Yakuhai: Triplets of Valuable Tiles
Sep 22, 2026 · 4 min read
Yakuhai literally means "yaku tile" -- this yaku comes from a triplet (kotsu or kantsu) of certain tiles that carry special value.
Which Tiles Count as Yakuhai
- All three Dragons (White, Green, Red) -- always worth yakuhai for anyone, any time.
- The round wind -- whichever Wind is currently in play for that round (East during the East round, etc.).
- Your seat wind -- the Wind matching your current seating position.
If the same Wind happens to be both your round wind AND your seat wind at once (say you're the dealer during the East round with an East triplet), that's worth 2 han instead of 1.
An example Yakuhai hand -- the Haku (White Dragon) triplet alone is enough for the yaku, regardless of the other 3 sets and the pair.
Yakuhai is the most common yaku for a fast open hand -- Pon a single triplet of a valuable tile, and your hand is instantly legal to win with.
Check other 1-han yaku that also suit a fast hand.
Read the Yaku List →