The Official Standard Hands & Rules of the National Mah Jongg League Inc., for the current year, will be the format for all The Mahjong Experience Tournaments.

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GAMES/ROUNDS:

There will be 4 rounds of play throughout the day, with each round lasting 55 minutes. On the tournament side, the goal is to complete 4 games within each round.  In order to finish your games and maximize your chances at winning points, we ask that players keep table chatter to a minimum. There will be plenty of time for conversation during check-in, the lunch break, and at the end of the event. 

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When time is called, any unfinished game will end immediately. No points will be awarded for that game. At this point, all players will change tables, except for East, who remains in place.

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GAME FLOW AND ETIQUETTE:

When a game is won, and scoring is marked, we immediately move on to the next game.​

• We do not discuss hands after the game.

• Please refrain from comments such as:​ “I was one away” “Where are the jokers?” “Who has my tiles?”

• Instead, simply congratulate the winner and move on.​

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POSITION MOVEMENTS:

EAST – Remains at their table for the entire tournament.

WEST – Moves UP TWO tables after each round.

NORTH – Moves UP ONE table after each round.

SOUTH – Moves DOWN ONE table after each round

 

THE CARD: Players are required to display the NMJL card during tournament play. The Card is part of this game and is considered a sign of courtesy. It should be on display during the official games.

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SCORING: East has a master score card for each round and hands it in at end of each round. After each win, East will enter the corresponding scores, and players are responsible for approving those scores. If there are errors/discrepancies in the scoring, they MUST be resolved before moving to the next table. After that there are no changes. If necessary, call the director for a ruling.

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POINTS:

• Amount on card – Player who makes Mah Jongg (ex. a 25 listed on the card equals 25 points).

• PLUS 10 points – Player who PICKS their own Mah Jongg.

• No Penalty – Player who THROWS Mah Jongg to a hand with NO exposures or ONE exposure.

• MINUS 10 points – Player who THROWS Mah Jongg to a hand with TWO exposures.

• MINUS 25 points – Player who THROWS Mah Jongg to a hand with THREE or more exposures.

• PLUS 20 points – A winning hand with NO JOKERS. SINGLES & PAIRS hands do NOT get this bonus.

• PLUS 10 points – Wall Game: ALL players get points, except for a hand that was declared dead or Mah Jongg in error.

• Time’s up and a game is incomplete; each player gets a score of zero for that game.​

• Dead hands – Do not get a minus 10 and do not receive points for a wall game. Player gets a zero.

 

MAHJONG IN ERROR - Players should not throw in their hand or expose hand until mahjong is verified. If mahjong is declared in error, that player’s hand is dead, and the remaining players keep playing.

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PICKING AND THROWING TILES:

• Your turn begins when you pick a tile or call a tile for exposure.

• Do not place your hand on the next tile or hover over the wall until the player before you has made their discard.

• IF YOU TOUCH THE TILE, it’s yours! This applies to BOTH picking from the beginning of the wall and/or calling the last discarded tile.

• A player may call the last discarded tile for Mah Jongg or an exposure until the next player either racks or discards the picked tile.

• Once a tile is racked, the previous tile is “dead”. (It’s no longer available)

• You must discard your tile if: (a) the tile touches the table, or (2) you start to say the name of the tile. It is called intent. Continue the discard.

• Player must pick before discarding or exchanging Jokers. The pick is the start of a turn.

• Picking and racking – although the last discarded tile is still available until your tile is racked it is discourteous to rack very quickly. Please take a pause before racking your tile; count to 3, there is plenty of time.

• Jokers may be replaced from any exposure before a hand went “dead.” Jokers in an exposure that made the hand dead are not available.

• When declaring Mah Jongg, the hand should be displayed as it appears on the card as a courtesy to others.

• Jokers – Request the exchange and hand the person the tile to replace.

 

 

CALLED TILE:

• If you call a tile for MJ or for an exposure, the called tile MUST be placed ON your rack, not IN the slope of your rack. This verifies that you picked the right tile.

• If two players call at the same time for Mah Jongg the tile goes to the next player in the rotation.

 

CIRCUMSTANCES/REMINDERS:

• Use proper verbiage when announcing tiles; 1 BAM, SOAP/WHITE, FLOWER, JOKER/SAME/LAST TILE DISCARDED

• If you know a hand is “dead,” you can declare it. But, if you declare a hand dead in error, your hand is “dead”. Do not discuss it with others first.

• If a Joker is Exchanged and gives a player their MJ, it is self-picked. The Joker can come from their own rack or another rack. It is called the “Finesse Move” and because the Joker is the 14th tile that they are picking, it is self-picked; this is a type of strategy.

• You must play all rounds of the tournament, if there is an emergency contact the directors.

• Players are required to supply their own National Mah Jongg League Card.

• The game does not start until East throws.

• You cannot go dead during the Charleston.

• Have patience for others; we all learn differently, and we were all new once.

• Please do not criticize or judge your opponent’s play.

• RESPECT: Players, please be gracious and courteous to your fellow players. This tournament enforces a “ZERO TOLERANCE” Code of Contact for inconsiderate, rude, or abusive behavior.

 

*East is to make sure the game finishes in time, marks the scoring cards, etc. Scoring or rules should be addressed by the Director and not by the players or easts.

 

If a question arises during play, DIRECTOR’S ruling is final

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You’re ready, and best of luck!

 

​  Shafrit