San Kantsu

Conditions

• The hand must contain three kans (quads) that have been properly declared during the game
• The kans can be open (daiminkan or shouminkan) or closed (ankan)
• The fourth meld can be any type (sequence, triplet, or another kan)
• The pair can be any tile
• Worth 2 han regardless of whether the hand is open or closed
• Three supplemental draw tiles (rinshan) are taken, and three new dora indicators are revealed

Strategy Tips

• San kantsu is one of the rarest yaku in standard play. Do not actively aim for it; rather, recognize the opportunity when you have declared two kans and a third becomes possible.
• Declaring three kans gives your opponents three additional dora indicators, which can make their hands very dangerous. Weigh the risk of powering up opponents’ hands against the 2 han you gain.
• If you reach three kans, be aware that a fourth kan declared by any other player will cause an abortive draw (suukaikan). If you yourself can declare a fourth kan, you would achieve the suu kantsu yakuman instead.