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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Jokers - take them or leave them




   A major difference between Asian style mahj and American (NMJL) style mahj is that we use jokers and they don't.  When the game was imported to the U.S. in the 1920's jokers were not part of a set, and for many years flowers were used as jokers.  Check out this information from a chart posted by Tom Sloper.  It lists the card years, and the number of flowers and jokers used that year.  What would make the League go from 20 flowers in 1949 up to 24 in 1950 and back to 20 in 1958?  I will be asking Mrs. Unger that question at this year's Annual Meeting, so stay tuned.     

1937-42    8 Flowers
1943        12 Flowers
1944-45   14 Flowers
1946        16 Flowers
1947-48   18 Flowers
1949        20 Flowers
1950-55   24 Flowers
1956-57   22 Flowers
1958-60   20 Flowers
1960-62   14 Flowers/2 Jokers
1962-66   12 Flowers/4 Jokers
1966-67    8 Flowers/6 Jokers
1967-68   10 Flowers/6 Jokers
1968-71     6 Flowers 8 Jokers
1971 -       8 Flowers/8 Jokers

.This chart also explains why you will see so many flowers in an older set.  And why you might see a flower with nail polish on it to signify a joker tile.  Imagine getting a new set every year to accommodate all the changes?  Oy.

So here are the basics on jokers - from the obvious to the obscure.

  • Jokers can only be used with three or more identical tiles.  You cannot use jokers with 2011, 1223, NEWS or any pair - even if it is your mahjongg tile.
  • If someone throws a joker, it can never be called.
  • If someone puts out an exposure with a joker, you may exchange the natural tile for the joker (yes, even if you are playing a concealed hand)  But first - Pick a tile and think through your strategy.
    • Look at the table.  If your opponent has 2 three craks and a joker, do you see another three crak on the table?  If no, take the joker before someone else does.  
      • If you have the only tile available to exchange, ask the following: 
    • Does the joker open your hand for calling?  If yes, take the joker.
    • Are you playing a jokerless hand?  If yes, wait and see.  If you will be set (one away), throw the tile.  If you go dead, take the joker and open your hand.
    • If you are two tiles away you can benefit by holding the natural tile.  Calling for exposure, then exchanging the joker and claiming mahjongg will give you a self-pick win.
    • Sharon has three flowers out with a joker.  You are playing a hand that needs four flowers and you have three.  No flowers are on the table.  Take the joker before someone else does.
  • A joker is always safe to throw at the end of a game.  Pretend you didn't see it so you won't let on that you are waiting for a pair.  Oh, gosh, you had six craks out?  I thought they were eights!  
  • Do you really want to  expose with a joker at the end of the game when the fourth three bam is not on the table?  Some smart cookie is holding back the tile waiting for the joker to exchange.
  • Don't assume that five jokers guarantees your win, but do try to work your hand around them.  That's what quints are for.
Do you have any joker do's or don'ts?  Share them with us!  And please take a moment to contact your representative about the limitations of the Stop Online Piracy Act.  


125 comments:

  1. jokers make me laugh

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  2. Thanks Linda for this post...it helped clear the webs from my fuzzy memory. I learned this wonderfully addictive game back in NY in the 1960-62 timeframe when a Mah Jongg set had 14 Flowers/2 Jokers and I thought I remembered something about those Flowers being a "wild" card/tile. At that time I was a college student, drafted as a replacement into my mother's weekly game. I hadn't played during the 50 years between now and then, until last summer when I had the opportunity to once again play in a couple of drop-in games in the SF Bay Area where I now live. But among the 50+ players that I now associate with, all of them learned the game much more recently and knew nothing about the 60s era, so I really enjoyed ready this post.

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    1. I also learned in the '60s but don't remember exactly how many flowers there were - just that there were a lot of them and there was total chaos when everyone had to change their sets to accommodate jokers.

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  3. Hi Linda, I wrote to you last spring after taking my mah jongg lessons in Feb and Mar. I am doing o.k. Strangely it seems when I play with my own set I don't do so well as I rarely then draw jokers.

    I always have a lot of questions to ask and the women think I ask weird questions. Today the player to my right played the hand that is four flowers, four each of two consecutive numbers followed by two dragons. She had chosen one and two dots and so of course used soaps. This led me to question if it would be possible to use dots as zeros (filling in with jokers) and ones and of course the two dragons or soaps. I was told no, because zero is not a number.

    However when I got home I remembered that of course we do use zeros as numbers when we play the year 2011 (I'm sure this was also true of the year 2000 and 2001 through 2000 to 2010) If we can use zero as a number there why can't we use it as a zero elsewhere? When we play FFFF 2222 0000 11, aren't those zeros not soaps?

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    1. Your question is very interesting and I brought it up with my group. In my opinion it would not be feasible to use 0 in number hands because it can only be used with dots, so it would have to be in its own category. It would be awkward for the card to say for example, "any three suits unless you are using a zero which can only be used with dots"). The League seems to use zero strictly for year hands and only in the years containing a zero, so it isn't really an all-purpose zero. I remember the confusion the 2000 card caused when soaps were introduced as zeros.
      The League and the card are silent on this as an official ruling but in my opinion as the convention has always been numbers start at 1, and 0 is reserved for years containing a zero, you could not use 0 in a hand that was not a year hand.

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  4. IF YOU NEED 4 SOAPS IN A 2015 HAND, CAN YOU USE A JOKER FOR ONE OF THE SOAPS?

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    1. If you are playing a hand that uses four soaps (either 0000 or DDDD) you may use a joker. It is only for the 2015 grouping you cannot use a joker because that is single tiles, but 0000 or DDDD is a kong, which means four identical tiles, and so a joker can be used.

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  5. I had exposed a kong consisting of 3, 8 craks and 1 joker. Another player discarded an 8 crak instead of exchanging it for my joker. Could I have called the 8 crak, and then used the joker to call Mah Jongg?

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  6. The answer is no. You can only call a tile from the table to use to complete a new exposure.

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  7. Can you call a tile say 3 crack with only jokers (3), then expose the 4 tiles?

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    1. Yes - you do not need the natural tile to make an exposure.

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  8. My set has 4 blank tiles and no jokers. Can the blanks be used as jokers?

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  9. If you are playing National Mah Jongg League mahjongg you will need 8 jokers. You can get stickers to put on the blanks - Google "mahjong joker stickers" for some ideas.

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  10. What's the etiquette for 'taking' a joker from an exposure? Do you do the exchange yourself (that is touch someone else's tiles), or hold it out for them to take? This came up at our game today, with someone saying you could not 'touch' someone else's tiles, but I could find anything about that in the rule book.

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    1. There is no "official rule" about not touching someone else's rack or tiles. However, some players are a little sensitive and consider it intrusive on their space. So it is a courtesy when exchanging to hold out the tile and say "exchange," or "replacing," and allow the opposing player to physically make the exchange. Try to avoid putting the tile on the table, unless you make it clear that you are exchanging, as others may interpret it as a discard.

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  11. Hi Linda, thanks for replying to my question. Here's another one:
    Can you take two jokers from an exposure at one time? Scenario: a player has exposed a kong of 2 3 Bams and 2 Jokers. I have 2 3 Bams in my hand. Can I exchange those for both jokers in one turn? (Hope this makes sense ;)

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    1. Hi, Betty - yes, as long as it is your turn, you may exchange for as many jokers as you have tiles for. Sometimes you get very lucky and can take more than one.

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    2. From as many players as you can exchange a tile for a joker? Or just one player at a time?

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    3. As long as it is your turn you may exchange from more than one player. You do it one at a time, but it's all on the same turn.

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  12. I know a joker can NEVER be called. My friend called Mah Jonng when someone discarded a Joker at the end of the game. She says this is the only time a Joker can be called. I disagree. Please inform....

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    1. Sorry, your friend is wrong. You can never call a joker from the table, not even to mahj. For this reason, many players will discard jokers at the end of the game, as they are considered "safe" tiles to throw since they can't be called.

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  13. when did the rule occur where a joker could not be used as a pair thanks

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. While I cannot say with certainty, I would guess 1971 when the standard became 8 flowers and 8 jokers. I have a card from 1969 that states jokers can be used for any tile, but at that time it was 6 flowers and 8 jokers and very few hands had pairs.

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  14. Hi - A question keeps coming up - if you are playing a concealed hand, can you still exchange a tile for another player's exposed joker? There seem to be differing opinions on this. National MJ League indicated no on the rules for online play. Other sites indicate yes.

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    1. The answer to this question was just published in the NMJL 2016 Newsletter: "You may always exchange a tile for a joker, regardless of whether you are playing a concealed or an exposed hand."

      The taking of a joker does not require you to make an exposure, so your hand remains concealed. Could you be more specific about the online rule you are referring to?

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  15. What is the rule of throwing to three exposures? Is this a table rule? Is this an official rule where you pay for the table if you throw the mahjong tile with three exposures?

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    1. The official rule is whoever throws mahjongg pays double. There is no distinction made about how many exposures. Any rules about paying for the table are table or home game rules and not official rules. Of course, in tournaments, you get more points off if you throw to three exposures, but that is a tournament rule not a League rule.

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  16. I have a question concerning jokers. I was playing today and only needed two flowers to complete a kong of flowers for mah jongg. The extra tile in my hand was a 7 bam. The player to my right exposed a kong of 7 bams which included a joker. The next player took her turn and then the player before me picked from the wall and discarded a flower. Now it was my turn. Could I pick up the discarded flower, exchange the 7 bam for the exposed joker, then expose my kong of flowers for Mah Johngg? Every example I read of exchanging a tile for an exposed joker, begins with picking a tile from the wall first not the previously discarded tile. What are your thoughts?

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    1. You did not have enough tiles in your hand to call for the flower. A discard can only be claimed to complete an exposure. The joker can only be exchanged after the full exposure is made, or, as you say, after you have picked from the wall. Sorry!

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    2. regarding the above scenario, can the 7 bam be exchanged for the joker first and then the flower picked up to complete the kong?

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    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    4. The answer is still no. The order of play is as follows: Pick, exchange, discard OR call, exchange discard. You must have all the tiles needed to complete the exposure when you call. You cannot exchange before you call because it is not your turn until you pick or call. Taking a tile out of your hand to exchange before you pick or call would result in your hand having less than 13 tiles and being called dead.

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  17. Hi Linda, a group of women and I have just learned and started to play mahjong. We had a question regarding Jokers today while we were playing. I came home and spent a considerable amount of time on the computer looking for the answer to our question. I came across your blog and found it very helpful. I found the answer to our question. Thank you for having this information available.

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  18. Thank you for this Wonderful post. I am just starting to learn mah jongg and it's really comforting to find such thorough resources.

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    1. Yes wonderful resource. New to the game and have learned much just from Reading your blog!

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  19. If it's your turn and a player has three jokers showing and one 8 dot showing, and you gave three 8 dot tiles, how many 8 dots can you exchange for the jokers on one turn?

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    1. You may exchange as many jokers as you have tiles for. So, in the above scenario, if you have three 8 dots, you may redeem the three jokers on the same turn.

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  20. I exposed 4 W using two jokers. In the next draw, I picked up a W. Can I exchange my W for one of my exposed jokers? PS, I've just started playing, and I love you explanations.

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    1. Yes, when it is your turn and you have picked a tile, you may exchange for any available jokers, including ones on your own rack. Glad you are enjoying the game!

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  21. Can you use 3 jokers as a set of 3 or do you have to have at least one tile?

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    1. Yes. You do not need a natural tile in a pong (3 of a kind), kong (four of a kind) or quint (five of a kind). You can use all jokers if you are lucky enough to have them.

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  22. Hi Linda.... I’m a new player and very much enjoy all your advice above. My whole group is new and we were taught that if a tile is thrown that could replace a joker on anyone’s rack, that anyone can grab it to replace the joker, even if it was not their turn. Is this correct? How about if a tile is thrown that could replace a joker and it is your turn... can you take it then and replace the joker on someone’s exposure?

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    1. When a tile is called from the table, it can only be used to form a complete exposure (pung, kong or quint) or to declare mahjongg. You cannot take a tile from the table to exchange for a joker. A joker may only be exchanged with a tile picked from the wall or in player's hand when it is player's turn. This is an official rule.

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    2. Hi Linda. Thank you for this blog and explanations, this is super helpful. Been playing only 3 months, but enjoying. Quick question from today, if a player has exposed 3 green dragons with a joker, then picks a green dragon from the wall, can that player replace their exposed joker with the picked green dragon? If so, can they put the joker back in their hand or must it be discarded? Thank you. Susan

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    3. Hi, Susan
      You may make an exchange for a joker from any exposure on any rack, including your own. Once you make the exchange the joker can go in your hand. You must then discard another tile from your hand to give you the required 13 tiles, or, you can declare mahjongg if the joker completes your hand.

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  23. In playing NEWS or numbers (2018 for example), is each tile considered a single? So you can't take a discarded tile or joker to complete that run, except to mahjong?

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    1. Yes, NEWS and 2018 are singles. They are not considered a kong, which is four identical tiles. You cannot use a joker for singles and you cannot call them for exposure, only to mahj.

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  24. I'm a little confused by this last explanation. NEWS and 2018 are singles, so you cannot use jokers. Then you said "you cannot call 'them' for exposure, only to mahj." Does 'them' refer to the singles only (and not jokers?).

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    1. You cannot use a joker in NEWS or 2018. You cannot call a tile in NEWS or 2018 to make an exposure. You may call a tile in NEWS or 2018 if it will complete your hand and give you mahjongg. You can never "call" for a discarded joker. (Hope this clears up the confusion!)

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  25. A player calls mahjong and exposes her hand, but in fact she doesn't mahjong, so her hand is dead. She has jokers in her exposed hand. Can the other players pick up the jokers from the dead hand, as in normal play, or are the jokers dead also?

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    1. If she had valid exposures out before she declared mahjongg in error, the jokers in the previous exposures may be taken. The prior exposures stay exposed and the rest of the tiles get returned to the sloping part of the rack.
      Exception: If she called mahj in error, and the hand was dead because it was a concealed hand and she made exposures, then ALL the tiles go back into the sloping part of the rack.

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  26. Can you use a drawn joker for a pair when declaring mahjong?

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  27. Hi Linda. So glad your blog is available.

    My question regards this scenario: I am playing a concealed hand from the singles and pairs section of the 2018 card. One of the tiles I have is a joker which is not at all helpful in singles and doubles. If someone has exposed a Pung or Kong on their rack that contains a tile I need, may I exchange the joker in my closed hand for the needed exposed tile?

    Thanks in advance.

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    1. Glad you are enjoying the blog and find it helpful.
      A joker may never be exchanged for a symbol tile. You would have to discard any unwanted jokers and no one may claim it from the table.

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  28. can a player claim a joker in mahjong to replace a tile in an exposed pung?

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    1. A joker can never be called from the table.
      You cannot replace a symbol tile with a joker.
      A joker may only be exchanged with a symbol tile that the player has picked from the wall or has in her hand when it is her turn.

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  29. Someone called a tile and Mahjonghed, it was a jokerless hand. We all paid her fifty cents as a bonus. The person who threw the mahjong tile, did she owe her fifty more cents?

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  30. Yes. When mahjongg is declared without jokers, double value is paid by all. So if the hand was worth 25, being jokerless doubles the value to 50. If someone threw the mahjongg tile, that player pays double doubled, so 100.

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  31. If you want to complete a pong but you only have 2 jokers on your rack can you call the tile that was discarded.

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    1. Yes, you can call a discarded tile and expose two jokers along with the called discard to make a pung. You do not need to have the natural tile in your hand to call.

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  32. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  33. Hi Linda, love your site. Very helpful.
    My question: I exposed a pung with 1 joker. Another player exchanged the joker. If later in the game I have the tile needed to take this joker back, can I do it, even though joker initially came from my hand? Thanks for your comment.
    Conny

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    1. Hi Conny. If I am correct, you are asking me whether you can redeem a joker that is out on your rack. The answer is yes. If you have the natural tile, you may exchange it for a joker on anyone's rack, including your own.

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  34. Per above answer, that a joker can never be exchanged for a symbol tile albeit, it is given in context of discard. While guessing the answer is 'No'; just want to be certain! Does this 'NO", include making exchange of my joker with a symbol tile from another players exposure, in order to call j'Mahjong'? (I needed a '5 crak to make pair for 'Mahjong'. Neighbor had a kong - three '5 crak' and one joker exposure - so was hoping I could exchange/trade, my joker; in order to get from her exposure, a '5 crak'; so as to make my '5 crak' a pair; and with that have 'Mahjong'. Wishful thinking? (None of knew the answer; as had just never considered such; & perhaps, for good reason. (?))

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    1. You can *never* exchange a joker for a symbol tile. In the situation you describe, you would have to change your hand, as the 5 crak you needed for the pair would be unavailable. Sorry!

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    2. Thank You Linda; was 'prepared' for answer; just wanting/needing to verify in the 'absolute'; given some exceptions for Mahjong calls. Oh, those jokers and the 'never/ever'/sigh!

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  35. I have been playing about 9 months and have read several books on strategy but need advice on this. Is there a stategy “rule” as to when you you call for a tile and expose using joker(s)? I hate to give away what Hand im playing and even more to make my joker available. But I am never sure how long to wait or under what circumstances I should make the decision. Thank you for any advice. And if you know a book that discusses this I’d appreciate the title.

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    1. It takes experience to know when the proper time to call is, and just as every hand is different, every player will apply their own personal strategic decision-making to the game. So the only thing I would add would be is to wait if you can on exposing. Sometimes a player will throw a tile as "bait" to see if someone will take it and expose a joker - if you can wait you may get it on the next turn....or not! The wonderful (and not-so-wonderful) thing about the game is that the rules are not cut and dried, but depend on your judgment of a given situation. Are there a lot of flowers out? Don't wait too long to call a flower, but don't call them right away, either. What may apply in one game will not apply in another. A good rule of thumb may be that if you need a kong and one goes out, if you do not call it, you will be forced later in the game to use a joker, so perhaps best to call it right away....on the other hand, if you let one tile pass and then expose with a joker later in the game, no one can take that joker. So think, but don't think too much that you hold up the game. Quick decisions are vital!

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  36. can you use a joker to make 2019
    all single tiles for a year???

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    Replies
    1. Jokers can only be used in pungs (three identical tiles), kongs (four identical tiles) and quints (five identical tiles). 2019 is four single tiles, so you cannot use a joker for a single.

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  37. Can you call a natural tile to form an exposed pair, or only for a Mah Jongg?

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    1. You can never call a pair for exposure. Mahjongg only.

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  38. Question about Order of Play:
    What takes precedence...the player who out of turn wants the discarded tile or the person “in turn” who wants to exchange a tile for an exposed joker.

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    1. If the player has already started to exchange for the joker, then the caller is too late. If the player has simply picked from the wall and looked at the tile but has not begun to exchange, then the discard may be called.

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  39. I thought if the player has already picked from the wall, it is deemed too late for the other player to call the discard. In other words, once the player has picked the tile the other player has lost its turn

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    1. The "window of opportunity" to call a tile closes when the next player has picked AND RACKED a tile OR has discarded. If a player has picked a tile and has not racked or discarded it, it must be put back into the wall it was picked from if the previous discard was called. (Exception: If a player has picked a tile and is in the process of making a joker exchange, it is too late to call the previous discard).

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  40. If I pick a tile that can replace an exposed Joker, can I exchange the tile with the Joker and then declare a Mahjong using the Joker to complete my hand?

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    1. Yes. That is considered a self-picked mahjongg.

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  41. an issue came up in play the other day. Mary discarded a tile that could be exchanged for a joker. Mary didn't want the joker, but the person to the right called the tile and said she could exchange it for the joker. My understanding is that isn't allowed. Can you point me where that is stated in the rules that it isn't allowed to call a tile and replace it with the exposed joker?

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    1. In "Mah Jongg Made Easy," published by the NMJL, page 14: "The claimant must then expose on the rack the Pung, Kong, Quint or Sextet which has been completed by the discarded tile." A tile cannot be called unless it completes an exposure.
      The back of the card states: Joker or Jokers may be replaced in any exposure with like tile or tiles by any player, whether picked from the wall, or in player's hand, when it is player's turn. So the exchanged tile must be either already in the player's hand or picked from the wall, not called from the table.

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  42. When exchanging a tile for a Joker (after drawing from the wall), the Joker goes on to your rack. If you call for a discard, you must first put out the exposure with tiles you already had to complete the exposure, then do your Joker exchange and then discard. Correct? Now, what if someone had 3- 6 Dot & 1 Joker exposed for a kong and someone discarded a 6 Dot and I was also doing a hand that required 6 Dot and had enough jokers in my own hand to expose. May I call the discarded 6 Dot and then expose it with Jokers to create my needed pung or is the 6 Dot dead because it could have taken a Joker? Thanks

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    1. To clarify: A player is showing an exposure of three 6 dots and one joker. Instead of making an exchange, a player discards a 6 dot.
      The discarded 6 dot may only be claimed by a player who can make a valid exposure with the 6 dot, so, yes, if you need the 6 dot, you may call it and use jokers to substitute for the other 6 dots.
      A discarded tile can never be used to make a joker exchange. A joker may only be exchanged with a tile a player has picked from the wall or already has in her hand.

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  43. Can you use a joker in set 55779 in the singles and pairs section

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    1. Hi, there. You cannot use a joker in any of the hands in the singles and pairs section. You can only use a joker in a pung (3 identical tiles), kong (four identical tiles) quint (five identical tiles) or sextet. 55779 is two pairs and one single, so a joker cannot be used.

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  44. Hi Linda...sometimes when I have replaced with like tile to their suit and taken a joker from an opponents rack, I have then immediately discarded the joker. It seems to be good strategy to me. However, some of the other players call me "mean"...they have never seen it done. Am I? BTW, I am a fairly new player.

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  45. A player will exchange a joker and then discard it if (a) she does not need the joker in her own hand, and, (b) to prevent someone else from taking the joker. (You would not want to exchange a joker and discard it if it were not possible for someone else to exchange it - then you could possibly be helping a player win on a jokerless hand.) So this can be a good defensive strategy. It may not sit well with other players, but calling someone "mean" is another type of strategy - designed to make you feel guilty for playing your best game. Don't fall for it!

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  46. I have three tiles displayed, one being a joker. On my next turn I drew a tile that could not take the joker. However before I discard I realize that I had a tile in my hand that I could use to take the joker. So my question is can I take my own joker with a tile that was in my hand before my turn started.

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    1. Yes, you can do this. Here is the sequence:
      Begin your turn by picking a tile.
      Do not discard yet.
      Put the tile you have picked in your rack, even if you don't want to keep it.
      Make the exchange by using the tile from your hand to replace the joker on your rack.
      Put the joker in your rack (hand) with your other tiles.
      Discard a tile to end your turn.
      You do not have to announce that you are making a joker exchange on your own rack, although you can if you wish. Lucky you!

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  47. I have questions about 2 hands on the 2021 card:
    1) Under Winds-Dragons, 4th and 5th lines. Where Dragons are indicated and red and green are specified, may Jokers be substituted?
    2) Section 2468, last line. Everyone I ask has a different idea about the specified criteria. I read it as 222 4 6 and 888 being required and specified and the final 222 222 can be any same number in 2 other suits. What is correct?
    Thank you.

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    1. 1. Whenever you have three or more identical tiles, you may use a joker, so, yes, because there are four dragons required in those hands, you can substitute jokers.
      2. You are correct - the pungs may be any like 2's, 4's, 6's or 8's in the other two suits. The 222 46 888 pattern must be those numbers only.

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  48. My initial understanding of "taking" a discard to make an exposure was that one could modify the exposure up until she discarded. Today I was told that once the called discard was exposed on the rack it could not be returned to the table. In Sandberg's book, she writes, "if you call at tile and place it on the rack, but do not expose the rest of the combination, you may return the called tile to the table." Which is correct by NMJL standards?

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    1. With all due deference to the late Mrs. Sandberg, her book was published in 2007, and some of the rules have changed since then. In the 2016 newsletter, the League wrote: "You are committed to a call when you have either exposed tiles from your hand or placed the called tile on top of your rack." This means that you cannot return a tile to the table if you have either exposed or picked up the tile and put it on top of your rack. You must complete the exposure.

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  49. Situation came up this week: player wanted to call for a tile to complete a pair and declare Mah Jongg. BUT, in order to declare Mah Jongg she also needed to exchange a tile for an exposed Joker to complete another matching combo. The ruling: To call for the tile to complete the pair for Mah Jongg, the other tile combinations on her rack must already be completed. She should have made the exchange in a prior turn. Is that ruling correct? Thank you.

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    1. The player could not call the tile for mahjongg because she was not set. Set means that you have everything but your winning tile. That is the only time you can call for a pair. She should have exchanged for the joker on a prior turn and it would have set her up for the win. Hopefully, she did that on her next turn, and the winning tile was thrown again.

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    2. Must the hand be set when a tile is picked from the wall? If tile is picked, may an exchange be made, and then MJ declared?

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    3. If you pick a tile from the wall, you may make the exchange immediately (before discarding). If you find that the joker completes your hand and you have mahjongg, you may declare mahjongg and it is considered self-picked.

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  50. 2021 Card, Singles and Pairs, Line 2: 11335 May a Joker be used in this non-matching tile combination? Thanks

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    1. You may not use a joker in any hand in the singles and pairs category. Jokers may only be used in a pung (three identical tiles), kong (four identical tiles) or quint (five identical tiles).

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  51. Clarification please:
    A hand must be set if player takes a discard to declare Mah Jongg (exchange for Joker cannot be made)
    But, if the player picks a tile from the wall, she can exchange ge it for a Joker that will complete her hand and declare Mah Jongg.
    Is that correct?

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  52. May Jokers be used in a sextet if there is one in a combination on the official hand card?

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    1. There has not been a true sextet on the card for at least 30 years. A sextet is a group of six identical tiles, usually flowers, that must be called at one time for exposure. If a sextet were to return to the card, jokers may certainly be used.

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  53. The wall has been pushed out, several rounds of tiles have been taken, and the wall has become short. So that it can be reached better by all, the wall is being pushed toward the center of table and a tile falls off the wall and flips over. Some see the tile symbol. Does the tile go back on the wall in the same place or is it hidden? (Intuition tells me the wall should never have been pushed.)

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    1. Sometimes a tile may flip over by accident. This does happen and most commonly it is just turned back over and put back into place. There is usually little harm done in it being seen - the worst that would happen is the next player in turn will keep it and "everyone will know" that they have that tile in their hand. Sometimes a player or players will be upset by this and the "seen" tile can be swapped with another one in a random spot in the wall, but for the most part it's a non-issue. The best practice is to keep hands away from the playing area, but there is no rule against gently pushing the wall forward to make it easier for players to reach. In my experience, 99 times out of 100 the "seen" tile is tossed out right away.

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  54. When I was taught to read the official hands card, I was told that any info to deviate from a hand as printed would be included in a parenthetical statement with the hand. Any deviation to printed hand would be explained there. With that understanding, on the 2021 card, consecutive numbers, line 5, the numbers would be 1s, 2s, and 3s as listed since the parenthetical statement only gives the option of 1 suit or 3 suits and doesn't mention a change to any 3 consecutive numbers. As we played today, someone said they heard in an online lecture that it could be any consecutive numbers, they didn't have room to print it on line...which is correct?

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    1. The parentheticals are used for clarification, and to provide as much information as possible to guide the player. All the hands in consecutive run are "runs" which means any consecutive numbers in ascending order, unless the words "these numbers only" appear. Because the hand you are referring to can be played in one or three suits, there is limited space for a parenthetical, and so the words "any 3 consec. nos." do not appear. When played, it can be any consecutive run, as that is the category.

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  55. We had a situation at MJ today that I've never considered: A player discarded a tile and named it. She immediately realized she could have used the tile and called "take" before the next player racked the next wall tile. I couldn't find anywhere that addressed whether her taking back her own discard was legal...your thoughts?

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    1. This situation has come up in the past (although very rarely) and the League has ruled that a player cannot call her own discard. While this is not written in the newsletter or Mahjongg Made Easy, you may call the League to verify.

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  56. I wonder about the meaning of those 3 lines on the top right side of the joker. Is it hair? Or an aroma?

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    1. To me the joker depicts a dragon chasing his tail (this is just my interpretation) and the three lines represent the movement of the wind its tail makes. But really it's anyone's guess.

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  57. It is my turn , I have picked a tile , placed in my rack, , can I exchange a tile from my hand for a joker In an exposer from another player and then discard the joker.


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    1. Yes, you can discard the joker. This is a defensive strategy to insure that the joker cannot be taken by another player. Bear in mind, though, that you run the risk of making a player "jokerless," with a winning hand worth double value.

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  58. Can you exchange a tile for a joker in an exposure then discard that same joker.

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  59. If you have a joker displayed and another call the joker for a Mah Jong do you pay double because it was your joker that they got Mah Jong from?

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    1. Here is how it works: If you have an exposure on your rack with a joker, another player may, when it is their turn, take your joker and put the correct symbol tile in its place. If that joker gives the player mahjongg, then it is considered a self-picked mahjongg and all the players pay double, not just the one whose joker was taken.

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  60. The player to my left discards a 3 Crak. If I then want to discard a 3 Crak may I announce it as "Same" rather than saying 3 Crak again?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, you can say "same" or "same tile" or "3 Crak." Your preference.

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  61. Question if a player has 3 jokers and no 4 dots can they call a 4 dots? Not to mahjong just to set them out?!

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    1. Yes. You do not need the natural tile in your hand, as long as you have enough jokers to substitute for the tiles you need in the exposure, which would be one 4 dot (the one picked up from the table) and three jokers (put out from the hand) = 4 four dots.

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