Is this a Tancho Bekko or Tancho Sanke??

It is a Bekko.

Erwee1 wrote:

It is a Bekko.

Because of the fact that the fish has three colours, white, black AND red, it makes it a Tancho Sanke.

If it had black as a base colour with a white pattern like the Utsuri, it would have been a Tancho Showa if it also had a red pattern on the head, and not a Tancho Utsuri.

Well I be damned. I would also have said it is a Bekko. I have read your explantion, but it still doesn't make sense to me. I thought a Tancho is ANY variety of Koi with the red dot on the head.
If this then is a Sanke it means you will never ever get a Tancho Sanke. Right?

Joe wrote:

Well I be damned. I would also have said it is a Bekko. I have read your explantion, but it still doesn't make sense to me. I thought a Tancho is ANY variety of Koi with the red dot on the head.
If this then is a Sanke it means you will never ever get a Tancho Sanke. Right?

Hi Joe

I was also under the impression that it was a Tancho Bekko until I was proven wrong on various websites and books written by "so called" experts.

See for instance:

TANCHO

"A Tancho is a white based fish with Hi only on the head. There are three combinations, depending on whether there is sumi at all, and how it is placed. The white fish with red on the head and no other color is called Tancho Kohaku. The white Koi with red on the head and a bekko pattern of black on the back is called Tancho Sanke (not Tancho Bekko). A Tancho Sanke has three colors as a Sanke. A white Koi with red on the head and utsuri black on it is called a Tancho Showa. Again, a three color fish like Showa."

http://www.simikoi.com/article5.html

"I want to talk about the different colorations in koi, namely the basic varieties that many of us may want to add to the pond this year, if we don't already have one.
First is the very special Tancho. This is the all white fish with the red circle on its head. The red circle is said to signify the rising sun of Japan so is a sacred symbol of their country.
The fish should have a very clear and deep white color with no pink or yellow cast to it and the red circle should be as close to centered as possible. Now, this fish will still be a Tancho if you add black markings, but it will become a Tancho Bekko or Tancho Sanke (which is more correct).
I could even be a Tancho Showa if the black color extends down to the nose area. But the round red "sun" should remain circular and centered on its head. It will not be eliminated from competition if it is sort of square, but round is better."
http://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Newsletters/Spring2006/Koi%20Varities.shtml

Techically you don't get a Tancho Bekko or Tancho Utsuri but it is open for discussion ...

A Bekko with a Tancho marking is actually called a "Tancho Sanshoku"