Hatsu

Hatsu

Hatsu (發) is the green dragon tile, one of the three dragon tiles in mahjong. A triplet of it scores yakuhai, worth 1 han toward your hand.

Hatsu in detail

Hatsu is one of the most recognizable tiles in mahjong, distinguished by its green color and the Chinese character 發 (meaning “prosperity” or “to prosper”). It belongs to the sangenpai (three dragon tiles) category, alongside Haku (white dragon) and Chun (red dragon).

Appearance and Identification

The Hatsu tile displays a green background with the character 發 printed in the center. In some traditional sets, the character may be outlined or styled differently, but the green coloring is the defining characteristic. When learning mahjong, players typically memorize the dragons by their colors: green for Hatsu, white for Haku, and red for Chun.

Yakuhai Value

Hatsu gains significance through the yakuhai system. A triplet of Hatsu gives the hand 1 han, and the triplet can be:

• Concealed (ankou): all three copies drawn yourself
• Open (minkou): completed by calling pon on another player’s discard

The yakuhai han from Hatsu is the same either way, open or closed. This makes Hatsu a valuable tile to pursue, as it provides a guaranteed yaku without requiring complex combinations.

Strategic Importance

Hatsu tiles are frequently prioritized because they offer a reliable yaku. Unlike patterns that require specific combinations or sequences, a simple Hatsu triplet guarantees the hand can legally win. An early Hatsu pair is usually worth holding, since a pon of the third copy instantly gives an open hand its yaku.

Even when your original hand plan falls through, a Hatsu pair keeps a fallback route open. This makes Hatsu practical in both fast open hands and bigger honor-based plans.

Connection to Other Tiles

As part of the sangenpai group, Hatsu shares characteristics with Haku and Chun. All three dragon tiles:

• Are honor tiles (jihai)
• Form yakuhai when collected as triplets
• Cannot be used in sequences (only in triplets)
• Are typically high-priority tiles in hand building

The three dragons together can also form the daisangen (big three dragons) yaku when you collect triplets of all three dragon types, which provides significant hand value.

Walking through Hatsu

Scenario: You are playing a hand where you’ve collected two Hatsu tiles. Another player discards a Hatsu tile, and you have the opportunity to claim it for a pung (triplet). Even if your original hand plan has become unlikely, claiming the Hatsu completes your yakuhai, guaranteeing your hand will score at least one point when you win.

Decision: You claim the Hatsu, completing your triplet. This yakuhai ensures your hand has value, making it a safer strategic choice than waiting for a more complex yaku that might never materialize.