Riichi Mahjong Yaku
Yakuhai
Also known as: Value Honor · Honor Tiles · 役牌
A triplet or quad of dragons, the prevailing wind, or the player’s seat wind.
Yaku value
Closed hand
1 Han
Open hand
1 Han
Requirements
Complete a set of White, Green, or Red Dragons, or a set matching the round wind or your seat wind. Each qualifying set scores separately.
How to recognize it
- White, Green, and Red Dragon triplets or quads always qualify.
- A triplet or quad of the current prevailing wind qualifies.
- A triplet or quad of the player’s seat wind qualifies.
- A wind that is neither seat nor prevailing wind has no Yakuhai value.
When to pursue it
Yakuhai is one of the fastest reliable routes to a legal hand. A pair of value honors is worth keeping when one call can secure the Yaku, especially with additional Dora or connected shapes.
When to change course
A lone non-value wind is often inefficient unless it is useful for defense or another honor-based hand. Do not mistake every wind triplet for a scoring set.
Hand examples
A dragon triplet always qualifies
Winning tile
- Hand context
- The hand contains a triplet of White Dragons. Dragon value does not depend on seat or round.
- Qualifies
- Any complete triplet or quad of White, Green, or Red Dragons is Yakuhai, whether the hand is open or closed.
- Scoring note
- Each qualifying dragon set is worth 1 Han.
East is valuable when it matches the table
Winning tile
- Hand context
- The East triplet qualifies when East is the player’s seat wind, the prevailing wind, or both.
- Qualifies
- Wind tiles are contextual. Check the round and seat markers before assigning Yakuhai.
- Scoring note
- The set is 1 Han for matching one wind and commonly 2 Han when East is both seat and prevailing wind.
A guest wind triplet is not Yakuhai
Winning tile
- Hand context
- Assume an East round and a South-seat player. The West triplet matches neither marker.
- Does not qualify
- A wind triplet only scores when it matches the prevailing wind or the player’s seat wind.
- Scoring note
- No Yakuhai Han is awarded. Without another Yaku, this complete shape cannot win.
Common scoring mistake
Other wind triplets are not Yakuhai. If the seat wind and prevailing wind are the same, that one set is commonly worth 2 Han.
Values follow common modern Riichi rules. Local and tournament rules may differ, especially for double Yakuman.