 of Man (sequence)
• Pair: 3 of Man × 2

In this example, the three triplets are concealed, and the final sequence can be open or closed. If you self-draw the tile completing the Red Dragon triplet, that triplet remains concealed, satisfying Three Concealed Triplets. Additionally, each concealed dragon triplet is worth a Yakuhai, which can further boost the total value.