Riichi Mahjong Yaku
Pinfu
Also known as: All Sequences · 平和
A closed, all-sequence hand with no fu from its pair, melds, or wait.
Yaku value
Closed hand
1 Han
Open hand
Closed only
Requirements
Use four sequences, a non-value pair, and win on a two-sided sequence wait. The hand must remain closed.
How to recognize it
- The hand is closed and all four groups are sequences.
- The pair is not a dragon, seat wind, or prevailing wind.
- The winning tile completes a two-sided sequence wait.
- No group, pair, or wait adds Fu.
When to pursue it
Pinfu is a natural target when the hand already contains connected middle tiles and several two-sided shapes. It often combines with Riichi, Tanyao, or Pure Double Sequence.
When to change course
Do not force Pinfu when valuable honor pairs, triplets, or faster calls offer a clearer route to a legal hand. Improving an edge or closed wait is more important than preserving the label.
Hand examples
Four sequences with a two-sided wait
Winning tile
- Hand context
- The 6 Sou completes 6-7-8 from a 7-8 two-sided wait. The 5 Pin pair is not a value pair.
- Qualifies
- The hand is closed, every group is a sequence, the pair adds no Fu, and the winning shape is two-sided.
- Scoring note
- Pinfu is 1 Han. A closed Ron is normally 30 Fu; a Pinfu Tsumo is treated as 20 Fu under standard rules.
The winning sequence can be anywhere
Winning tile
- Hand context
- The 3 Sou completes 3-4-5 from a 4-5 two-sided wait. The 6 Man pair has no honor value.
- Qualifies
- Pinfu does not require a particular suit or sequence. What matters is that the final wait is two-sided and every other Fu source is absent.
- Scoring note
- If declared, Riichi adds another 1 Han. Dora may add value but does not change whether Pinfu itself qualifies.
An edge wait breaks Pinfu
Winning tile
- Hand context
- The 3 Sou completes 1-2-3 from a fixed 1-2 edge wait, not a two-sided wait.
- Does not qualify
- The hand is closed and contains four sequences, but the edge wait adds 2 Fu. That single detail prevents Pinfu.
- Scoring note
- No Pinfu Han is awarded. The hand still needs another Yaku, such as Riichi or Menzen Tsumo, to win.
Common scoring mistake
A pair of dragons, the seat wind, or the prevailing wind prevents Pinfu. Edge, closed, and pair waits also do not qualify.
Values follow common modern Riichi rules. Local and tournament rules may differ, especially for double Yakuman.