Yakuman
By Kenji Tanaka · Updated
Definition
A yakuman is a limit hand, the ceiling of the scoring ladder: a fixed 32,000 points (48,000 from the dealer), regardless of fu or dora. They come from a short list of extreme patterns (kokushi musou, suuankou, daisangen, the wind and honor hands) rather than accumulation, though 13 counted han reaches kazoe yakuman in most rules, and some patterns score double in their hardest forms. Spotting a live yakuman path early is one of the few good reasons to abandon normal efficiency.
Yakuman
Yakuman at a glance
A yakuman (役満) is a limit hand in mahjong representing the maximum possible score. It is worth 13 or more han and pays a fixed amount: 32,000 points for non-dealers or 48,000 points for the dealer (in a single yakuman). Yakuman hands are rare, difficult to achieve, and represent the pinnacle of mahjong scoring.
Yakuman, explained
The term yakuman literally means “limit hand” or “maximum hand,” and it occupies the top tier of mahjong’s scoring system. While most hands are scored by counting han (point-doubling units) and fu (base points), yakuman hands bypass this calculation entirely and award a predetermined payment instead.
Scoring Structure
A single yakuman pays:
- 32,000 points total when a non-dealer wins
- 48,000 points total when the dealer wins
These payments are significantly higher than mangan (8,000/12,000) or haneman (12,000/18,000), making yakuman the ultimate goal in competitive play. Some yakuman can be scored multiple times if conditions are met, resulting in double or even triple yakuman payouts.
Types of Yakuman
Yakuman hands fall into two main categories:
Closed Yakuman require a completely concealed hand:
- Kokushi Musou (thirteen orphans)
- Suuankou (four concealed triplets)
- Suuankou Tanki (four concealed triplets with single wait)
Open Yakuman can be achieved with melds:
- Daisangen (big three dragons)
- Shousuushii (little four winds)
- Daisuushii (big four winds)
- Ryuuiisou (all green: 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 of bamboo and the green dragon)
- Chinroutou (all terminals)
- Tsuuiisou (all honors)
- Suukantsu (four kans)
Probability and Rarity
Yakuman hands are exceptionally rare in actual play. A typical mahjong player might see only a handful of yakuman in their lifetime of casual play. This rarity is intentional, yakuman represents such an extraordinary combination of tiles that achieving one is considered a remarkable accomplishment worthy of the maximum reward.
Walking through Yakuman
A player draws a hand containing three dragon triplets (白, 發, 中) and completes their melds. They declare daisangen yakuman and win the hand, receiving 16,000 points from the dealer and 8,000 points from each of the other two players, 32,000 in total.
Another scenario: A player holds 1m, 9m, 1p, 9p, 1s, 9s, 東, 南, 西, 北, 白, 發, 中 and waits on any remaining tile to complete kokushi musou, the thirteen orphans yakuman.
Related Terms
- Han: The point-doubling unit used to calculate most hand scores; yakuman represents 13+ han
- Kokushi Musou: The thirteen orphans yakuman, one of the most iconic limit hands
- Mangan: A scoring tier worth 8,000/12,000 points; significantly less than yakuman
- Haneman: A scoring tier worth 12,000/18,000 points; between mangan and yakuman
- Limit: The scoring ceiling in mahjong; yakuman represents the absolute limit
- Counted Yakuman (kazoe): A regular hand that reaches 13 or more han and is paid as a yakuman
- Suuankou: Four concealed triplets yakuman, requiring a completely hidden hand
Notes
In some regional rule variations, yakuman scoring may differ slightly. Tournament rules often specify which yakuman hands are permitted and how multiple yakuman are counted. Casual players should verify local conventions before play.