Open Tanyao Basics and Using Yakuhai in Mahjong

When learning the rules of mahjong, one of the earliest puzzles is how to complete a hand quickly to win. Knowing open tanyao lets you use calls like pon and chii to form a yaku rapidly, broadening your options to take control of the match.

To win, you must have at least 1 yaku. Keeping a closed hand to declare riichi is one route, but taking discards to race toward a rapid finish is the true appeal of open tanyao and yakuhai.

How Open Tanyao Works and Basic All Simples Rules

This diagram shows a tenpai waiting on 3 and 6 bamboo with a 4 and 5 bamboo, after completing a chii on a 2 characters from the player on the left alongside 3 and 4 characters from the hand. Notice that neither winning tile leaves any 1s, 9s, or honor tiles anywhere in the hand. A yaku made purely from number tiles 2 through 8 is called All Simples.

All Simples completed with calls (chii or pon) is known as open tanyao. It counts as a 1-han yaku even outside a closed hand, letting you rush toward tenpai when your deal holds many simple tiles (2 through 8). However, some rules do not permit open tanyao, so always check the settings before a match.

When aiming for open tanyao, sort out unnecessary terminal and honor tiles early, narrowing down to combinations of 2 through 8. Calling exposes tiles and reduces your hand, but reaching a win earlier than opponents is its greatest asset.

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Pon on Yakuhai vs. Open Tanyao

This diagram displays a tenpai waiting on 4 and 7 circles with a 5 and 6 circles after calling pon on a Red Dragon discarded across the table. The Red Dragon is a dragon tile, and holding 3 grants a 1-han yakuhai. Like open tanyao, it is a staple yaku for quick wins using opponents' discards.

Both open tanyao and yakuhai rely on calls for speed, but their hand structures differ sharply. Sorting out their traits helps you choose your line right from the opening deal.

If you have a pair of yakuhai (2 of the same tile), calling pon when 1 is discarded secures your yaku. Conversely, if there are no yakuhai tiles in hand, discarding terminals toward open tanyao is natural. The trick is to inspect your hand and quickly judge which yaku is easier to aim for.

Calling Precautions and Practice Methods

Calling for open tanyao or yakuhai requires key cautions. Calling reduces your concealed tiles, making it harder to hold safe tiles against an opponent's riichi. Faster offense inherently trades away defensive solidity.

• Beware calling without a yaku: Even with dora, you cannot win without an established yaku like All Simples or yakuhai (one-han minimum).
• Lower defense from fewer tiles: Each call sheds 3 concealed tiles, leaving fewer safe choices if you hold dangerous tiles.
• Know basic scoring: Quick 1-han hands yield modest scores. Look for chances to fold in dora or red fives when appropriate.

To hone judgment between calling and staying closed, practice in a relaxed setting. In the mahjong game Jankokushi, you can play East-only game matches against computer players without time limits, taking all the time you need to examine hand shifts and calling timing.

When middle tiles assemble, eye open tanyao; when yakuhai pairs up, start by calling pon. Testing these basic calling habits will naturally improve your reading of match tempo and defense.

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Put your yaku and riichi skills to work in Jankokushi, the mahjong RPG where you travel the realm alongside figures from the era.

Free to play. Contains ads. No in-app purchases.