Honitsu

Conditions

• All numbered tiles in the hand must belong to a single suit (all characters, all circles, or all bamboo)
• The hand must also contain at least one honor tile (wind or dragon) in either a meld or the pair
• No tiles from the other two number suits are permitted
• Worth 3 han when the hand is closed, 2 han when open
• If the hand contains no honor tiles at all (pure single suit), it becomes chinitsu instead

Strategy Tips

• Honitsu is one of the most practical high-value yaku. When your starting hand leans heavily toward one suit with some honors mixed in, start discarding tiles from the other two suits to build toward it.
• This yaku combines extremely well with yakuhai. A honitsu hand with a dragon triplet or seat wind triplet easily reaches mangan (8000+ points) even when open.
• Be aware that discarding two entire suits makes your strategy obvious to experienced opponents. They will recognize a honitsu attempt and may hold onto tiles you need. Try to discard the off-suit tiles gradually rather than all at once.