THE GRAND MAH JONGG CLUB
From National Mah Jongg League (NMJL)
From National Mah Jongg League (NMJL)
I have reviewed the newest version of “Mah Jongg Made Easy” alongside the previous version. Some changes are codifications of how the previous rule had already been interpreted; some are new rules; and some just added new sentences to already existing rules. I have prepared an overview of these rules. Below are the new versions of some of the rules. All references are made to “Mah Jongg Made Easy” (2023 Version).
“Once a tile is fully named or touches the table, the discarder cannot take it back, and may not use it for a joker exchange. Down is Down.” Rules & Penalties, #4 page 17. See also Rulings for Jokers, #3 page 23.
“A player shall not be permitted to call a tile for an exposure or Mah Jongg:
Rules & Penalties, #8 page 17
“To claim a discard the player must verbalize their call by saying ‘call,’ ‘I want that,’ etc, letting the other players know that they are claiming the discard. It is permissible to say ‘wait’ or ‘hold’ before verbalizing a call.” Rules & Penalties, #10 page 18.
“You are committed to taking a tile from the wall once you have moved the tile.”Rules & Penalties, #12 page 18.
“Invalid Joker Exchange: If a player proceeds to make a Joker exchange before player picks or calls and exposes, the player’s hand is “dead.” Rules & Penalties, #15 (b) page 19.
“Picking out of Turn: If a player picks out of turn the player’s hand is “dead.” If the tile is racked, it remains with the “dead” hand. If it is not racked, and another player immediately notices, it is placed back in the wall. If it is discarded, it is a “dead” tile, and cannot be called except for Mah Jongg. If the tile is called for Mah Jongg, the game stops and the discarder pays four times the value of the hand to the winner. Rules & Penalties, #15 (h) page 19.
“Picking from the Wrong Wall: If a player picks from the wrong wall and a tile from the wrong wall is racked, the player who picked the tile now has a “dead” hand.” Rules & Penalties, #15 (i) page 19.
“A hand may be called “dead” by any other player based on exposures and discards that are visible to all. Player may issue a direct challenge, but questioning or commenting on whether a hand is dead is also considered a challenge. Any discussion regarding the challenge must be between the challenger and the player being challenged. Other players should remain silent. Player being challenged may accept the challenge and stop playing or disagree….. Challenger may
explain the basis for the challenge, but player being challenged should not reveal any information regarding their hand.” Rules & Penalties, #19 page 21.
“If a player declares another player’s hand “dead” (and the player whose hand has been called “dead” disagrees) at the end of the game, the challenge is resolved. Whichever player was incorrect at the time of the challenge, pays the other player 50 cents in addition to the value paid to the player who has made Mah Jongg.” Rules & Penalties, #20 page 21.
“If a player’s last move before declaring Mah Jongg is to redeem a Joker from their own rack, it is considered self-picked and everyone pays the player double. This is called a ‘finesse” move. Special Rulings for the Use of Jokers, #7 page 23.
“It is recommended that a player never touch another player’s tiles. The player should first announce that a Joker exchange is to be made. The replacement tile should be handed to the player whose rack contains the Joker and that player makes the exchange and hands the Joker to the other player. If no announcement is made and the symbol tile touches the table, it is considered discarded and the Joker may not be redeemed.” Special Rulings for the Use of Jokers, #13 page 24.
From Johanna Roccanova, April 2024.
I have reviewed the newest version of “Mah Jongg Made Easy” alongside the previous version. Some changes are codifications of how the previous rule had already been interpreted; some are new rules; and some just added new sentences to already existing rules. I have prepared an overview of these rules. Below are the new versions of some of the rules. All references are made to “Mah Jongg Made Easy” (2023 Version).
“Once a tile is fully named or touches the table, the discarder cannot take it back, and may not use it for a joker exchange. Down is Down.” Rules & Penalties, #4 page 17. See also Rulings for Jokers, #3 page 23.
“A player shall not be permitted to call a tile for an exposure or Mah Jongg:
- after the player to the right of the discarder has drawn a tile from the wall and racked or discarded. A racked tile is defined as a tile that has been placed on the sloped part of the rack along with the player’s other tiles. Tapping or clicking the rack with the tile is not considered racking.
- If another player is making a Joker exchange.
- If another player has declared Mah Jongg.
Rules & Penalties, #8 page 17
“To claim a discard the player must verbalize their call by saying ‘call,’ ‘I want that,’ etc, letting the other players know that they are claiming the discard. It is permissible to say ‘wait’ or ‘hold’ before verbalizing a call.” Rules & Penalties, #10 page 18.
“You are committed to taking a tile from the wall once you have moved the tile.”Rules & Penalties, #12 page 18.
“Invalid Joker Exchange: If a player proceeds to make a Joker exchange before player picks or calls and exposes, the player’s hand is “dead.” Rules & Penalties, #15 (b) page 19.
“Picking out of Turn: If a player picks out of turn the player’s hand is “dead.” If the tile is racked, it remains with the “dead” hand. If it is not racked, and another player immediately notices, it is placed back in the wall. If it is discarded, it is a “dead” tile, and cannot be called except for Mah Jongg. If the tile is called for Mah Jongg, the game stops and the discarder pays four times the value of the hand to the winner. Rules & Penalties, #15 (h) page 19.
“Picking from the Wrong Wall: If a player picks from the wrong wall and a tile from the wrong wall is racked, the player who picked the tile now has a “dead” hand.” Rules & Penalties, #15 (i) page 19.
“A hand may be called “dead” by any other player based on exposures and discards that are visible to all. Player may issue a direct challenge, but questioning or commenting on whether a hand is dead is also considered a challenge. Any discussion regarding the challenge must be between the challenger and the player being challenged. Other players should remain silent. Player being challenged may accept the challenge and stop playing or disagree….. Challenger may
explain the basis for the challenge, but player being challenged should not reveal any information regarding their hand.” Rules & Penalties, #19 page 21.
“If a player declares another player’s hand “dead” (and the player whose hand has been called “dead” disagrees) at the end of the game, the challenge is resolved. Whichever player was incorrect at the time of the challenge, pays the other player 50 cents in addition to the value paid to the player who has made Mah Jongg.” Rules & Penalties, #20 page 21.
“If a player’s last move before declaring Mah Jongg is to redeem a Joker from their own rack, it is considered self-picked and everyone pays the player double. This is called a ‘finesse” move. Special Rulings for the Use of Jokers, #7 page 23.
“It is recommended that a player never touch another player’s tiles. The player should first announce that a Joker exchange is to be made. The replacement tile should be handed to the player whose rack contains the Joker and that player makes the exchange and hands the Joker to the other player. If no announcement is made and the symbol tile touches the table, it is considered discarded and the Joker may not be redeemed.” Special Rulings for the Use of Jokers, #13 page 24.
From Johanna Roccanova, April 2024.