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FAQ #20. Commonly Misunderstood Rules of Asian Forms of Mah-Jongg
It is recommended that every table have a rulebook to settle rule disputes. Variant-specific books are listed in FAQ 2b. Details about the books are given in FAQ 3. Websites are listed in FAQ 4b.
Beginners often bring concepts from other games to the table when starting to learn mah-jongg, and ask the same kind of questions when first learning the game...
If you have a complete chow or pung in your hand, you don't WANT to expose it for all to see. Mahjong isn't Rummy - the goal isn't to get rid of the tiles in your hand, it's to build a complete hand (hopefully without letting on to other players how complete your hand is). So when you have a complete chow or pung in your hand, keep it hidden in your hand as your happy secret.
You can take a discard to make a chow only when it is thrown by the player at your left. BUT... To make a pung or kong, or to declare mah-jongg, you can take anyone's discard (even when it isn't your turn).
When someone claims a discard to make a pung, the regular order of play is interrupted. After the punger has discarded, play order resumes from the punger (not from the discarder who gave the punged tile).
A kong is a special pung. The typical hand is "four groups and a pair" - fourteen tiles (a "group" is usually "three tiles"). So when a group is a kong (four tiles), then it messes up the tile count. If your hand has four groups, and one of the groups is four tiles, say because you just picked a fourth from the wall, you don't have a tile to discard because now you have "four groups and a single." With me so far? So to preserve the hand's integrity, a replacement tile must be taken. Usually it is taken from the back end of the wall (just as is done with flowers) - unless your rulebook defines a "kong box" separate from the "flower wall."
Speaking of flowers... Flowers don't count as part of the hand. When counting your tiles (either to see if you need to pick or to discard, or to check if your hand is dead or not), count only your exposed groupings and your concealed tiles - don't count the flowers. And if you have a kong, count that as three tiles (not four).
No, you cannot make a four-numbers chow (four sequential numbers in a row). A chow is "three consecutive numbers in a row," end of story. A four-number sequence pattern is useful strategically (in building the hand), but it's not an exposable set, and cannot exist by itself in a completed hand.
No, you cannot make a chow from three different dragons or three different winds or three consecutively numbered flowers. There is no such thing. A chow is made from numbered suit tiles only.
When one player claims a discard for chow, and one claims it for a pung, then the pung call trumps the chow call.
When one player claims a discard for exposure, and one claims it for mah-jongg, the player who needs it for mah-jongg takes priority.
When two players claim a tile for mah-jongg, the player whose turn would be next in order of play (counterclockwise from discarder) gets the tile. There are exceptions to every rule: Some forms of mah-jongg (such as Japanese) allow both players to win. And some forms (such as HKOS) may allow a claim for a high-scoring hand or special hand to trump another winner's claim.
Going counterclockwise around the table, players' winds are East, South, West, North. It does not correspond to the expected compass directions on a map (East, North, West, South) as if looking down on the table from the heavens. It was never intended to!
Q: I know that some hands are permitted to be exposed and some must be concealed, but what do the terms "exposed" and "concealed" mean exactly?
A: Concealed means "all concealed, win by discard permitted." And Exposed means "there is at least one exposure (meld)."
So, if a player is displaying one or more melded exposures, which kind of hand is the player holding...? Exposed. If a player says mah-jongg without having previously melded any exposures, which kind of hand did the player have...? Concealed.
Name: Tom Sloper
Email: tomster[AT]sloperama[DOT]com
Date: 20 Aug 2003
Hello Vivian Mason (vm28), you wrote:
>Our group has not been able to establish the sequence of picking tiles from the wall, and also selecting tiles in turn. We have a problem with direction.
Yes, many have asked this before. Look at this picture.
There are two directions happening simultaneously - counterclockwise (the players taking tiles in turn) and clockwise (the tiles disappearing from the wall). During the course of play, players always take turns counterclockwise (even during the deal) - and tiles are always removed clockwise from the wall (even during the deal).
What is the rule when somebody wants to claim a discarded tile for exposure after the next person has already picked a tile from the wall?
Your question is about what I call the "window of opportunity" rule. The "window of opportunity" is that brief moment in time during which a player may claim a discard. When does the window of opportunity open, and when does it close? NOTE: The following applies specifically to American mah-jongg. Most Asian forms' rulebooks do not include this level of detail. Thus the principle described below is not enforceable if the players have a different way of doing things. For instance, some players might have a rule that once a tile has been picked and seen, it's now too late to take the discard. That said, the following is still good food for thought, for players of all variants. - Tom
Opening the Window of Opportunity
The window opens the instant a discarded tile is either named (if your group announces tiles when discarding) or it touches the table top, whichever happens first. The tile is now "down," and is available for claiming by another player. (And the discarder can no longer change his mind and take it back.)
Next Player Picks From the Wall
The next player (the player to the right of the discarder) now reaches (ideally allowing other players a reasonable moment in which to claim the live discard), takes the next tile from the end of the wall, and looks at it. He cannot change his mind and put the tile back, but the window of opportunity is still open on the most recent discard. His taking and looking at the picked tile did NOT close the window of opportunity on the live discard - anybody can still call it!
Closing the Window of Opportunity
Any other player can claim the current discard right up until one of the following events occurs:
The current player puts the picked tiles among the other tiles in his hand;
The current player discards his picked tile;
The current player declares mah-jongg with his newly picked tile.
Once any of the above has occurred, the window of opportunity CLOSES on the discarded tile we've been discussing. It's now too late for another player to claim that tile for exposure or for mah-jongg.
One Window Closes, Another Window Opens
When a player picks and discards without racking (#2 above), the window of opportunity shuts resoundingly on one tile, and opens instantly on another, when he either fully names the newly discarded tile (if your group announces tiles when discarding) or it touches the table top, whichever happens first. Only the current discard is available for play. That old discarded tile is now "dead," and is considered "covered" by the new discarded tile.
I recommend that all tables have a copy of a good rulebook. See FAQ 3 for a list of books on numerous types of mah-jongg, and see FAQ 2b if you need to identify which type you play...
May the tiles be with you! - Tom
Tom Sloper
Tomster at Sloperama dot com
Los Angeles, CA
Date = March 11, 2004
Name = Minette
Email = brogal@svidaho.net
Comments = >Continuing discussion about the "window of opportunity" re: discards
>It seems that it would be smart for a player picking from the wall to immediately rack the tile (in her hand)- & "close the window of opportunity" on the previously discarded tile, - & then discard that picked tile or another. True?
True, it does seem that that would be smart. However... would it be nice?
If you are playing against a bunch who is much faster and sharper than you (you are totally outgunned by a bunch of mah-jongg "sharks"), then by all means "pickandrack" is a reasonable defensive strategy. HOWEVER... if any of your opponents are slow thinkers, or new players still struggling with the concept of the game, then "pickandrack" would be a highly aggressive way to act. Who's the mah-jongg shark now? (^_^)
Some authors who write about the Chinese Classical game actually go one step further and set a rule that the player to the right of the latest discarder should pause for a beat before reaching to take the next tile from the wall. And I even heard some mention of this idea (that players should pause for a beat before picking) at a recent American tournament here in Los Angeles. It's a kinder and gentler way to play! ...
May the tiles be with you! - Tom
Tom Sloper
Tomster at Sloperama dot com
Los Angeles, CA
Date = March 13, 2004
Can I declare mah-jongg from anyone, if my last remaining uncompleted set is a chow?
>From: Beverly Cox
>Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 8:38 AM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>We play the classical Chinese version of Mah-Jongg (more or less…we are trying). But we cannot find a definitive answer to this question: Is it possible for a player to chow from someone other than the discarder at the left in order to MJ? This is the quote from FAQ #20:
>“You can take a discard to make a chow only when it is thrown by the player at your left. BUT... To make a pung or kong, or to declare mah-jongg, you can take anyone's discard (even when it isn't your turn).”
>I found the same information in Millington’s “The Complete Book of Mah-Jongg”, but several rule books and web sites state that only to declare mah-jongg, it is permissible to take anyone’s discard to complete a chow.
>One of our group plays an online version of Mah-Jongg where it is possible to chow from any player in order to MJ, and has also found the information quoted below (that I find even more confusing!) We all agreed that you are our definitive source and will abide by your suggestion. I do understand that we can decide among ourselves how we wish to play, but two of us would really like to know the “official” classical Chinese rule as it applies to chow and MJ.
>Thank you again for your expertise…
>Bev Cox
>
>-----------------------------------------
>The following quote came from Berrie Bloem's Mah Jongg - The REAL Game!(TM) Rules
>* When the player to the immediate left of a player discards a tile the player can pick this tile up to make a Chow - that is, to make a combination of three consecutive tiles of the same suit. A player cannot make a Chow by picking up a tile that has been discarded by any other player than the player that is to the immediate left of a player. The only exception to this rule is explained in the next point.
>* If a player wishes to pick up a discarded tile to make a Chow AND to go Mah Jongg at the same time then a player can pick up a tile that has been discarded by any player. If a player is not allowed to pick up the discarded tile under these circumstances then see Precedences for further information. Here are the Precedents:
Hi Beverly,
I guess this concept is hard for everyone to explain, not just me. I thought I said it clearly, but I guess not.
To make a chow, the discard must come from the player at your left. EXCEPT when your chow completes the hand and makes you mah-jongg. THEN you are allowed to take the discard from any player (not only the player at your left). You aren't saying "chow," you're saying "mah-jongg." Mah-jongg always trumps chow.
I hope I've stated it clearly enough now? If not, I'll try again...
Tom Sloper / トム·スローパー
/
湯姆·斯洛珀 /
탐 슬로퍼
MJ溌Sloperama中com
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
August 30, 2007
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," available at bookstores and Amazon.com
Can one not only have one's cake, but eat it too? (Japanese riichi/dora majan)
From: "Richard W Emrich"
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 2:07 PM
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q A
> My mah-jongg question or comment is:
> At our weekly Japanese MJ game, one player went Ron with 7 pairs (we were
> taught to call it Niko-Niko). With his 7 pairs, he had 2x1 crack, 2x2
> crack & 2x3 crack. (2 identical chows or Iipeikou) Can he claim a Fan for
> Iipeikou as well as 2 Fan for the 7 pair ?
> I have not had much exposure to the 'correct' terms of Mah-jongg so I hope
> this is OK
> Thanks
> Richard W. Emrich
> Chino Hills, CA
中&西: Hi Richard,
Let me draw you a picture to show you why the answer is no.
This shows "2 sets and 4 pairs." There's no such hand structure! You can only make "4 sets and 1 pair" or "7 pairs" or "12 singles and 1 pair" (kokushimusou).
The answer is no. Those 6 tiles are either 2 chows OR 3 pairs - they cannot be both at the same time. And as you can see by the illustration above, the 2 chows option is not a valid option. They can only be 3 pairs in this case.
I think I'll tack this onto FAQ 20.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper / トム·スローパー
/
湯姆 斯洛珀 /
탐 슬로퍼
MJ溌Sloperama中com
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
January 25, 2008
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Available at bookstores, BN.com, and Amazon.com.
Can I chow to win? Or do I have to self-pick?
>From: Charles/Cordelia Christopher
>Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 4:11 PM
>Subject: When you mah jongg in Classical Chinese Rules, is it permissable...
>Hi Tom
>When you Mah Jongg using Classical Chinese rule set:
>If you have 4 sets of 3 and 1 green dragon, and a player discards a green dragon, can you Mah Jongg to make the pair or do you have to hope to draw the second green dragon from the wall?
>Also:
>If you have 4 sets of three and in your concealed hand you have a pair and a 2 number chow, if any player discards the 3rd number for your chow, can you mah jongg picking up the tile to complete the chow or do you still have to follow the rule of picking up a chow only from the preceding player on your left?
>Thanks
>Cordelia Christopher
>From: Charles/Cordelia Christopher
Hi Cordelia,
Your 2nd question is answered in FAQ 20 (above left).
Once you know the answer to your 2nd question, I think you'll know the answer to your 1st question too.
But if I'm wrong, you know where to ask.
So... do you have a book that you use as your Chinese Classical "bible"? If so, if you tell me which book it is (tell me author's name, that's usually more important than the title, which mostly all sound alike), I can show you which page your answer is on.
Tom
>Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 4:49 PM
>Subject: Re: When you mah jongg in Classical Chinese Rules, is it permissable...
>So I can pick up any tile, including a tile to complete a chow, to complete a Mah Jongg hand; so I can also pick up the green dragon, in question 1, as long as I mah jongg? Thanks-I thought that was true.
>Although I play Wright-Patterson I've taught people in myAsheville, NC little mountain neighborhood and here in Hilton Head Island where we can play outside. I found the rules on-line although I have an old Babcock book at home that I think I am mostly using except for the last step of scoring where you subtract your score from the winners. But I don't have a printer here in Hilton Head so at home I printed out a rule set-a one pager for simplicity for new players and it's by Paul E. Jaeger, Nov. 23, 2004.
>Thanks again for your wonderful web site. We are mostly retired in my groups and new people to the game really enjoy it-especially those who played years ago in a NMJL group. They feel so free of penalty-and the fact that you can collect scores without actually winning by Mah Jongg is really enjoyable, especially for beginners.
>Sincerely,
>Cordelia Christopher
Cordelia, you wrote:
Thanks-I thought that was true.
You're welcome - you thought right! (^_^)
I found the rules on-line although I have an old Babcock book
OK, well, that online page you found obviously sucks. Use a different one. And as much as we all owe Babcock for popularizing the game in America and Europe, his simplified rules (assuming you have the more common paperback pamphlet, not the hardcover book) don't go into enough details. Better you have a Foster or a Harr or a Millington.
a rule set-a one pager for simplicity ... by Paul E. Jaeger, Nov. 23, 2004.
Well, obviously that's no good either, at least not for when you need to know how things work.
And I'm so glad you're spreading the joy of mah-jongg! And that's really cool that ex-NMJL players are enjoying the classic! Keep it up, girl! (^_^)
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper / トム·スローパー
/
湯姆 斯洛珀
/ 탐 슬로퍼
MJ溌Sloperama中com
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
March 5, 2008
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West. Available at bookstores, BN.com, and Amazon.com.
Simplified rules for "basic Chinese" mah-jongg - FAQ 10!
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© 2004 Tom Sloper. All rights reserved. May not be re-published without written permission of the author.
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