Dora Guide

Complete guide to dora (bonus tiles) in Riichi Mahjong

What is Dora?

Dora are bonus tiles that add han to a winning hand without being yaku themselves. The name comes from "dragon" and represents the luck element in riichi mahjong. Each dora tile in the winning hand adds 1 han, and dora can stack—a hand with three dora tiles gains 3 han.

Important: Dora alone cannot make a hand valid for winning—at least one yaku is still required.

The Indicator System

Dora tiles are determined by indicators (表示牌 / hyoujihai), not by revealing the dora tiles directly. The indicator shows the tile before the actual dora in the cyclical sequence.

Number tiles (1-9)

→

(next in sequence)

→

(9 wraps to 1)

Wind tiles

→

(East → South)

→

(North → East)

Dragon tiles

→

(Haku → Hatsu)

→

(Chun → Haku)

Dora Types

Omote Dora (Standard)

+1 han/tile

Rules: WRC | JPML | M | MJ

At the start of each hand, one indicator tile from the dead wall is revealed face-up. This indicator determines the dora for that hand.

The standard dora adds excitement and strategic depth. Players can see it and adjust their strategy—pursuing dora tiles or avoiding them for defense.

Example:

Indicator:

→Dora:

Ura Dora

+1 han/tile

Rules: WRC | M | MJ

Condition: Riichi win only

When winning after riichi, the tile directly beneath the standard dora indicator is revealed as an additional indicator.

Ura dora rewards the risk of riichi. Since it's revealed only after winning, it creates dramatic moments when a modest hand suddenly becomes mangan or haneman.

Example:

Omote indicator:

Ura indicator:

→Dora:

Kan Dora

+1 han/tile

Rules: WRC | M | MJ

Condition: After kan declaration

When any player declares a kan (quad), a new dora indicator is revealed from the dead wall, adding potential dora for all players.

Kan dora makes the decision to declare kan strategically complex—it may help your hand but could also benefit your opponents.

Example:

Original:

After Kan:

(2 dora tiles)

Kan Ura Dora

+1 han/tile

Rules: WRC | M | MJ

Condition: Riichi win + Kan(s)

For each kan dora indicator, there's a corresponding ura indicator beneath it. If the winner declared riichi, these become additional ura dora.

Kan ura dora amplifies the riichi reward when kans are in play, potentially creating unexpected haneman or baiman hands.

Example:

Revealed together with ura dora after riichi win

Aka Dora (Red)

+1 han/tile

Rules: M | MJ (OFF in WRC)

In rulesets with aka dora, specific 5-tiles are colored red. These red tiles are dora by themselves—no indicator needed.

Red dora adds a constant luck factor. Players naturally want to keep red 5s and build hands around them, affecting hand-building and reading opponents.

Standard set (3 tiles):

Red 5-man

Red 5-pin

Red 5-sou

Red 5s can stack with indicator dora! A red 5 matching the indicator is worth 2 han (1 red + 1 indicator).

Chankan Exception

When a player wins by chankan (robbing a kan), special dora rules apply.

The robbed kan does NOT add a new dora indicator. Since the kan was interrupted, no new indicator is revealed. The winner's dora count uses only pre-existing indicators.

Ruleset Differences

Dora Type	WRC	JPML	M	MJ
Omote Dora (Standard)	ON	ON	ON	ON
Ura Dora	ON	OFF	ON	ON
Kan Dora	ON	OFF	ON	ON
Kan Ura Dora	ON	OFF	ON	ON
Aka Dora (Red)	OFF	OFF	ON (3)	ON (3)

Counting Dora

Dora han is added to your total after yaku detection:

Total Han = Yaku Han + Dora Count

1.Identify all indicators (omote + kan dora)
2.Map each indicator to its dora tile (next in cycle)
3.Count matching tiles in hand (closed + melds + winning tile)
4.If riichi win: add ura + kan ura counts
5.If aka dora enabled: add red 5s count

Examples

Basic Dora

Indicator:

Dora:

Indicator 3-man means 4-man is dora. Two 4-man tiles in hand = +2 han.

Riichi with Ura

Omote indicator:

→ 8s

Ura indicator:

→ 3p

Riichi win with one 8-sou (omote dora) and two 3-pin (ura dora) = +3 han total.

Red Dora Stacking (M-League)

Indicator:

→ 5s

In hand:

If indicator is 4-sou, all 5-sou are dora. A red 5-sou is worth 2 han (1 red + 1 indicator match).

Strategic Tips

Riichi Consideration

Riichi enables ura dora but locks your hand. Weigh the guaranteed +1 han from riichi against the potential ura bonus and loss of flexibility.

Kan Consideration

Calling kan reveals info and adds dora for everyone. Avoid kan unless you already have dora or a strong hand.

Reading Dora

Dora discarded early may indicate low hand value. Dora held late suggests the player may have many. Consider defense when dealing into potential dora-heavy hands.

Dora Value

Dora is highly efficient for increasing hand value: 1 dora doubles base points, 3 dora increases value 8x. It stacks with all yaku.