Sanshoku Doukou
三色同刻 | Sanshoku Doukou
The hand contains the same numbered triplet in all three suits.
By Kenji Tanaka · Updated
Overview
Sanshoku doukou, three colored triplets, is a 2-han yaku earned when you hold the same numbered triplet in all three suits, for example 5-5-5 in characters, circles, and bamboo. It is far rarer than its sequence-based cousin sanshoku doujun, because assembling three identical-number triplets across every suit requires drawing or calling many specific tiles. The yaku keeps its value whether the hand is open or closed, so it can be pursued with pon calls, and it pairs naturally with toitoi (all triplets) and with the concealed-triplet yaku san ankou and suuankou when the triplets are closed. Because triplet shapes give narrower shanpon and tanki waits and demand three copies of each tile, sanshoku doukou is usually a hand you recognize as possible from a triplet-rich start rather than something you force. When it does come together, stacked with toitoi and dora, it can produce a large and memorable hand.
Example Hand
111m 111p 111s 456m 99z
Conditions
- The hand must contain a triplet of the same number in all three suits (characters, circles, and bamboo)
- For example, 1-1-1 of characters, 1-1-1 of circles, and 1-1-1 of bamboo
- The triplets can be open (called via pon) or concealed
- The remaining meld and pair can be anything
- Worth 2 han regardless of whether the hand is open or closed
- Unlike sanshoku doujun (same sequence), this yaku does not lose han value when open
Strategy Tips
- Sanshoku doukou is rare because it requires nine tiles dedicated to the same number across three suits (three sets of three identical tiles). Look for this pattern when you hold pairs of the same number in multiple suits.
- This yaku combines naturally with toitoi since you already have three triplets. If the fourth meld can also be a triplet, you gain an additional 2 han from toitoi.
- Since there are only four copies of each tile, having a triplet in all three suits uses up 9 of the 12 available tiles of that number. Be aware that opponents are very unlikely to discard the fourth copy of the tiles you need, making this hand difficult to complete via pon.