Nine Gates (九蓮寶燈)
A concealed 1-1-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-9-9 in a single suit, completed by any tile of that suit.
How Nine Gates (九蓮寶燈) works
A concealed single-suit hand holding the pattern 1-1-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-9-9 in one suit, waiting on any tile of that suit to win.
Built entirely in one suit, the hand keeps three 1s, three 9s, and one each of 2 through 8 concealed, which leaves it able to complete on any of the nine numbers of the suit. It is a limit hand and a special, highest form of Full Flush, typically requiring the hand to stay fully concealed. The 'pure' nine-wait form lets it win on whichever suit tile arrives.
- •The hand must be a single suit with no honor tiles whatsoever.
- •Concealment is generally required; claiming a discard to meld usually voids the pattern.
- •It is the pinnacle Full Flush shape and is scored as a limit hand rather than ordinary suit faan.
Nine Gates (九蓮寶燈) — FAQ
Why is it called Nine Gates?
In its pure form the 1-1-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-9-9 shape can be completed by any of the nine tile values in the suit, so nine different winning tiles are open.
Does it have to be concealed?
Standard play requires the hand to be concealed; melding sets off discards normally disqualifies it from this limit pattern.