Kan

Kan is a special tile call in the game. This call relates towards possession of four pertaining to any tile type.

General rules to kan

Like the other tile calls, kan is also a tile call. However, it comes with special properties and rules. These rules apply when a player possesses or gains possession of four of the same tile; and then the player makes the kan call.

• Applies to four of a kind
• Access to a dead wall draw
• Additional dora indicators revealed
• Last tile from the regular drawn tiles added to the dead wall to maintain the 14 tile count

Kan types

Kan can occur under three different occasions; and thus, there are three types of kan.

Daiminkan

This is also called an "open kan". A player possesses three of a tile type. Then the fourth is discarded. The player may claim the discarded tile and form a daiminkan. Upon doing so, the player has opened the hand.

Chakan

Also referred as an "added kan", a player had previously called pon to form a minkou, or open triplet. Upon drawing the fourth tile, the player may add that tile to the minkou and upgrade it to a chakan. If the fourth tile was discarded by another player, it cannot be claimed by kan.

The player may declare this kan during any turn; and therefore, the player does not need to declare kan immediately at first opportunity. If the player had claimed a discarded tile instead of drawing a tile, then the ability to declare kan is disabled. Instead, the player would have to wait for the next tile draw, in order to do so.

Ankan

Also known as a "closed kan", a player may draw all four of a tile type. Unlike the other two kan types, ankan keeps the hand closed. That's despite the declaration to the other players and the revealing of the four tiles.

The player may declare this kan during any turn; and therefore, the player does not need to declare kan immediately at first opportunity. If the player had claimed a discarded tile instead of drawing a tile, then the ability to declare kan is disabled. Instead, the player would have to wait for the next tile draw, in order to do so.

Rinshan kaihou

Rinshan kaihou is a special yaku based on acquiring a winning tile off of the dead wall.

Chankan

Chakan is a special yaku applied to chakan only. If another player is in tenpai using a tile for a chakan upgrade, then the player may "steal" that tile and call for a win.