Hanafuda Koi-Koi Yaku List & Scoring

All 15 Combinations Explained

Learn all 15 yaku combinations in Hanafuda Koi-Koi, listed by points. Each yaku includes required cards and strategy tips.

Important Cards Quick Reference

Light Cards (5 cards)

Pine Crane

Cherry Curtain

Pampas Moon

Willow Rain

Paulownia Phoenix

Ino-Shika-Cho (5 points)

Clover Boar

Maple Deer

Peony Butterfly

Five Lights (Goko)

10 pointsVery Hard

Collect all 5 Light cards

Required cards:

Pine Crane, Cherry Curtain, Pampas Moon, Willow Rain Man, Paulownia Phoenix

💡

The hardest yaku. Always capture Light cards and never let opponent get them.

Four Lights (Shiko)

8 pointsHard

4 Light cards excluding Rain

Required cards:

Pine Crane, Cherry Curtain, Pampas Moon, Paulownia Phoenix

💡

More realistic than Five Lights. Prioritize non-Rain Light cards.

Rainy Four Lights

7 pointsHard

4 Light cards including Rain

Required cards:

Willow Rain Man + any 3 other Light cards

💡

If you get Rain, switch from regular Four Lights to this.

Three Lights (Sanko)

5 pointsNormal

3 Light cards excluding Rain

Required cards:

Any 3 of: Pine Crane, Cherry Curtain, Pampas Moon, Paulownia Phoenix

💡

Relatively achievable Light yaku. Start collecting Lights early.

Boar-Deer-Butterfly

5 pointsEasy

Clover Boar, Maple Deer, Peony Butterfly

Required cards:

Clover Boar, Maple Deer, Peony Butterfly

💡

Recommended for beginners! High 5-point yaku with just 3 cards.

Red Poetry Ribbons

5 pointsEasy

3 red poetry ribbons

Required cards:

Pine Red, Plum Red, Cherry Red ribbons

💡

January-March ribbons. Easy to aim for early game.

Blue Ribbons

5 pointsEasy

3 blue ribbons

Required cards:

Peony Blue, Chrysanthemum Blue, Maple Blue ribbons

💡

June, September, October ribbons. Good to aim with Red Ribbons.

Ribbons (Tanzaku)

1 pointEasy

5 or more ribbon cards

Required cards:

Any 5+ ribbon cards (+1 point per extra card)

💡

Include Red/Blue ribbon sets to reach 5. Good additional yaku.

Animals (Tane)

1 pointEasy

5 or more animal cards

Required cards:

Any 5+ animal cards (+1 point per extra card)

💡

Collect cards with animals. Combines well with Ino-Shika-Cho.

Plains (Kasu)

1 pointNormal

10 or more plain cards

Required cards:

Any 10+ plain cards (+1 point per extra card)

💡

Many available but 10 is surprisingly challenging.

Moon Viewing

5 pointsNormal

Pampas Moon and Chrysanthemum Sake

Required cards:

Pampas Moon (Light), Chrysanthemum Sake Cup (Animal)

💡

Efficient 5 points with 2 cards. August and September cards.

Cherry Blossom Viewing

5 pointsNormal

Cherry Curtain and Chrysanthemum Sake

Required cards:

Cherry Curtain (Light), Chrysanthemum Sake Cup (Animal)

💡

5 points with 2 cards. March and September cards are far apart.

Ino-Shika-Cho Plus

6+ pointsNormal

Ino-Shika-Cho plus other animals

Required cards:

Ino-Shika-Cho 3 cards + other animal cards

💡

Combine Ino-Shika-Cho (5pts) with Animals (1pt+).

Red & Blue Ribbons

10 pointsHard

Complete both Red and Blue ribbon sets

Required cards:

Red Ribbons 3 cards + Blue Ribbons 3 cards

💡

Red (5pts) + Blue (5pts) = 10 points mega score!

Special Yaku

6 pointsNormal

Local rule combinations

Required cards:

Wisteria Cuckoo, Iris Bridge, Pampas Geese, Willow Swallow

💡

Local rules. Sometimes worth 6 points for these 4 cards.

Quick Reference

By Score

10pts: Five Lights
8pts: Four Lights
7pts: Rainy Four Lights
5pts: Ino-Shika-Cho
1pt+: Ribbons, Animals, Plains

By Difficulty

Easy: Ino-Shika-Cho, Red/Blue Ribbons, Ribbons, Animals
Normal: Three Lights, Plains, Moon/Cherry Viewing
Hard: Four Lights, Rainy Four Lights
Very Hard: Five Lights

Print Version

Yaku Building Tips

✓Aim for multiple yaku simultaneously (e.g., collect Animals while going for Ino-Shika-Cho)
✓Predict and block opponent's yaku
✓Prioritize easy yaku early (Ino-Shika-Cho, Red/Blue Ribbons)
✓Secure Light cards immediately (decide yaku later)
✓Check what additional yaku you can make before calling Koi-Koi

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