Triplet

Triplet

Definition

A triplet is a meld consisting of three identical tiles in mahjong. Triplets form one of the fundamental building blocks of a winning hand and can be either concealed (ankou) or open (minkou).

Detailed Explanation

A triplet represents the simplest form of a meld in mahjong, requiring exactly three tiles of the same type. These tiles can be any of the 34 unique tile types in a standard mahjong set: honor tiles (winds and dragons) or number tiles (characters, dots, or bamboos of ranks 1-9).

Concealed Triplet (Ankou)

A concealed triplet, known as ankou, is formed when a player draws all three identical tiles into their hand without declaring them to other players. The tiles remain face-down in the player’s hand until the winning hand is revealed. Concealed triplets are valued more highly in scoring systems because they require drawing the tiles naturally rather than calling for them from other players.

Open Triplet (Minkou)

An open triplet, called minkou or minkan, occurs when a player declares the meld by calling “pon” (or “pung” in some variants) after another player discards a tile that matches two tiles already in their hand. When declared, the triplet is displayed openly on the table, face-up, and is no longer hidden. Open triplets are typically worth fewer points than concealed ones due to the reduced difficulty in forming them.

Role in Hand Structure

Triplets are essential components of standard winning hands. A complete winning hand in most mahjong variants consists of four melds (whether triplets or sequences) plus a pair. This means a hand might contain anywhere from zero to four triplets, depending on the specific hand structure and variant being played.

For example, a hand might be composed of:

• Two triplets
• One sequence (chow)
• One pair

Or alternatively:

• Four triplets
• One pair

Distinction from Sequences

Unlike sequences (chows), which consist of three consecutive numbered tiles in the same suit, triplets require identical tiles with no regard to numerical order. This fundamental difference affects both how melds are formed and how they contribute to hand scoring.

Usage Example

Consider a player holding two bamboo 5s in their hand. Another player discards a bamboo 5. The player can immediately call “pon” to claim the discarded tile, combining it with their two bamboo 5s to form an open triplet. This triplet is then placed on the table in front of the player, displayed openly for all to see.

Alternatively, if a player naturally draws three bamboo 5s without declaring them, they possess a concealed triplet. When their hand wins, this ankou contributes more points to their final score compared to an open triplet would.

Related Terms

• Koutsu: The Japanese term for triplet, sometimes used interchangeably with “triplet” in English-language mahjong discussions
• Pon: The call made when claiming a discarded tile to form an open triplet
• Ankou: A concealed triplet; tiles that remain hidden in the player’s hand
• Minkan: An open triplet; tiles displayed openly on the table
• Meld: The general term for any combination of tiles (triplets or sequences) declared or formed in mahjong
• Kan: A special four-tile meld consisting of four identical tiles, which is an extension of the triplet concept

Understanding triplets is crucial for learning mahjong strategy, as they form the foundation of hand composition and contribute significantly to both the structure and scoring of winning hands.