1. Key differences from yonma
Sanma has three seats and placements from first to third. A common format removes manzu 2–8 and uses 108 tiles. Chi is commonly unavailable, while pon and kan remain. North and tsumo payments require special rules.
2. Tiles used in sanma
A representative set keeps 1-man and 9-man, all pinzu and souzu, and all honor tiles. Removing seven manzu ranks takes 28 tiles from the 136-tile yonma set. Some tables use a different set, so follow the table rules.
3. Chi, pon, and kan
Many sanma games prohibit chi but allow pon and all forms of kan. Chi-enabled sanma also exists; never assume that every three-player table uses the same calling rules.
4. How North is treated
North may be nuki-dora, a common yakuhai for all three players, a normal wind tile, or a special bonus tile. If nuki-dora is used, confirm whether North may remain in the hand, be called or kan, be used for kokushi musou, and whether a win after extraction counts as rinshan.
5. Tsumo loss
With only two opponents, one payment from four-player tsumo is missing. Under tsumo-loss rules, the winner receives less. Under no-tsumo-loss rules, the missing share is redistributed, but the exact method—unequal or equal payments—still varies.
6. Scoring and settlement
Ron values often follow standard riichi scoring, while tsumo payments depend on the sanma method. Also confirm rounding, honba, noten penalties, starting points, return points, uma, and oka. Record all three uma values.
7. Continuation, bankruptcy, and multiple ron
Confirm agari-renchan or tenpai-renchan, agari-yame, tenpai-yame, bankruptcy at zero or below zero, double ron or atamahane, deposit handling, and any tobi bonus or negative-score settlement.
8. Red tiles, gold tiles, and chips
Sanma often uses red 5-pin and red 5-sou; red 5-man does not exist when manzu 2–8 are removed. Gold tiles, flower tiles, kita chips, ippatsu, ura-dora, and yakuman bonuses can greatly change results.
9. Online and parlor rules
Online services and mahjong parlors use different sanma rules. Record the service, mode, or shop rules instead of treating “sanma” as one standard format.
10. How the strategy changes
Fewer tile types make hands develop faster. Nuki-dora and condensed suits can raise value, and swings are often larger. Keep sanma records separate from yonma; the neutral average placement is 2.00, not 2.50.
Checklist
Before play, confirm: tiles used; chi; North and nuki-dora; whether North stays usable in the hand; tsumo-loss method; rounding; starting and return points; uma and oka; honba; noten penalties; continuation; bankruptcy; double ron; deposits; red or gold tiles; chips and bonuses.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. How many tiles does sanma use?
A representative format removes manzu 2–8 and uses 108 tiles, but other sets exist.
Q2. Can you chi in sanma?
Chi is usually unavailable, while pon and kan are allowed. Check the table because chi-enabled rules also exist.
Q3. What is kita extraction?
North is revealed and removed from the hand, a replacement tile is drawn, and the extracted North commonly counts as one dora.
Q4. What is tsumo loss?
It is the reduced tsumo receipt caused by having only two opponents. No-tsumo-loss formats redistribute the missing share.
Q5. What starting points and uma are standard?
There is no universal standard. Record the table’s starting points, return points, all three uma values, and oka.
Q6. Can sanma and yonma records be combined?
No. Their placement range, tiles, scoring, and settlement differ, so track them separately.
Summary
- A 108-tile set without manzu 2–8 and no chi is common, but not universal.
- Always confirm how North and nuki-dora work.
- Tsumo-loss and no-tsumo-loss rules can use different payment methods.
- Record starting points, return points, all three uma values, oka, honba, and penalties.
- Keep sanma performance and results separate from yonma.