Sanshoku Doujun

Sanshoku Doujun

Sanshoku Doujun (三色同順, さんしょくどうじゅん) is a yaku worth 2 han (closed) or 1 han (open) where you have the same numbered sequence in all three suits—characters, bamboo, and dots. For example, having 3-4-5 in characters, 3-4-5 in bamboo, and 3-4-5 in dots forms sanshoku doujun. Often abbreviated to simply “sanshoku.”

Detailed Explanation

Requirements

To achieve sanshoku doujun, you need:

• Same sequence in all three suits: For instance, 2-3-4 characters, 2-3-4 bamboo, 2-3-4 dots
• Three different suits: You must use characters, bamboo, AND dots—not just two suits

The sequences must have identical numbers. 3-4-5 in characters, 4-5-6 in bamboo, and 3-4-5 in dots would NOT qualify—all three sequences must match exactly.

Han Value

Closed hand: 2 han Open hand: 1 han

Even when reduced to 1 han open, sanshoku remains useful. You can call chi or pon on tiles from any of the three sequences without losing all value, making it viable for speed play.

Strategic Considerations

Tile Efficiency: Building sanshoku requires commitment early in the hand. Once you have one or two sequences, you must specifically pursue the matching sequences in other suits rather than taking the most efficient path to tenpai.

Multi-Suit Dependency: Unlike chinitsu (pure flush) which focuses on one suit, sanshoku requires balanced draws across all three suits. You’re vulnerable to drawing too many tiles of one suit and not enough of the others.

Incompatible with Chinitsu: You cannot score both sanshoku doujun and chinitsu (pure flush) since sanshoku requires all three suits while chinitsu requires only one suit.

Common Patterns

Middle Numbers: Sequences like 3-4-5, 4-5-6, and 5-6-7 are easier to form sanshoku because these middle tiles are more flexible. Edge sequences like 1-2-3 or 7-8-9 are harder to replicate across all three suits.

Combination with Other Yaku: Sanshoku pairs well with:

• Tanyao (all simples): If your sanshoku uses 2-3-4 through 6-7-8
• Pinfu (all sequences): Sanshoku naturally involves sequences
• Riichi: Closed sanshoku (2 han) + riichi (1 han) = 3 han minimum

Usage Example

Your hand develops with sequences of 4-5-6 bamboo and 4-5-6 characters. You recognize a sanshoku pattern and focus on completing 4-5-6 dots. You draw 4-dots and chi 5-6 dots from the player to your left. Your hand now has: 4-5-6 bamboo, 4-5-6 characters, and 4-5-6 dots (all three suits). Because you called chi, your hand is open and scores sanshoku doujun at 1 han. If you had kept it closed, you would have scored 2 han.

Related Terms

Sanshoku Doukou: Three colored triplets—having the same numbered triplet in all three suits. Worth 2 han regardless of open/closed.

Ittsu: Pure straight—having 123-456-789 in one suit. Worth 2 han closed or 1 han open, similar structure to sanshoku.

Sequence: A run of three consecutive numbered tiles. Sanshoku doujun requires matching sequences.

Chinitsu: Pure flush—one suit only. Incompatible with sanshoku since sanshoku requires all three suits.