Kandora - The Extra Dora from Kan

What is Kandora?

Kandora is the new dora indicator tile revealed after a kan in mahjong. It’s flipped from the tile next to the regular dora indicator (to the right), adding a new dora to the game.

Kandora affects all players, not just the one who called kan, so careful judgment is required when deciding whether to kan.

Basic Rules

Kandora procedure:
1. Kan is declared and completed
2. Draw rinshan tile
3. Flip new dora indicator
4. Discard a tile

Dead wall composition (14 tiles):
└─Rinshan(4)─┘└─Dora indicators(5)─┘└─Ura-dora(5)─┘
               ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
            Regular Kan1 Kan2 Kan3 Kan4

Kandora Effects

Kandora characteristics:
1. Applies to everyone
   - Not just yourself
   - All 3 opponents benefit too

2. Takes effect immediately
   - From the moment it's flipped
   - Even affects past discards

3. Cumulative effect
   - Adds to regular dora
   - Maximum 5 types of dora possible

Strategic Considerations

When to Kan

Favorable conditions for kan:
1. You have many dora already
   - 2+ dora in hand
   - Kandora likely helps you

2. Score situation
   - Far behind in points
   - Need a comeback

3. Hand situation
   - No other scoring options
   - Relying on kandora

Risk vs Reward

Situation	Benefit	Risk
After your riichi	Ura-dora increases too	Hand locked
After opponent riichi	Cancels ippatsu	Helps opponent
Final hand	Comeback possible	Deal-in risk

Kandora Probability

Chance kandora helps (estimate):
Existing dora 0: ~30%
Existing dora 1: ~23%
Existing dora 2: ~15%
Existing dora 3: ~7%

*Based on 13-tile hand

Multiple Kans

Kan count and kandora:
1st kan: 1 kandora flipped
2nd kan: 2nd kandora
3rd kan: 3rd kandora
4th kan: 4th kandora

*5th kan impossible (abortive draw)

Kan Count	Dora Types	Max Dora
0	1 type	4 tiles
1	2 types	8 tiles
2	3 types	12 tiles
3	4 types	16 tiles
4	5 types	20 tiles

Common Mistakes

Flip timing
- After drawing rinshan
- Before discarding
- Don’t reverse the order
Counting dora
- Add to regular dora
- Include red dora too
- Calculate type × count
Scope misunderstanding
- Not just for yourself
- Everyone benefits
- Consider the risk
Kan ura-dora
- Only with riichi win
- Kandora has ura too
- Even higher scores possible

Kan: The 4-tile meld action
Dora: Bonus tile worth 1 han
Dora Indicator: Tile showing dora
Rinshan-hai: Tile drawn after kan
Wanpai: Dead wall (14 tiles)
Ura-dora: Hidden dora with riichi

Summary

Kandora is the new dora indicator flipped after a kan, affecting everyone’s hand value. Be aggressive when you have many dora, but cautious when opponents are in riichi.

Beginners should understand “kandora = affects everyone” and avoid reckless kans. Kandora is a double-edged sword - it can help your opponents just as much as you. Always consider the situation before declaring kan.