Daisuushii
Definition
Big four winds - a double yakuman (in some rule sets) where you have triplets of all four winds. The rarest yakuman.
Daisuushii
Daisuushii (大四喜, だいすーしー) is one of the rarest yakuman hands, requiring triplets of all four wind tiles: East, South, West, and North. In most rule sets, it’s valued as a double yakuman, worth twice the standard yakuman payment (16,000 base points for non-dealer, 24,000 for dealer). The name translates to “big four winds.”
Detailed Explanation
Requirements
To achieve daisuushii, you must have:
- Triplet of East: Three East wind tiles
- Triplet of South: Three South wind tiles
- Triplet of West: Three West wind tiles
- Triplet of North: Three North wind tiles
- Any pair: The pair can be any tile
All four melds must be wind triplets. The triplets can be open (pon) or concealed (ankou)—double yakuman value remains regardless.
Double Yakuman Status
Most modern/online rules: Daisuushii is a double yakuman worth 16,000 base points (64,000 total for non-dealer, 96,000 for dealer).
Some traditional rules: Daisuushii is a single yakuman worth 8,000 base points (32,000 total for non-dealer, 48,000 for dealer).
The double yakuman status reflects the extreme difficulty—requiring 12 specific wind tiles (three each of four different winds) from a set containing only 16 total wind tiles.
Extreme Rarity
Daisuushii is legendarily rare:
- Tile requirements: Twelve of the 16 available wind tiles must come to you
- Opponent interference: After exposing two or three wind triplets, opponents completely stop discarding winds
- Statistical improbability: Even playing thousands of hands, most players never achieve daisuushii
Achieving daisuushii is considered a major mahjong milestone and often photographed or recorded when it occurs.
Comparison to Shousuushii
Shousuushii (little four winds): Three wind triplets + one wind pair → Single yakuman
Daisuushii (big four winds): Four wind triplets → Double yakuman
The difference is significant—shousuushii needs only a pair of the fourth wind (easier) while daisuushii requires a full triplet (much harder). This extra difficulty doubles the point value.
Strategic Considerations
Near-Impossible Without Calls: Self-drawing 12 wind tiles is virtually impossible. You must call pon aggressively on any wind discards.
Telegraph Immediately: Once you have two or three wind triplets exposed, your daisuushii intention is obvious. Opponents will hoard all remaining winds.
Yakuhai Foundation: Even incomplete daisuushii hands provide strong yakuhai value from multiple wind triplets matching seat/round winds.
Usage Example
In an extremely lucky hand, you call pon on East, South, and West winds as they appear early in the game. You self-draw three North tiles, completing the fourth wind triplet. Your hand: East-East-East, South-South-South, West-West-West, North-North-North (four wind triplets), plus any pair. When you win, you declare daisuushii (double yakuman). Under double yakuman rules, you score 16,000 base points (64,000 total for non-dealer, 96,000 for dealer)—the maximum possible non-dealer payment and devastating for opponents.
Related Terms
Shousuushii: Little four winds—three wind triplets plus a wind pair. Single yakuman worth half of daisuushii.
Kazehai: Wind tiles (East, South, West, North). Daisuushii requires triplets of all kazehai.
Yakuman: The highest-value hand patterns. Daisuushii is the rarest standard yakuman.
Double Yakuman: Yakuman patterns worth double payment. Daisuushii is valued as double yakuman in most rule sets.