Special Rules for Tournaments.
TIME LIMIT: The time limit for each round is 55 minutes. East is charged with moving play along. Please do not be insulted if East asks you to play faster. If you do not finish within the time allotted, each player at the table receives a zero for that game.
Rev.2.10.23
- On the day of the tournament, every player must check in by 10:15 and play will start promptly at 10:30. If a player is not present by 10:15, alternates will be called. There will be a lunch break lasting approximately twenty minutes. Bring lunch with you, or pre-order and pay for your lunch at the Café. There is a “pick-up” area at the end of the order counter. The tournament will recommence promptly after the lunch break.
- Tournaments generally last until around 4 p.m. IF YOU CANNOT COMMIT TO PLAYING TO THE END OF THE TOURNAMENT, PLEASE EXCUSE YOURSELF FROM PLAY. An alternate will be called to take your place. Let the Tournament Committee know as soon as possible if you need to excuse yourself.
- No refunds will be given after the cut-off date listed on the Tournament Sign-Up Sheet.
- You will be given a score sheet when you check in for the tournament, and the tables at which you will play will be indicated on the score sheet. Do not take your score sheet into the lobby during breaks. You may leave it on the table in the front of the room, or if play at your next table is complete, you can leave the score sheet there.
- East will keep score for the table. After a round, EAST will initial all score sheets. All players will confirm and initial their score sheet before leaving the table.
- DO NOT break the wall to start a new round until time has been called to start. If a wall is broken before time starts, it will have to be remade and will hold up the start of the game for everyone.
- A round consists of 4 games. When a round of four games has been finished, set up the wall for the next round. If your group finishes a round early, and the wall has been set up for the next round, please remain quiet and go out to the lobby until all tables have finished playing. The next round will begin immediately after time has been called.
- If you call a thrown tile for mah jongg, do not put it in your rack with your other tiles. Put it on the top of your rack and then complete the full mah jongg exposure.
- When it is your turn, if you touch the next tile in the wall, it is yours. You cannot change your mind and call the last discarded tile.
- If you call for and touch a discarded tile, you cannot change your mind. It is yours.
- Players should not throw in their hands until a mah jongg has been verified.
- Please try to keep the noise level low, particularly while mixing tiles and setting up the walls.
- If there is any problem or disagreement during a game, go to the Rules Chairperson or other person designated by the Tournament Chairperson, and quietly explain the problem. That person’s ruling is final.
- When declaring Mah Jongg, the hand should be displayed as it appears on the Mah Jongg card. If you do not display the hand in proper order and another player asks you to do so, you MUST do so. If you refuse, your hand will be declared dead and the game will continue.
- WRONG END OF WALL: If a player picks from the wrong wall – or from the wrong end of the wall, that player’s hand is “dead.” However, if the mistake is not discovered until after more than one player has picked from the wrong wall or wrong end of the wall, then the game continues, and players continue picking from that wall. In the event of disagreement, contact the Rules Chairperson or designated person for a ruling.
- If a player picks from the wrong end of the wall and discards a tile that is claimed for Mah Jongg, then the Mah Jongg is good and the game ceases.
- DO NOT DECLARE YOUR HAND DEAD, unless you realize before the start of the game that you have too many tiles on your rack. In that event, all tiles are thrown in and the game restarts. No additional time is added for that round of play.
- At the end of the day’s playing, EAST totals all sheets and takes them to the scoring table.
TIME LIMIT: The time limit for each round is 55 minutes. East is charged with moving play along. Please do not be insulted if East asks you to play faster. If you do not finish within the time allotted, each player at the table receives a zero for that game.
Rev.2.10.23