The 1940 and 1956 NMJL cards
On Sunday, July 5, 2026 at 04:54:52 PM EDT, Theo P wrote:
Subject: More questions about rules with old NMJL cards
Hi, Tom, My wife and I are playing with cards from 1940 on in an attempt to learn the differences in strategy and experience over the years. I know you have answered a couple of questions and I apologize if any of these questions are redundant!
We played with the 1940 card this week. It uses 12 flowers as wildcards. The rules on the back of the card don’t explicitly go over the use of the wildcards, but there is one rule that I think you previously pointed out implies that you can exchange exposed flowers like we do jokers in modern hands. It is this rule:
A tile once discarded cannot be exchanged.
It seems odd that they would state that exposed flowers can be exchanged for the tiles they represent in the hand. Which leads to my second question. How do we know that flowers can be exchanged for singles and pairs? Is there a specific year when that rule was introduced? I have almost every card since 1940, so I guess I can check them!
I have a couple more questions. In the rules for the 1956 card states:
A flower cannot be used in Bouquet Hand to replace the required pattern of any Numerals, Winds or Dragons. A Bouquet cannot contain any more or any less Flowers than indicated.
My interpretation of this is that flowers are used as flowers in bouquet hands, and can only be used as wildcards in hands that aren’t bouquet hands. Is that the correct interpretation? Do you know what year bouquet hands began and ended?
My last question is regarding rules in Siamese Mahjong. I’m not sure your website goes into those rules. My wife and I love Mahjong and we play Siamese whenever we can’t find other players. Yesterday we had a situation where I accidentally exposed a set of tiles that could only be used in one concealed hand. My wife called it out and we weren’t sure what to do. I think this is similar to a dead hand in regular four-player mahjong. Does play continue?
Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge with us as we explore the nuances and differences between the historical cards!
-Theo
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
Hi, Theo!
I don't have the 1940 card. Better: I have the 1940 "Maajh" by Viola Cecil (then the president of the NMJL). There's a lot more room for detail in the book as opposed to the card.
And I have the 1941 card. On the back: "5. A tile once discarded cannot be exchanged."
Hoping to find info on exchanging flowers in the 1940 book, I found instead the origin of the rule you asked about.
There's an insert in the book, titled "Summary of Standard Maajh Hands," containing not just a Summary but also Errata and New Rulings. On the New Rulings page, it says: "P.44: Twelfth paragraph change to read 'A tile once discarded cannot be recalled or exchanged.'"
In case it might be of interest, that twelfth paragraph being replaced is: "A player may recall a tile if the next player to the right has not yet drawn and no other player wants that tile." So recalling a discard (aka "backsies") was replaced by the rule you're asking about.
I saw nothing in the 1940 book, nor the 1939 or 1941 editions, or the 1941-42 card about exchanging flowers. Just this one sentence you cited.
It's like it's assumed that everyone knew that flowers could be exchanged. But there was nothing in print about it, except that one sentence.
But I seem to have gone on too long. You wrote:
Theo: "It seems odd that they would state that exposed flowers can be exchanged for the tiles they represent in the hand. Which leads to my second question."
Tom: But did they state that? I couldn't find it! And I'm not sure what the first question was!
Theo: How do we know that flowers can be exchanged for singles and pairs? Is there a specific year when that rule was introduced?
Tom: There is a question behind that question: could flowers be used in singles and pairs? The answer to that question is yes. In Maajh 1940, page 6, it says "FLOWERS--The eight flowers or seasons which are used as jokers and can be substituted for any tile." It does not state any exceptions. Much farther along the timeline, in the 1984-85 card, a new rule appeared: "JOKER OR JOKERS CAN NEVER BE USED FOR A SINGLE TILE OR IN A PAIR.
This rule was not mentioned in earlier cards or rulebooks. So flowers (and their successors, jokers) could be used in pairs and as singles. Up until 1984.
However, that's tangential to your question, which has a basic flaw. A wild tile exchange can only happen with an exposure. See where I'm heading? There's no such thing as an exposure of a single or a pair, regardless of whether a wild tile can be used in it. A wild tile in a pair is concealed up until declaration of mah-jongg ("maajh"), at which time it's not eligible for wild tile redemption.
Theo, citing the 1956 card: "A flower cannot be used in Bouquet Hand to replace the required pattern of any Numerals, Winds or Dragons. A Bouquet cannot contain any more or any less Flowers than indicated.
My interpretation of this is that flowers are used as flowers in bouquet hands, and can only be used as wildcards in hands that aren’t bouquet hands. Is that the correct interpretation? Do you know what year bouquet hands began and ended?
Tom:
I don't have a 1956 card but I do have a 1955 card.
The way I interpret this is that a Bouquet Hand is any hand that requires you to make a set (a pair, pung, kong, or quint) of those oh-so-valuable tiles - and not use flowers anywhere else in the hand - so you make a set of flowers, with sets of other tiles without using any flowers in those. Hands that aren't Bouquet Hands have no flower restrictions.
And I don't know when Bouquets started and ended. I can tell you there were no Bouquets in the 1948 card and there were in the 1955 card. It might have to do with the number of flowers in use - the 1955 card required 24 flowers! I imagine Bouquets were gone by the time the 8F/8J standard was set, in 1971. https://sloperama.com/mjfaq/mjfaq11h.html
Theo: My last question is regarding rules in Siamese Mahjong.
Tom: I've never played Siamese, so I would have to go read up on the rules, which you can also do. I recommend you ask Gladys Grad. She seems happy to answer questions about her game. I would check the rules on her website, https://mahjongg.org/siamese-rules/, then if you don't find your answer, click "About / Contact."
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
July 5, 2026
Player wanted to call mahj after next in turn already racked
On Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 04:51:59 PM EDT, DebbiAnn L wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is: Hi Tom! Here's my question: if a player throws a discard that another player (not next in line) could call mahjongg with, but the next in line drew and racked, should they stay silent, or would/should the mahjongg be honored?
Thank you!
Debbi Ann L
Hi, Debbi Ann! At the moment the next player racked the drawn tile, the window of opportunity on the discard was closed. See rule 8 on p.17 of MJME 2023/24. It would be unwise of the erstwhile mahj player to call everyone's attention to the tile she needs for mah-jongg.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 27, 2026
Not misnamed but misheard, part 2
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 10:19:48 AM EDT, Star Fire wrote:
Subject: Re: Not misnamed, but misheard
Thank you for your reply. I have another question on that same issue. If she had picked up the 5 Bam and placed it on her rack, but had not exposed the three 9 Bams, could she then have returned the 5 Bam to the table and we would have moved on? Is she automatically dead for not looking, as well as not listening, and racking the wrong tile? We wouldn't have cared if she had just returned the 5 Bam to the table, but I want to know the correct ruling.
Again, thank you.
Star
See MJME 2023/24, p. 18, rule 13. Putting a called discard atop the rack is a commitment. A line was crossed. The discard remains atop the rack, no backsies. (This is also FAQ 19-AM.2.)
You also asked "is she automatically dead" - no, not automatically.
The player is permitted to make an exposure with the taken tile, if able.
If the player
cannot make the taken discard into a legal pung or larger exposure, then yes, the hand would be dead.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 24, 2026
Not misnamed but misheard
On Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 10:02:36 AM EDT, Star Fire wrote:
Subject: Not misnamed, but misheard
Good morning Tom,
I have a question on "misheard", not "misnamed". Someone heard 9 Bam being discarded. She called for it, and exposed her three 9 Bams, and when she picked up the called tile, she realized it was actually a 5 Bam, and returned it to the table. We weren't quite sure what to do since she had exposed her hand. We suggested she find another hand using the three 9 Bams she exposed. But since she exposed her hand, she needed to discard a tile, and would be left with only 12 tiles. Could she pick up the 5 Bam and since she didn't need it, just discard it? Then she would be left with her 13 tiles, and the need to find a new hand.
Thank you for your help.
Starfire
Hi, Star! By a strict reading of the rules, the player's hand is dead. Your oh-so-kind method of allowing her to partially undo the move ran into a big problem. If you are intent on going against the strict rule, you have to let her undo ALL of it, and put the 9 bams back, too - not just the 5 bam. There's no halfway solution. She should have used her eyes, too - not only her ears.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 23, 2026
Mystery flowers (was: Is it ivory?), part 2
On Monday, June 22, 2026 at 07:33:27 PM EDT, Common Ground wrote:Re: Mahjong Question
Thank you! Your response shone some light on this other one I got. This is presumably Wing Kee as well, with fishbone tiles then. The backs are interesting- resin perhaps?
Jay Z (They/Them)
Founder
Common Ground Mahjong
Website: https://commongroundmahjong.com/
You're welcome. I would not assume your three-layer plastic tiles are from Wing Kee. Singapore flowers are fairly common.
I don't know what your backs are made of. Maybe a reader will.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 2, 2026
Mystery flowers (was: Is it ivory?)
On Monday, June 22, 2026 at 04:38:02 PM EDT, Common Ground wrote:
Subject: Re: Mahjong Question
Wow, thanks for your speedy reply! Fishbone makes a lot of sense. What are these chevron
looking etchings from in that case, and would you also know anything about what these eight people are? I was told they could be the eight immortals.
Jay Z (They/Them)
Founder
Common Ground Mahjong
Website: https://commongroundmahjong.com/
Hi again, Jay!
The cross-hatching, "chevron looking etchings" are just saw marks. I couldn't see them in your videos, but you called them "etchings." Ivory cross-hatching is within the material, not just at the outer surface.
I haven't made the effort to learn enough Chinese legend, lore, and history to know the Eight Immortals - I do have a couple of books on that subject but what I also have is FAQ 7E-F, "Mysterious Flower Tiles." Readers have written in with lots of examples of other such tiles, and people have identified Immortals among them.
Btw, Wing Kee also makes fishbone tiles with bamboo backs, in fabric-covered squarish "briefcase" style cases - often with Singapore "animal" flowers. I have a couple of those sets.
Anyway. The information you seek is in that FAQ.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 22, 2026
Is it ivory?
On Monday, June 22, 2026 at 03:48:47 PM EDT, Common Ground wrote:
Subject: Mahjong Question
Hi Tom,
Your website has been enormously helpful! I picked up this vintage set and have been puzzling over whether it's bone or ivory. There seems to be a pearly translucency, in that the grain disappears at certain light angles. Any help in identifying this set's materials would be greatly appreciated, thank you so much!
It's from Wing Kee Factory:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ3mIliiGVu/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Best,
Jay
Jay Z (They/Them)
Founder
Common Ground Mahjong
Website: https://commongroundmahjong.com/
Download all attachments as a zip file
IMG_9339.mov 9.4 MB
IMG_9340.mov 14.9 MB
Hi, Jay!
Certainly not ivory. Your videos do not show any pearlescence, and I would be surprised if they did. And certainly not bone. Too white. See https://sloperama.com/majexchange/id.html#fishbone (FAQ 7c). It's fishbone, pulverized and bleached. A material that's been used since the 1990s, maybe the 1980s.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 22, 2026
Lining up or stacking discards, part 2
On Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 06:52:31 PM EDT, Phillip wrote:
Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A
Thanks Tom. Keep up the great work!
Phil
You're welcome, Phil. I should mention that orderly discards, as used in MCR and Riichi, makes the game more strategic because one can track the plays of one's opponents in addition to playing one's own tiles. "Reading the river" of discards lets you see what your opponents discarded, and when, so you can gain insights into what they're keeping. It also lets your opponents see what you're doing, so it's a 2-edged sword.
The stacking feature your friend requested, though, is a helpful cheat that many mah-jongg video games / apps provide - designed to let you see how many of each tile are left in play. That's just a crutch for someone wanting help reading the table.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Juneteenth, 2026
Lining up or stacking discards (American mahj)
On Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 11:58:41 AM EDT, Phillip K wrote:
Subject: Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A
Hi Tom,
A Mah jongg beginner-student requested that the discards be placed in orderly rows to more easily identify what had been thrown out during play and perhsps even stacking them. Normally, I suggest dicarding away from discarder in no particular order so no one can trace the discards back to indivudual players.
Is there an NMJL rule against lining up discards in orderly rows? Or stacking discards ( e.g. all green dragons placed in a stack)?
Thanks for you Mah jongg wisdom.
Phil
On Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 01:15:27 PM EDT, Phillip K wrote:
Subject: Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A
Tom,
I forgot to mention the prior question was re American Mah jongg.
Thanks,
Phil
Hi, Phil!
There's no rule [[[against]]] orderly or stacked discards. The rulebook also doesn't specifically say that the discards are to be placed haphazardly. It's just the customary and expected practice, inherited from the classical Chinese practice. There are some mah-jongg variants that specify orderly discards, notably Chinese Official (MCR) and Japanese (riichi). But it's the long established custom in American mah-jongg that the discards are haphazard.
As for how to handle the beginner-student, that depends on your relationship. You said they are a "beginner-student," which suggests the possibility that they are your student - that you are teaching. Some teachers may allow orderly discards during classes as a beginner crutch to speed the teaching, but I think that just sets up the student to rely on the crutch after "graduating." If you're the teacher, you can just say no to the countertraditional practice. Reading a haphazard table is a necessary skill that must be developed by playing a lot.
If your beginner-student wants to get better faster at reading a haphazard table, recommend that they get a simple mah-jongg tile-matching game on their smartphone or tablet. Playing those games is extremely helpful for tile recognition and reading a haphazard arrangement of mah-jongg tiles (and they're fun). Some of the tile-matching apps are better than others. There are free ones and ones that allow a free trial period. It's easy to try one and try another and find out what works for oneself.
If you are not the teacher, then are your games with them taking place in your home, their home, or in a third location such as a community center or game café - because your options differ in each. In your home, you can set a table rule that discards must be haphazard per custom / tradition. At their home, they can set a table rule that discards are orderly or stacked. At a third location, it becomes a negotiation. The majority chooses to either use a crutch or stay with tradition. Unless you're at a location where there might be a game master who says what is allowed.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 18, 2026
The 2026 NMJL card, part 6
On Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 09:16:16 PM EDT, Isaac S wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
On the third hand of any like number of the 2026 mah-jongg hand, can your hand be “FF 2222(cracks) 22(bams) 2222(dots) DD(greens)”. I ask this due to the fact that the Ds are green, matching a four of a kind, which confuses me if it must match a four of a kind. Thanks!
Sent from my iPhone
Hi, Isaac!
As I wrote in FAQ 16, the dragons can match any number set. The parenthetical says "Any Dragon," which is the League's way of saying that the dragons can be any suit, regardless of the color-coding. The parenthetical always overrides the color-coding. So always read the parenthetical, too, not just the color-coding.
And you might want to bookmark FAQ 16 for future questions about the yearly NMJL card. And know that FAQ 19 contains all the most Frequently Asked Questions about NMJL rules beyond those on the back of the card.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 17, 2026
Is this really a rule?
On Friday, June 12, 2026 at 07:01:25 PM EDT, Hedy G wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
This question regards a NMJL rule referencing the misnaming of a tile. I understand if a tile is misnamed and a player needs that misnamed tile for MJ and calls MJ upon hearing that name, then the player gets to declare MJ. The misnamer then plays for the table and the game is over. This applies even if the player misnames a joker. Is this correct as a MJ rule according to the NMJL.
Thank you
Hedy G
Yes, it is. See for yourself, Hedy:
1. The back of the 2026 NMJL card. Middle panel. First paragraph, "MISNAMED TILE." Fifth and sixth sentences.
2. MJME 2023/24, p. 16, rule 3. Fifth and sixth sentences. (Same as back of card.)
3. The January 2026 bulletin, Q&A #8. If you don't have the paper bulletin, you can download the bulletin from the NMJL's website. The rule is on p.6. https://nmjlbulletins.blob.core.windows.net/bulletins/202601/index.html#p=6
4. FAQ 19-AY.
By the way, sorry I didn't find your email until today. I don't know why it went to the spam folder.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 14, 2026
Racks: when?
On Friday, June 12, 2026 at 12:29:08 AM EDT, Alice S wrote:
Subject: Question
Hi Tom
I am wondering if you know when racks were added to the American version of mah jongg. Might it have part of the 1937 remake by the group led by Viola Cecil and Dorothy Meyerson?
Just wondering,
Thanks for reading,
Alice S
Hi, Alice!
I have racks from the 1920s. I think American players preferred racks over standing the tiles on end, right from the get-go.
Imported sets didn't come with racks but American entrepreneurs made racks that could be purchased separately at the department stores.
When American manufacturers began making domestic mah-jongg sets, they saw racks as a good side market. Then, when they started making sets from Bakelite and Catalin, it made sense to make plastic racks as well as tiles, and to package them together.
But this is all conjecture on my part. I don't think the newly founded League was involved with manufacturing.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 12, 2026
Is it a rule that you MUST verbalize Mah-Jongg?
On Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 03:57:55 PM EDT, Susan D wrote:
Subject: Verbal Declaration
Hi Tom, Is it a rule that you MUST make a verbal declaration that you have Mah Jongg after calling a tile, or can you just expose your Mah Jongg? During a game yesterday a player said that you must say Mah Jongg before exposing a Mah Jongg. I do not agree. Who is correct? I have looked for it in writing and cannot find it anywhere. Susan
Hi, Susan!
Take a look at MJME 2023/24, page 15, paragraph 5, first sentence. Mah-Jongg is expected to be declared. It's a declaration, and it's expected to be verbal. But there is no penalty mentioned, so there is no penalty, for not verbalizing the call.
But don't forget that a discard must be spoken for (aloud), per MJME 023/24, page 14, last line of text and continuing atop page 15.
Several of the printed rules discuss conflicting claims - one person wants a discard for exposure and one wants it for Mahj - how is that conflict resolved? They have to verbalize what they want the discard for.
So to me, that's three points for verbalizing Mah-Jongg, and zero points for not verbalizing mahj.
But no penalty. The claim is honored (after the claimant explains which hand on the card it is, and how much in coins the other players must pay).
Of course then there's etiquette to consider. Any interruption in the verbal flow will get the attention of the others (most of the time). But it's good manners to speak the claim, since the game involves continual verbalization for discarding and calling (it's not only a looking game but a listening game too*). And now the score is four - zero.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 6, 2026
*I usually say that the other way around! (^_^)
The 2026 NMJL card, part 5
On Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 01:51:32 PM EDT, Janet C wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is: please explain the variations os 3369 3333 3333.
Sent from my iPad
Hi, Janet! The "floating pair" is at the heart of two hands on the 2026 card: Odds #4 and 369 #5. The pattern for both hands is: there's a run* of single tiles, one of which is paired. Any one. And two kongs of the same number as the paired number in the run.
*Technically, "13579" and "369" are not "runs," (because they're not consecutive by ones) but the pattern works. Last year, the floating pair was in Consec.
113579 1111 1111
133579 3333 3333
135579 5555 5555
135779 7777 7777
135799 9999 9999
FF 3369 3333 3333
FF 3669 6666 6666
FF 3699 9999 9999
I also explained this in FAQ 16.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 4, 2026
Trending
On Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 10:32:44 AM EDT, Judi Nachenberg wrote:
Subject: mah jongg
Hi Tom,
Hope you are enjoying living in NY.
Do you think the trend for newer players is not to be playing for money? I have been playing for almost 50 years and I was taught right away to be playing with money. I have noticed that the newer players are not playing for money. They have even taken off the information from the back of the card as to how much to receive if you make a mah jongg. I played at a new mah jongg parlour that just opened up in the Encino, CA area and all of the people playing there had only been playing about 1 - 2 years and they had no idea about playing for money. When I teach, after a few weeks, I teach them to ask for the amount that they would collect
when playing for money. Since that information is not on the back of the card anymore I have printed out that information and use it as one of my handouts.
Just wondering what your thoughts are.
Judi Nachenberg
Los Angeles, CA
Great to hear from you, Judi! I think you may be on to something. Now I wonder if the new players even keep any kind of score. I guess we have several levels of scoring, and all of them in use in varying numbers:
1. NMJL scoring, with coins
2. NMJL scoring, with chips
3. NMJL scoring, on paper
4. Tournament scoring, on paper
5. A tally of wins (on paper, maybe)
6. Winner gets a little tchotchke from the host
7. Ooh and aah (vocal congrats of some sort).
I used to advocate the "ooh and aah" method to woo those players hesitant to use money. I wonder if that has become the dominant endgame rigamarole.
I think we're going through the second Mah-Jongg War, a hundred years after the first. The rebel alliance just might codify blanks and messy and towers and pickandrack. Those are the main trends I see these days: sneaky blanks, no walls, three-player Charlestons with Bob/Mrs. Woo/Silent Sue/dummy. And, by Confucius, thou shalt rack thy pick quickly lest some opportunity fly out the open window and onto one of your opponents, who'll chastise you for leaving that window open that long. How dare you, not racking that wall tile right snappy. Then there's tapping, hmm...
Carried away a little. Wondering your thoughts now.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 4, 2026
Thanks for the book reviews, part 3
On Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 09:20:01 AM EDT, <debaronstam wrote:
Subject: Donation and Book Purchased
Hi Tom:
Thank you for responding to my earlier email. I discovered the donation link worked on my tablet but not on my PC. Ad blocker?? The book I purchased was How to Win American Mah Jongg 2026 by Julie Alexander and Philippe Tulula. I found it heavy on the statistics but the patterns for this year’s card were interesting. Some of the strategy points were basic – e.g., try not to pass Flowers in the Charleston and discard Flowers early (isn’t that true every year?). In the games I have played (in person, not on the app), notwithstanding their view of 6s and 3s as tiles in demand, I have found it useful to keep 6s and 3s. At the same time, their advice regarding 1s came in handy for a couple of hands (including Odds#8 where I made my own Mah Jongg).
I am curious as to which hands you and your readers are finding to be the easiest to make (excluding the “most powerful” hand, CR#4).
Best,
Deborah
Curiosity satisfied! (^_^) 6s and 3s, hmm? What did they say about 1s? I have not played enough with this card to make any meaningful answer as to favorite hands.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 4, 2026
Thanks for the book reviews, part 2
On Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 08:45:45 AM EDT, service@paypal wrote:
Subject: debaronstam sent you money
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Thank you, Deborah!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 4, 2026
Thanks for the book reviews
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 09:44:21 AM EDT, debaronstam wrote:
Subject: Review of Mah jongg Books and Donation Link
Hi Tom:
Thank you for your assessment of AI content for Mah Jongg books. Taking into account your review, I ordered one of your non-AI books, and I am currently working through it.
I would like to donate to your website, but I can’t find a direct link, only a link to PayPal, where I couldn’t find your name. Please advise, thanks.
Deborah
Hi, Deborah! I appreciate your intent to donate! I wonder what problem you encountered. This link ought to work:
When I tested it just now, it worked for me. You say you can't find my name on Paypal - I go by tomster at sloperama dot com, and Thomas Sloper. (Surprised me, I thought I was Tom, not Thomas.) But when I clicked the link, the page showed my name (and I wasn't logged in on Paypal).
If you can't get it to work, that's okay. You could donate to a homeless shelter or an animal shelter and I would be just as happy.
And I wonder which non-AI book you bought! Note that when I said "OK to buy," that's not exactly a wholehearted recommendation. I assume it was one of these?
American Mah Jongg for Beginners by Noah Pierce
How to Play Mahjongg by Miranda Murray
The American Mah Jongg Playbook by Jillian Lacy
Learn American Mah Jongg With Ease by Karen Louise
How to Win American Mah Jongg 2026 by Julie Alexander & Philippe Tulula
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 2, 2026
Trying to subscribe, part 3
On Monday, June 1, 2026 at 05:23:59 PM EDT, Julia S wrote:
Subject: myjongg.net premium
Hello Tom,
This is in answer to tishdunlap who wants to subscribe to MyJongg.net Premium.
On myjongg.net, go to Help (top right). That brings up a bunch of potential questions.
The third category is MyJongg.net Premium. The first question under that heading is "What is MyJongg.net Premium?" Clicking on that brings up a screen that includes a "Join Now" button.
I joined several years ago with automatic renewal so when I click on "Join Now" I get a screen that says I am already a subscriber, but I assume that's where she would get the actual instructions :)
Thanks for maintaining your website.
Julia S
p.s. I miss the strategy columns.
Thank you, Julia! Good info. I hope it helps Pat.
And I hear you about the strategy columns.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
June 1, 2026
Trying to subscribe, part 2
On Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 06:23:41 PM EDT, tishdunlap (null) wrote:
Subject: Myjonggpremium.net
Sent from my iPad
Tom
Correction from previous email! How to subscribe to Myjonggpremium.net.
囧 Sorry for the delay - I just found this in my spam folder. I'm sorry but I still can't help you. Maybe you subscribe at myjongg.net? I see the two sites (myjongg and myjonggpremium) look identical. Good luck!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 30, 2026
Can a joker be redeemed from a dead player's rack?
Bmoleta465
iMessage
Today 6:50 PM
If a player is dead can the other players replace her jokers.
EJOKERE 333
Thanks
BarbaraM
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Barbara, in the example you provide, there is no hand on the 2026 NMJL card that can include a pung of Es and a pung of 3s. I assume that's why her hand was declared dead. The pung of Es is ambiguous - there are more than one exposable hand on the card that include EEE. So that pung remains atop the rack. But when the 333 was exposed, the hand became unambiguously dead. It's an illegal exposure, basically, so it goes back to the sloping front of the rack.
The full rule on the dead hand joker availability question can be read in FAQ 19-P.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 28, 2026
Trying to subscribe for unlimited play.
On Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 09:07:52 PM EDT, tishdunlap (null) wrote:
Subject: mahjonggpremium.net
Sent from my iPad
Tom
Trying to subscribe to mahjonggpremium.net for unlimited play. Is this correct or mahjongg.netpremium
Pat
囧 I'm sorry, Pat, but I can't help you. Good luck, and have fun.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 27, 2026
Do you have a list of people who want to learn
On Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 04:47:09 PM EDT, Sandbuckee wrote:
Subject: CAn you please----
Do you have a list of people who want to learn M J and don't have a group in NY and Westchester and CT?
Thanks. Stefanie
囧 What I have is a bulletin board where people from all over look for players or teachers in their neighborhood. You can click back through years of posts. It's not nearly as up-to-date as social media. https://sloperama.com/majexchange/findplayer.htm - Search the page for keywords. Link to older pages at the bottom of every page. That's what I have.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 27, 2026
Two Qs, part 2
On Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 09:44:35 PM EDT, Donna C wrote:
Subject: Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A
Thank you so much!!
You're welcome so much! :p
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 26, 2026
Two Qs
On Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 06:20:23 PM EDT, Donna C wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
I have 2 questions. I understand when someone moves a tile on the wall, they are committed to picking that tile. I also understand when someone picks out of turn, their hand is dead. My question is if someone slides a tile in front of them and someone tells them that it isn’t their turn can they just slide it back and they will not be not dead or because they moved the tile it is their tile and their hand is dead. The NMJL rule talks about “picking” a tile but doesn’t describe if sliding the tile is picking in this instance.
Question 2. If the tile is picked by someone out of turn but it is not racked, does the tile go back in the wall or does it stay with the dead hand?
Thank you so much for helping answer these questions. I have tried to call the NMJL numerous times but never get anyone to pick up the phone.
Donna
1. The actual rule says "You are committed to taking a tile from the wall once you have moved the tile." MJME2023/24, p. 18, rule 12.
2. You mean it was moved out of turn, and the error was noticed before the tile was racked. The rules are silent on this. I would say it goes back in the wall where it was, whether the player saw it or not.
Calling the League is time-dependent. They only answer during office hours, New York time. Better to call early in the day, before all of America is out of bed and calling the League.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 26, 2026
Should the word chow be used in American Mahjongg? (part 2)
On Monday, May 25, 2026 at 07:59:00 PM EDT, Phyllis B wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
Should the word chow be used in American Mahjongg for 3 consecutive numbers?
Sent from my iPad
Hi, Phyllis!
囧 I guess there might be some controversy here. I wonder if I caused it by using the term. To answer your question, I use the word chow in American mah-jongg. So I'm either the wrong person to ask, or exactly the right person to ask.
Regardless of whether the word "should" be used, I think it's inevitable that it be used when you see three consecutive singles on the card, since more and more people now are aware of Asian ruleforms. The toothpaste is out of the tube, and the genie refuses to go back in the lamp (I love mixing metaphors).
Digging deeper into the controversy, I see using mah-jongg terms that originated in China as honoring the game's roots. And opposing the use of Chinese terms has an air of racism. Besides, we already have "pung" and "kong," so isn't the cat already out of the bag? Sorry, I mean toothpaste already out of the tube? I answered this question, or one very similar, on December 20, 2025 with Debbie Barnett. You can scroll down and read what I said back then. (Or just control-F "december 20" to get there fast.)
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 25, 2026
Soooo happy to see a new column
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Thank you very much, Nancy! I've gotten another batch of books for the next column.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 24, 2026
Is there any reason we can't ignore the Concealment requirements, part 2
On Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 01:11:14 PM EDT, elise a wrote:
Subject: Re: Thompson and Maloney western mahjong
Thank you. I use your site a lot.
Is there any reason we can't ignore the Concealment requirements?
On Friday, May 22, 2026 at 08:20:06 PM EDT, elise a wrote:
Subject: Thompson and Maloney western mahjong
Hi Tom,
We play western Mahjong from The Mahjong Players Companion. I have seen your page on Western Mahjong hands. My question is, is there any reason why you couldn’t/shouldn’t change the games to all be exposed? I know some of the games can’t be exposed, but some that have a long run of 1-9 would be more ‘playable’ if you could chow the 3 parts of the long run. I feel this would open up the book and make some games more playable? I feel it would open more opportunities to game and make the games faster. Can you share your thoughts please?
Kind regards,
Elise A
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Thank you for the donation, Elise! No, there's no reason you shouldn't try it in your group. Every table uses its own table rules. If any new people join your table, tell them your table rules before starting to play. "The
Three Rules On Table Rules" goes into detail about table rules.
A run of 9, you're going to set a table rule that it can be made 123 456 789, as exposable chows, instead of the intended 9 singles? That's your decision if you want to try that. Yes, this will make that hand a LOT less difficult to make. You might have to reduce the value of that hand since you're making it easier to make.
I agree with you that this table rule would make some hands easier to make, and yes, it would make the game go faster (each game taking less time).
Thanks again for the donation.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 22, 2026
I was told I had to rack it.
On Friday, May 22, 2026 at 04:07:10 PM EDT, Michelle G wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
A tile was discarded across from me. I called HOLD. So as to not lose the tile among the other tiles on the table, I slid (not picked up) the tile closer to my rack. A player said since I had touched the tile, I had to rack it. I thought otherwise. What is the rule?
Thank you.
Sent from my iPad
Sorry that happened to you, Michelle, especially since the player is wrong. See MJME 2023/24, page 18, rule 13.*
MJME = Mah Jongg Made Easy
THE official rulebook
Or see FAQ 19-AM.2. If you move a wall tile it's yours (rule 12), but a discard is different. You can move it and change your mind, but if it touches your rack or if you expose tiles, then that discard is yours and you can't put it back. So your friend is thinking of rule 12 (picking a wall tile), but rule 13 says you were fine.
Still, I would recommend not sliding a discard again. If you need to make sure you don't forget what tile it is or where it's located, you can take a second to commit its location to short-term memory.
* By the way, you won't find those rules in older editions of MJME.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 2, 2026
What if someone other than East, part 2
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 05:24:00 PM EDT, Leslye G wrote:
Subject: Re: Question - First Tile Discarded in Error
Tom, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the thoughtful way you worked through the various scenarios to address my question. It’s interesting to consider situations where there isn’t a rule that directly speaks to the specific circumstance.
Regards,
Leslye
I try!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 19, 2026
What if someone other than East discards the first tile?
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 11:50:40 AM EDT, Leslye G wrote:
Subject: Question - First Tile Discarded in Error
Good morning Tom,
If someone other than East discards the first tile (thinking that she/he was East, in error) after the Charleston, is she/he dead? I acknowledge “down is dead” as noted below, but does this apply to first tile discarded? How do the players proceed? (If this question has already been addressed on your site, I apologize. I did not see it.)
Q: When is a tile down?
A: Per the NMJL rulebook ("Mah Jongg Made Easy"), a discarded tile is "down" when it touches the table OR is completely (fully) named, whichever occurs first. If you touch your tile to the tabletop, it's "down." You must say its name and take your hand off it. Likewise, if you say the name of the tile in full, it's "down." You must put it down and take your hand off it. The player to the discarder's right (playing counterclockwise) may not pick from the wall, and no player may claim the discard, until the discard is named (see the back of the card, middle pane).
For further reading:
RDWW - p. 51 (rule 53), p. 88
NMJL - MJME2020: Rule 7 on page 19. MJME2023: Rule 4 on page 17.
Regards,
Leslye
Hi, Leslye! That's not the applicable rule.
They thought they were East for a moment, or forgot they weren't East. So the applicable rule is rule 5 on page 17 of MJME 2023/24:
If a player incorrectly assumes East position, the player continues to finish the game. The next game reverts back to the rightful East and the round continues, skipping East for the player who erred.
MJME = Mah Jongg Made Easy
But as I contemplate this rule and your question, I can envision two scenarios:
1. Not-East took 14 tiles when the tiles were distributed, assuming from the start that they were East. Follow the rule from MJME.
2. Not-East took 13 tiles in the distribution of tiles, and after the Charleston blithely discarded the first tile. This is a big problem. Because now East has 14 tiles and Not-East has 12 tiles. Either E and NE are both dead, or NE is dead and E can discard to start a 3-player game. Or... Problem is, this scenario is not clearly specified in the rules.
Scenario 1 is "player incorrectly assumes East position." Scenario 2 is "player incorrectly discards first tile." The rule applies to scenario 1 (nobody has wrong tile counts after Not-East discards).
Aside from the rules, I see these possible outcomes:
1. Both E and Not-E are dead for incorrect tile counts (MJME 2023/24 p. 19, rule 15 (a).
2. Not-E is dead, and E discards.
3. Not-E takes back the discard and stays in the game.
4. Tiles are thrown in and redealt.
5. Not-E draws a tile from the wall and E discards.
Outcome 1 seems unfair, penalizing E for having too many tiles - all they did wrong was not stop Not-E (Erroneous E) from discarding.
Outcome 2 is fair but strict.
Outcome 3 is "friendly" but not kosher.
Outcome 4 would make everybody grumble. Dagger eyes at Not-E.
Outcome 5 is "friendly" but not according to Hoyle.
In a tournament, the judge might assess outcome 1 or 2. In a "friendly" home game, the friendliest outcome is 3 or 5.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 19, 2026
Please clarify two questions
On Monday, May 18, 2026 at 11:47:22 PM EDT, Star F wrote:
Subject: Re: MJ questions
Hello Tom,
Please clarify two questions.
1). Someone was discarding a tile. Just before the tile touched the table, she saw a joker on someone's rack, and changed her mind. She wanted to exchange her "almost" discarded tile for the joker. She feels since it didn't touch the table, nor did she verbalize the name, she should be allowed to exchange it for the joker. There was definite intent to discard it, and was exposed to all as she was about to lay it on the table.
2) What happens when someone exchanges a tile for a joker, before drawing a tile from the wall? Is she dead?
Thank you for your clarification on these two questions.
Star
1. She was right. Her discard was not yet discarded, since (1) she had not named it and (2) it had not touched the table. See MJME 2023/24, page 17, rule 4. Here on Sloperama, it's FAQ 19-A.
MJME = Mah Jongg Made Easy
2. Yes. Dead. See MJME 2023/24, page 23, rule 2. Here on Sloperama, it's FAQ 19-AA.7.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 19, 2026
The rectangle with E 2 3 4, part 2
On Monday, May 18, 2026 at 06:18:39 PM EDT, Denise wrote:
Subject: Rectangle with E 2 3 4
Sent from my iPad
Perfect! Thanks, Denise! Yes, it's definitely a bettor / wind indicator. In American mah-jongg, the 5th player rotates the cylinder to the number or letter corresponding to the bet-on player's seat at the table.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 18, 2026
The rectangle with E 2 3 4
On Monday, May 18, 2026 at 05:45:12 PM EDT, Denise wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
How is the rectangle with E 2 3 4 used?
Sent from my iPad
囧 Hi, Denise!
Without seeing it, I have to assume it's a "bettor," for use by the 5th player in the process of betting on which player will win. Asian mah-jongg sets often come with a "wind indicator" and when those pieces are in an American set, a "wind indicator" becomes a "bettor." Your piece is intended as a bettor, but could be used as a wind indicator in an Asian mah-jongg game.
Sorry, TMI! (^_^)
The 5th player (confusingly also called a "bettor") walks around the table at the end of the Charleston and decides which hand looks most likely to win, and uses the bettor to indicate and record her bet. Then she stays away from the device until the game is over, so she can't change her bet.
E stands for East, the player who rolled dice to begin the game. Player 2 sits to East's right, and so on around the table. As I say, I can't see your bettor, so I can't be more specific than that. I'd love to see your rectangle, if you can send me a picture. I'll post it in FAQ 7d, the "Bits & Pieces" FAQ.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 18, 2026
She claimed Mahjongg but questioned if she really had won.
On Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 10:47:58 AM EDT, Kathy S wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is: yesterday when our group of four met playing Chinese Mahjongg one of the gals had a flush with two four tile kongs. She took her extra tiles for the kongs, she also had a set of three and a pair. She claimed Mahjongg but questioned if she really had won. Another player said she hadn’t since she did not have four sets and the pair. Is that correct or could she have had Mahjongg with just the two kongs?
Thank you?
Sent from my iPhone
Hi, Kathy! She could not declare mah-jongg with two kongs, a pung (or chow) and a pair. The other player was right that she needs four sets and a pair, not three sets and a pair. What confused her was the tile count.
If you count a kong as four tiles, she had 4+4+3+2 - that's only 13, and it takes 14 to win.
But you can't count it that way with kongs in Chinese/Asian/nonAmerican mah-jongg. A kong is just an exalted pung. FAQ 20.d..
Pretend the kong is a set of three. That's why you take a replacement tile. What she needed was a fourth set - a pung, kong, or chow, it doesn't matter (in terms of tile count). Kong, kong, pung, pung, pair - the literal tile count is 16 but you don't count them that way. It's four sets and a pair.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 17, 2026
Three-player, Babcock style, with triangular wall
On Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 01:18:49 PM EDT, Patricia P wrote:
Subject: Triangular tile wall
Hello! I was reading the 1920 Babcock Mahjong booklet and noticed that it mentions a three player version with some tiles removed and a triangular tile wall. It looks interesting and we might try it in our Chinese mahjong group. My question is this: Have you seen or heard of people playing this version? Thank you for all you do!
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囧 Thank you very much for the donation, Patricia, but all I can say in answer to your question is "no, I have not."
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 14, 2026
Mahjong set values, part 2
On Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 02:32:53 PM EDT, Sandra C wrote:
Subject: Re: Mahjong set values
Thanks very much, Tom. I did find your response.
Most useful.
Sandra
You're welcome, Sandra.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 13, 2026
Mahjong set values
On Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 07:19:26 PM EDT, Sandra C wrote:
Subject: Mahjong set values
Hi,
I inherited 2 mahjong sets from my grandmother and my mother, both of whom have passed away. One set has been used a lot and is in really good condition. The other has the tiles stil wrapped in the original packaging along with the racks. I'd really appreciate you giving me your thoughts on their value. I'm not a mahjong player, nor do I intend to become one.
I've tried to follow your request on what information you want in order to give your opinion. Here is the breakdown of what's in each case with photos:
Many thanks,
Sandra C
Black leather-like case
Condition – clean, fine
Coins - 25 each of Blue, Red, Green and White = 100
Racks – 5
2 green
1 yellow
1 red
1 brown
Wind indicator – 1 brown
Tile size- 1” x 1 ˝” ’x ˝”
Color – black and red color on white tiles
Die - 2
Case - Leather-like materials– Letter B applique near handle – some scratching on the back.
Interior has some wear and tear.
One corner of an interior box has the corner taped
Tiles – Bakelite, excellent, do not know when it was made, inherited from my grandmother who was born in 1904
Dots – 36
Bams – 36
Craks – 36
Winds – 16
Dragons – 12
Jokers ` 8
Blank - 2
Other – 12
Other – 8
Total = 16
Atlas brown – Unused
Condition – As New (tape on one the tile sets – the original plastic wrapping broke when I took it out to photograph it.)
Tiles: 166 – black, red and green coloring
Did not unpack
80 in each set = 160 boxed
Tile size: 1 3/8” x ľ” x ˝ “
Blanks - 4
Extra jokers - 2
Die - 3
Cylindrical style wind indicator - 1
I look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks,
Sandra C
囧 Hi, Sandra. Two sets, hmm?
The Black case set
Before you get your hopes up, this is a fairly ordinary set, in less than optimal condition.
The case is fairly beat up. I see that the interior tile trays are well-worn at the corners. There's a stain in the case's interior bottom surface.
The tiles are not Bakelite but more likely high-density polyethylene. You say the condition of the tiles is "excellent," but the pictures of the tiles are too small for me to verify that. You say there are 20 "other" tiles. I have to assume those are flower tiles, but I can't verify that. Because the set has more than 8 flowers, we know the set was made after 1971.
The brass ends of the racks look tarnished. Because the set has 5 racks, we know the set is older - say, the 1970s, not the 1990s when new sets contained only 4 racks.
Plain white dice, and I can't make out that round brown thing in the first two pictures.
I know you've seen this already, but to review, this is the condition terminology I use:
1) Mint: Item appears to have not been used before (old new stock). Condition is 99%
2) Near Mint: Item has been used before but is close to perfect. There may be slight scratches but is only noticeable upon close scrutiny. Item is 90% upwards.
3) Excellent: Item is still in overall bright condition and maintains 85%-90% of new condition. Will have some wear blemishes or scratches, though light.
4) Very Fine: Item may have chips, dings, dents, cracks or scratches and maintains 80 to 85% of new condition.
5) Fine: Item may have minor repairs or restoration. It may have chips, dings , dents, cracks or scratches and maintains 75 to 80% of new condition.
6) Very Good: Item has clear visible blemishes and scratches and has visible repairs and/or major restoration. It may have plating or gilt loss. Maintains 70%-75% of new condition.
7) Good: Item is well used with dents, dings, chips, cracks or scratches with possible major repairs and missing pieces. Generally maintains less than 70% of new condition.
Based on your pictures and assumptions I have to make,
Case - around 75 to 80% of new condition ("Fine").
Tiles - unknown. You said they're Excellent, but I can't verify it and I have to assume they're Fine like the other parts.
Racks - Fine, 75-80% of new condition
In all, the set is Fine, it looks its age and it looks well used. Value is probably around $160-170.
Atlas case
This is a newer set, could have been made in the 1990s-2020s. Standard stuff, like the older black case set. In the nineties, a set like this would have gone for around $120. That $120 in the nineties would be about $260 today. But new American sets today are still under $200. Call it $180.
By the way, die is the singular of dice. "Roll three dice." "Roll one die."
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 12, 2026
Isn't it first called first gets?
On Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 10:04:28 PM EDT, Anne M wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is: I called for a tile. Then the person who is next for a turn said no I want that tile and took it. Is that correct? Not first called first gets? Neither of us had mahjong nor started exposing - slamming.
Thank you-
Anne
Sent from my iPhone
That's correct, Anne. It's not a race with the first to speak getting the tile. Take a look at the back of your card. Left panel, the bottom half, "CLAIMING A DISCARD."
Rule 4, "When two players want..." That tells you right there that the player next in turn takes priority. Ya gotta read it.
There are also ifs and excepts. But now you know that it's not first called first gets.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 7, 2026
She misnamed her joker discard, part 2
On Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 07:33:31 PM EDT, Sheila S wrote:
Subject: Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A
I saw the posting! Thanks! The misnamed tile (2dot) was really a joker.... she called Mahjong on that joker thinking it was a 2dot!
Yes, I knew that. That's what I was talking about.
I was just saying (that there is one scenario in which the misnamer might not have been a misnamer. Discarding a joker, you can say "joker" or you can say the name of the previous discard or you can say "same." If the player before the misnamer discarded a two dot, and then the player before Annie said "two dot" when discarding the joker, That's not a mistake that the "misnamer" gets penalized for - it's permitted under the rules. But if that's what was going on, Annie would have called the first one.
That's what I meant when I said "I am assuming the discard just before the misnamer's turn was NOT a 2-dot."
But (I assume, since I wasn't there) that's not what happened. Why is unknown. That person who threw the joker, maybe she had 2-dots on the mind and blurted that, or maybe she misunderstood the rule about what you can say when discarding a joker - who knows why she said 2-dot when the previous discard wasn't a 2-dot.
As I said, yes she has to pay Annie 4x the value of the hand, precisely because the mistaken thing she said gave mah-jongg to a player and ended the game for everyone.
If (instead of the misnamer paying Annie) ...IF everyone paid Annie normally, the amount Annie would collect on a 25¢ hand (the most common value) would be a dollar (4x the score) - double from the discarder, and single score from the other two players - usually, 50¢ and 25¢ and 25¢.
But the misnamer pays that for everyone.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 7, 2026
She misnamed her joker discard; does she have to pay for the party?
On Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 05:55:47 PM EDT, Sheila S wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
Thank you so much for being around to help us out. I've been playing Mahjong for around 50 years. Somebody the other night threw a joker and called it a 2-dot. Annie yells Mahjong. Does that person who threw the joker have to pay Annie 4x the value of the hand?
Thanks!!! [heart emoji]
That's exactly right, Sheila.
I am assuming the discard just before the misnamer's turn was NOT a 2-dot. (Annie would have called for that.)
The misnamer pays Annie, and nobody else pays Annie. It's a mistake that costs the mistaker.
The rule is on the back of your 2026 card. Middle panel, right up top. It's also in MJME2023/24, page 16, rule 3. It's also in FAQ 19-AY.1.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 7, 2026
What if my Pure Shifted Pungs include a Melded Kong, part 2
On Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 12:05:21 AM EDT, lynnandstevep wrote:
Re: Chinese Mahjong question
As always, thank you!!! A kong is an “exalted” pung!!! lynn
May the tiles be with you, Lynn.
Tom Sloper
May 7, 2026
What if my Pure Shifted Pungs include a Melded Kong?
On Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 08:18:53 PM EDT, <lynnandstevep> wrote:
Subject: Chinese Mahjong question
Hi Tom,
It’s been a very long time since our group has had a question. We are the group from Bishop , CA and have been playing now for 18 years. None of us can remember if this ever came up.
Chinese page 149 #24
Pure Shifted Pungs
Today I had a full flush of Bams in which I also had:
Three 4’s, three 5’s, and a kong of 6’s. Does this still qualify for Pure Shifted Pungs?
As always, we have always used your book and guidance
Everyone new to the game all seem to be learning American. We still prefer Chinese.
Thanks in advance for your answer. Lynn P
Yes, Lynn, you can claim Pure Shifted Pungs if one of your pungs is a kong. Reasoning: see p. 187, fan 59. An exposed/melded dragon kong counts as a Dragon Pung (fan 59) and also as a Melded Kong (fan 74). So if a kong fits as a pung into a combo like Pure Shifted Pungs, the pung combo may be legitimately claimed together with the point for one of the sets being a kong.
Besides, run this against the Principles for Scoring the Hand (p. 194):
1. Prohibition against implied inclusions
The kong is not inherently implied by the description of Pure Shifted Pungs, so no problem there...
2. Prohibition against separation
No separation needed to claim Pure Shifted Pungs. Okay so far...
3. Prohibition against identical patterns
No identical pattern involved.
4. Freedom of choice principle
There's no either-or choice to make. Not applicable.
5. Prohibition against repetitive set usage ("combine-just-once")
It's being combined just once.
So our combining Pure Shifted Pungs with Melded Kong is not kiboshed by the Principles.
Nothing says the two fan can't be combined.
A kong is really just a glorified pung, so a kong may be counted as a pung. Certainly not the other way around!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 6, 2026
Which rule applies, part 2
On Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 11:53:29 AM EDT, Leslye G wrote:
Subject: Re: Question
You are just the best! You provide such valuable credibility when trying to share rules and thinking with others. Thank you!! — Leslye
Thank you, Leslye!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 6, 2026
Which rule applies to this situation?
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10:31:29 PM EDT, Leslye G wrote:
Subject: Question
Hi Tom,
A player took an incorrect tile from the correct wall, but did not yet rack it. Is the player dead? I assume the following rule applies, but does not explicitly address this question. (Specifically, the tile the player moved from the wall was the next top tile, but the bottom tile under the previous pick was next to be picked).
A: 1. Picking from the wall. After you've lifted or moved the wall tile, you may not change your mind and put it back. (You can reach for it and change your mind. You can even touch it and change your mind. But if you lift it or move it, it's yours and you have committed to taking it.)
Thank you, as always,
Leslye
Hi, Leslye. No, that's the answer to the question "Can I change my mind about picking from the wall?" (FAQ 19-AM).
What we're dealing with here is FAQ 19-AA - "what happens if someone takes an incorrect tile from somewhere in the wall."
The rules in FAQ 19 are all based on League rulings. These rules specifically address picking from the wrong end (MJME 2023/24 p.20, rule 15 (j)) or from the wrong wall segment (p.19, rule 15 (i)), but I believe this rule must apply to taking any incorrect tile from anywhere in the wall.
If you apply the "after you've moved it, it's yours" rule (p. 18, rule 12) to picking a tile from anywhere in the wall, then the player is stuck holding the wrong tile, which is illegal to be taken and can't be put back, you get the same result - player's hand is dead. In a tournament, It's highly likely that the player's hand would be disqualified. Many players in private "friendly" games would likely let the player put it back. Especially when one considers the entirety of rule 15 (i):
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."
I added those italics. The italicized words indicate the possibility of a loophole or exception to rule 12 on p. 18 (the "after you've moved it, it's yours" rule). If you pick from the wrong spot on the wall and before racking it you immediately realize the error (and it's not a tournament, which are not governed by the League anyway), maybe you're allowed to put it back. An argument could be made, based on this loophole, that the player can put it back!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 6, 2026
Typo in FAQ 16, part 2
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 04:59:38 PM EDT, Jim T wrote:
Re: 2026 NMJL Card FAQ typo/misprint
Hi Tom!
Thanks for the response. After I sent that email I went through the rest of the FAQ (https://sloperama.com/mjfaq/2026.html) and I noticed another typo. In the entry for Consecutive Run #4 (the most powerful hand on the card) it states "Any 1 or 3 Suits, Any 3 Consec. Nos." and it should be "Any 1 or 2 Suits, Any 4 Consec. Nos.".
With the help of your FAQ, I think I'm getting the hang of reading the card.
-Jim
Thanks, Jim! Glad to hear the FAQ is helping you. I made the fix.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Cinco de Mayo, 2026
Typo in FAQ 16
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 03:36:21 AM EDT, Jim T wrote:
Subject: 2026 NMJL Card FAQ typo/misprint
Hi Tom,
I just received the 2026 NMJL card purchased directly from them. In
your FAQ, the 2026 #4 entry is printed in two colors (the pair and the
two pungs), yet the parenthetical note specifies Any 3 Suits. Your
description would lead one to believe it's Any 2 Suits and in fact the
NMJL card specifies Any 2 Suits. As someone just getting into Mah
Jongg, I was confused by your FAQ until I looked at the entry in the
NMJL card.
Just thought you might want to know. I'll have to check out your site
more thoroughly - it looks like a lot of good information for a beginner
like me.
-Jim
囧 Hi Jim! Thanks for letting me know about the typo in FAQ 16. You're quite right that the parenthetical is supposed to say 2 suits. I fixed it, thanks to you. By all means, check out the site! If you find any more errors or if you have questions, just let me know.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Cinco de Mayo, 2026
Can I call Mah Jongg if it’s not my turn, part 3
On Monday, May 4, 2026 at 08:14:27 PM EDT, Joanne C wrote:
Subject: Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A
Thanks. I am going to stick with the “general” rule. It’s easier.
Warm regards,
Joanne C
Sounds good, Joanne.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 4, 2026
Can I call Mah Jongg if it’s not my turn, part 2
On Monday, May 4, 2026 at 03:48:28 PM EDT, Joanne C wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
You recently answered my question about “calling Mah-Jongg out of turn.”
I forgot to mention “the person across me had discarded” and the next person did not call, rack, have Mah-Jongg or exchange a Joker. I did not need the discarded tile to make Mah-Jongg. I already had it but just realized it.
Warm regards,
Joanne
Hi, Joanne!
That was on April 24th, and you asked: "Can I call Mah Jongg if it’s not my turn."
Now new information is added to the question. I love information.
Let's put it all together.
1. The player across the table discarded.
2. You didn't need the discard. You just wanted to call mah-jongg because you already had mah-jongg. It wasn't your turn but you didn't want the next player to call mah-jongg before you, so you called mahj.
In this situation, your hand was dead. If you actually were holding 14 tiles at the time Ms. Across discarded, you were holding too many tiles.
Unless...
Does your group {discard, then pick} instead of {pick, then discard}? That's a table rule called various things: "Picking ahead," "playing with a future tile," "playing with fourteen tiles." If your group plays that way, then your hand wasn't dead but I can't tell you how your group's table rules apply to your question.
In general, you can only declare mah-jongg on a discard or when you pick the 14th needed tile from the wall.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 4, 2026
Seeking advice on how to dispose of our collection
On Monday, May 4, 2026 at 03:21:35 PM EDT, henryisak wrote:
Subject: Re: mah johgg sets
Tom,
Thank you for the quick response. Greatly appreciated.
Interestingly, we don't play the game. We buy them for the beauty of the tiles or the uniqueness of the tile material or the container.
Our granddaughter is coming for a month this summer. I may hire her to create a catalog of what we have. She also has offered to get us set up as a seller on Ebay. We live in Door County, WI, which is a major tourism area. I will talk to some of the antique malls and dealers once the season starts.
I will let you know how any of that works out.
Thank you for the suggestions!
Henry
That's a great idea about riding the tourism season, but if I were you I wouldn't wait for the season to start. Those conversations should take place before then. Good luck!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 4, 2026
Seeking advice on how to dispose of our collection
On Monday, May 4, 2026 at 12:48:49 PM EDT, Henry I wrote:
Subject: mah johgg sets
Good morning,
Ran across your website while doing research. If you are no longer active, my apologies.
We have been collecting mah jongg sets and paraphernalia for more than 50 years, and have accumulated 100 or more sets (exact count probably unknown!). All sets are older 144 tile sets, bakelite, bone and bamboo, wood, paper, etc.
We are both 80 years old, and the kids are asking us to please dispose of out collections (needless to say, we have more than mah jongg) so they don't have to deal with them.
I am seeking advice on how to dispose of our collection. Any information or suggestions you may have would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Henry I
囧 My family would surely like me to do the same. See FAQ 7n, Tips For Sellers (of mah-jongg sets) - assuming you want to try to sell them. I donated some of mine to a museum. You can also try talking to the owners of antique shops, pawn shops, see if you can't get some takers that way. Let me know what works for you so I can try the same! Good luck to you.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 4, 2026
Timing a death challenge
On Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 11:51:16 PM EDT, Phillip K wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
Hi Tom, My mah-jongg question or comment is: player on her turn discarded a tile prior to drawing a tile. Then picked a tile to self-correct, no one called her dead and she proceeded to later win. Is that a legitimate win? Could I have called her hand dead a few turns after her self-correction, when it dawned on me that she had been short a tile when she dicarded without first picking a tile?
Thanks,
Phil
Hi, Phil!
1. Since nobody called her dead, the win was legitimized when everyone paid her for the win. (Or when she declared a win without objection.)
2. No, you shouldn't call her dead a few turns later. You needed to do it at the time the error occurred and was fresh in everyone's short-term memory. Her error went unchallenged at the time -- your making the challenge later risks not having anyone's support, and you could be stuck owing her 50¢.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 3, 2026
The 1944 NMJL rules
On Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 03:21:41 PM EDT, Theo P wrote:
Subject: 1944 NMJL card play rules
Hi, Tom!
Please let me know if these questions have been answered. I perused you website and didn't see a lot about the historical play.
My wife and I are avid MJ players. We love to play the older NMJL cards, and I have secured all years from 1937 to 2026 except 1937, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1949 and 1952. We are trying to learn how to play the older cards with the rules in play at the time, understanding that over the years there were a number of changes.
I recently used Claude AI to analyze historical sources to summarize the changes to the cards and rules over the years. That is in the attached file if you're interested in it. There are a few gaps that AI couldn't track down, plus a couple of questions my wife and I came up with while trying to play the 1944 card.
Here are the questions regarding the 1944 card and the other years when only flowers were wildcards and there were no jokers:
* Could flowers be used in singles and pairs?
* If you could use them for a single or pair, could they be taken from a discarded tile from another player if your hand was an exposed hand?
* Could you swap a tile for an exposed flower like you can with jokers now (I think the answer to this question is no)?
Thank you!
-Theo
NMJL Card Transition History - Claude AI - April 2026.docx
20.7 kB
Hi, Theo!
1. Yes. They were truly wild flowers.
2. A discard couldn't be called to expose a pair, but it could for mah-jongg (for an exposed or concealed hand). I'm not certain that I've answered your question - holler if I missed it.
3. I was going to say no, because in tracing history of the rules on the cards, I found no mention of joker redemption until 1963, when I also found that Big Jokers were wild for anything, strengthening my reply #1 above.
But then I read the back of the 1944 card where it mentions "exchanges." Left panel, rule 5. "A tile once discarded cannot be exchanged." I presume that to mean exchanged for an exposed flower so I think the answer to this question is yes after all.
And thanks for the AI analysis. I should mention that I'm in the process of analyzing AI-written books on mah-jongg, continuing what I wrote about in column 813.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
May 2, 2026
If I send you pictures, part 3
On Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 06:36:42 PM EDT, Lisa I wrote:
Subject: Re: Set
Thank you so much for all the info! Here is a picture of how they fit in the boxes.
Also, I have tried to go to your instructions for cleaning these tiles, and it says there is an error for that page. Do you have it somewhere else that I could click on?
Sent from my iPad
On Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 06:37:08 PM EDT, Lisa I wrote:
Subject: Re: Set
Sent from my iPad
Sorry you found a broken link to FAQ 7-o. If you can remember where that broken link is, I could fix it.
As for your photo, this confirms it. The case was not made for those tiles. An obvious mismatch. This is indeed a Frankenstein. The tiles would be very attractive if the tiles were in trays that fit perfectly like a Chinese wood puzzle. But it's a made-for-export Chinese-style set in an American-made container for a set of American-made tiles.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 29, 2026
If I send you pictures, part 2
On Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 02:35:46 PM EDT, Lisa I wrote:
Subject: Re: Set
Hi Tom,
Thank you for your quick response to my question yesterday. I am going to attempt to send you a few pictures of the set that I received. It seems like it’s a combination of different things. There are numbers on the tiles like American, there are 144 tiles like Chinese, and the size of the tiles equals a Japanese set according to your dimensions that you listed. There are no white dragons, just blanks. There are four jokers and eight tiles with people on them. I’m guessing I could use those as the jokers. There is this tiny little box of four dice.
I am interested in knowing what type of set you think this is.
The box is very old and the racks are made of a special material, but no pushers on them.
Thank you!
Hi, Lisa!
You say "It seems like it’s a combination of different things." I agree, but it's different different things than you said. You've got ornately carved bone and bamboo tiles in a trumpet-style case with Catalin racks. Those two things don't usually go together. The tiles could have been made anytime between the 1930s and the 1960s, probably in China. The case and racks could have been made between the 1950s and 1960s, probably in America. So I'm going on the assumption that someone decided to marry this odd couple. I often refer to such sets as "Frankensteins" because they're made of parts of different sets. Note, though, that it's possible the tiles and the case and racks were put together by the manufacturer.
You say there are 144 tiles. But you have 148. You said there are no white dragons. But I say the blanks are your white dragons.
108 suit tiles (36x9), 16 winds (4x4), 12 dragons (4x3), 8 flowers (the tiles with people on them), and 4 jokers. 108+16+12+8+4=148.
You mentioned "pushers" and wanting to use extra tiles as jokers, which tells me you want the set to be used to play American mah-jongg. But for American mah-jongg you need eight jokers (152 tiles in all), and you don't have four extra flowers or blanks that could be put to that use with stickers.
The ornately carved tiles were made to play Chinese mah-jongg variants, and the tiles were made for sale in the U.S. The ornate carving makes the tiles more interesting to collectors. You say the tiles are a little smaller (like Japanese tiles), which makes me wonder how snugly they fit into the case. Are there trays to contain the tiles and keep them from rattling around, and how well do the tiles' dimensions fit in the trays. Stuff like that could clarify whether the set is a Frankenstein or not.
May the tiles be with you. (Oh, wait. They already are. I need a sig that covers this situation...)
Tom Sloper
April 29, 2026
Are the jokers atop a dead player's rack available for exchange/redemption?
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 06:35:04 PM EDT, Sandy M wrote:
Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
If a player Mah-jongs on a concealed hand but had called a tile earlier, so was called dead by another player, are the jokers available to other players as they continue playing?
Thank you.
Sandy M
No, they aren't. Because it's now known that the prior exposure was illegal, the exposure is returned to the sloping front of the rack along with all the other exposed tiles. Out of sight, out of mind. No unattainable jokers taunting from atop that rack anymore! See FAQ 19-P for a detailed explanation.
FAQ 19 answers the most frequently asked questions about American (NMJL) mah-jongg rules. Consider bookmarking it for future reference.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 28, 2026
If I send you pictures...
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 05:28:49 PM EDT, Lisa I wrote:
Subject: Set
Hi Tom,
I just received a Mahjong set that was found in the top of a closet. The set was my husband‘s parents that we think they bought in Hong Kong yers ago. If I send you pictures, would you be able to tell me more about the tiles and the set. I have the case, racks and everything.
Thank you,
Lisa I
Sent from my iPad
Yes, I can answer questions if you ask specific questions and send clear pictures. Some people send me tiny pictures and/or ask vague questions that require me to work hard. You can see examples below (just scroll down until you see pictures of tiles). If you take a look at FAQ 7 you'll see the kind of questions I can answer, and the kind of information I might need along with your questions.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 28, 2026
Do you have to announce a joker redemption from your own exposures?
On Monday, April 27, 2026 at 07:52:41 PM EDT, Leslye G wrote:
Mah-Jongg Q+A
Good evening Tom,
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
Is it a rule to declare that you are exchanging a tile for a joker if the joker is part of your own exposure?
I understand a player must announce “exchange, please” or other similar phrase when requesting a tile exchange for a joker sitting on top of another players rack. However, I am unclear if a similar announcement must to made when the joker is sitting atop your own rack.
I very much look forward to your reply.
Regards,
Leslye
Hi, Leslye!
You do not need to verbalize the solo exchange, sayeth the League (in writing, per a Sept. 12, 2022, email from Judi Nachenberg on the Q&A board). You only need to verbalize an exchange from someone else's rack, not your own. But in my opinion, it's kinda sneaky not to, and can have the unintended(?) consequence of getting others mad at you.
By the way, this is also explained in FAQ 19-M.3.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 27, 2026
Who made this set, part 2
On Monday, April 27, 2026 at 11:28:41 AM EDT, Patty C wrote:
Re: Mah-Jongg Q A
Thank you, Tom. I don’t know if you remember me, but I was phenolic phenom in the 2000s. Bought and sold a lot of mah-jongg sets.
Patty
囧 Oh! Sorry, Patty, I didn't recognize you! It's been a long time.
I guess you already know all those things I said I know about your set. CHarli's and Gregg's sites are your best bet.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 27, 2026
Who made this set?
On Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 08:39:29 AM EDT, Patty C wrote:
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
Who made this set? And do you know anything else about it?
Hi, Patty! Sorry for the delay.
I just now found your email - my email provider had hidden it in my spam folder.
1. Sorry again, but I don't know anything about manufacturers. I suggest you check some of the sites linked in FAQ 4a/"Other Excellent Mah-Jongg Sites," especially CHarli's and Gregg's sites. Those two are experts about manufacturers.
2. Yes, I know in general when it was made, what it's made of,
which mah-jongg variants can be played with it, and why it has 5 racks. If any of those tidbits are of interest, you could click the links.
It looks like the set was made with attention to quality. I imagine it was expensive when new (compared to other sets at the time).
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 27, 2026
Can I call Mah Jongg if it’s not my turn.
On Friday, April 24, 2026 at 07:33:01 PM EDT, Joanne C wrote:
Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
Can I call Mah Jongg if it’s not my turn.
Warm regards,
Joanne C
Sort of, yes. But only when the "window of opportunity" is open (which happens between players' turns). The window opens when a player discards a tile (ending their turn), and closes when the next player racks or discards, declares mah-jongg, or exchanges a joker (new, 2020: or has merely announced a joker exchange).
During the time the window is open, you can call mah-jongg, provided that you have mah-jongg with the live discard. It's your turn 1/4 of the time that the window is open, not that it matters. Any player, including you, can call the discard when the window is open.
The window is also closed by a player claiming the discard and starting to make an exposure. There's lots more information about the window of opportunity in FAQ 19.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 24, 2026
help with identifying this set, part 2
On Friday, April 24, 2026 at 07:26:36 PM EDT, Linda G wrote:
Re: help with identifying this set.
Thanks so much Tom!
linda
You're welcome.
May the tiles be with you, Linda!
Tom Sloper
April 24, 2026
help with identifying this set.
On Friday, April 24, 2026 at 11:56:33 AM EDT, Linda G wrote:
Subject: help with identifying this set.
Good Afternoon,
I have a MJ set that I have never seen before and cannot ID anywhere. The tiles are small: 3/4x1-1/6x7/16 inches. It is hand engraved. Here is a photo:
From what I can find, it might have been manufactured by MET or A&L Mfg Co.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thank you
linda
Hi, Linda! 囧 Sorry, but I'm not knowledgeable about set manufacturers - you know more than I do, dropping those manufacturer names like that. I think I have a set similar to yours. The tile material is unknown. Collectors just call it "Chinese Bakelite" - as opposed to regular Bakelite/Catalin tiles which have rounded corners and edges, Chinese Bakelite tiles can hold an edge. I don’t know what else I can tell you about your set.
In case you might be wondering, the "when was it made" question requires seeing all of the flowers and jokers there may be in the set. Then column 509 can help.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 24, 2026
What sort of arrangement?
On Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 09:34:38 PM EDT, debaronstam wrote:
Arrangement of Tiles on Rack
Hi Tom:
Recently I received a recommendation to rearrange racked tiles in several different ways according to the sections. Despite having doubts as to how much this could slow down the game, I understand the logic in moving tiles around so you can see exactly how well they fit in a section. What confused me was the advice to organize tiles first according to like numbers. Arranging tiles according to same suit was mentioned second. I have always arranged tiles from low to high within each suit and honestly, never by like numbers unless I have already picked out a specific hand where like numbers are required. [1]*
Is there something special about this year’s card that when racking tiles, arranging them according to like number is more advantageous than from low to high within suits? I thought I knew how to rack and sort but now I have doubts. [2,3]*
What is your opinion?
Deborah
That's interesting what you said - several different sorting arrangements, according to card section. Interesting idea. *[1] I have always arranged tiles the way you did. Oddly, though, just yesterday I was playing on the computer and was faced with a choice of hands. *[2] I sorted my tiles by number rather than by suit while working on my decision. [3] Rather than beat yourself up because you might've been wrong all these years (you might not have been, I mean, is there a "right" or "wrong" here? Really?), try this other way of sorting (or one of them anyway) when you think it might help. Find out the easy way. By trying it yourself. Nothing like a bit of experimentation to learn a new thing.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 15, 2026
Is "tapping" allowed?
On Monday, April 13, 2026 at 08:51:14 AM EDT, Sandy W wrote:
Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is: is “tapping” allowed? Like tapping a tile on your rack after you draw to prevent anyone from calling the last discard? Thanks ??
Sent from my iPad
Hi, Sandy! There's no rule against tapping, no penalty. But the official rules also don't permit it. Here's the official word, in MJME 2023/24:
If you don't have your copy of the official rules yet, you can always check FAQ 19. Specific to THIS rule concept, FAQ 19-AD also says tapping is not racking. In other words, "tapping" does NOT close the window of opportunity on the current live discard.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 13, 2026
Does the 2026 card change your Four-Step Charleston Strategy, part 2
On Monday, April 13, 2026 at 08:41:34 AM EDT, debaronstam wrote:
Re: Any Changes to Charleston Strategy for 2026 Card
Thank you. I have been using your method for years and although there are other suggestions as to how to manage the Charleston, I have not wavered in supporting and promoting your system.
I miss the weekly puzzles you used to have in your strategy column, but I understand your priorities now lie elsewhere. I was a “newbie” back then, and nothing helped me learn to navigate a new card as well as those puzzles.
Best,
Deborah
Cheers, Deborah!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 13, 2026
Does the 2026 card change your Four-Step Charleston Strategy?
On Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 10:33:43 AM EDT, debaronstam wrote:
Any Changes to Charleston Strategy for 2026 Card
Hi Tom:
I am wondering if there are any changes to your Four (Five) Step Strategy for the Charleston (Column #725) when playing with the 2026 card.
Best,
Deborah
No changes, Deborah. That strategy from 2019 is non-card-dependent. It's not necessary to create an entirely new Charleston strategy with every new card. As you go through the steps, you refer to the current card, thus taking the current card into consideration.
Sorry it took so long to reply. I just this morning found your email, which my email provider was hiding from me in my Spam folder.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 13, 2026
What to do?
On Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 01:54:13 PM EDT, Phyllis B wrote:
Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
We have 2 players that continually pick up discards without calling for the tile. This often leads to other players not even noticing that there is a new exposure. It seems the person not calling for the tile should have a penalty even if you are not betting. After polite reminders it continues. What to do?
Sent from my iPad
囧 Well, it's not a certainty that impolite reminders will help, either. I'd stick with polite reminders. I would use the Marge Simpson approach of "gentle nagging."
But what's this about other players not even noticing that there is a new exposure? All eyes are horse-blindered and can only see their own racks and cards?
Seriously. Back to the gentle nagging approach. Since you have your eyes open, you can see when one of those two reaches into the discard floor rather than the wall, and you can speak: "Hillary, do you have something to say?" Or "Camilla, are you calling a discard? Remember, you have to speak the call. It says so right here on the card."
Do that every time it's their turn. There is no penalty under the official rules. If you can get the group to agree that there should be a penalty, you all have to agree what the penalty is. And if any new people join your table, as I wrote in FAQ 14, you have to tell them what the table rules are.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 12, 2026
The 2026 NMJL card, part 4
On Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 01:33:00 PM EDT, Bev C wrote:
Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is: second line under consecutive run. Does the singles have to be all the same, class, bams etc?
Yes, Bev, when numbers are printed in one color, those numbers must all belong to the same suit.
Let's take a close look.
FFF 1111 234 5555
-or-
FFF
1111
234
5555
(Any 1 or 2 Suits, Any 5 Consec. Nos.)
The hand can be made in one suit (any suit) or it can be made in two suits.
For the above example, I made the 1-suit version in craks. It could also be made in either dots or bams.
For the second example, I made the 2-suit version in dots and bams. Note that the three consecutive singles are in one suit. And note that the two kongs are one suit. One color=one suit. The 2-suit version of the hand can be made in any two suits (craks and dots, bams and craks...).
I will add this to FAQ 16. FAQ 16 answers the most frequently asked questions about the 2026 National Mah Jongg League card! You might want to bookmark it for future reference.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 9, 2026
The game would not let me call, part 2
On Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 02:55:39 PM EDT, Pat H wrote:
Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A
Thank you so much!
Pat H
Sent from my iPad
You're welcome, Pat.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 8, 2026
The game would not let me call Mah Jongg.
On Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 11:47:03 AM EDT, Pat H wrote:
Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is: I was playing online, and had (what I thought was) a winning hand for Consecutive 4 on the 2026 card. I had three flowers, 5-6-7 Bam, 3 8 Dots and a Joker, and 3 9 Craks and a Joker. The game would not let me call Mah Jongg. Did I do something wrong? The 3 flowers were exposed. Thank you!
Pat H.
囧 Pat, that hand is on the 2025 card, not the 2026 card. If you see that hand on your 2026 card, you have a counterfeit card.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 8, 2026
The 2026 NMJL card, part 3b
On Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 08:03:32 AM EDT, Sue M wrote:
Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A
Hello Tom, thank you for a quick response. I will check the bulletin. Have a lovely day.
Cheers
Sue M
Mahj on a misnamed Joker, part 2
On Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 10:21:36 AM EDT, Michelle Nice wrote:
Re: American Mahjong Question
Thank you for your quick response. Yes, that is what I meant...that Player A said 6 bam, when Player D said 5 bam, and Player C called the 6 Bam for Mahjong. So Player A is on the hook, and that makes complete sense...Player A, who misnamed the Joker discard as a 6 bam instead of a 5 bam pays everyone 4 times the value of the hand. What if player C called the misnamed Joker as a 6 Bam for Mahjong and was going to use it in a single or a pair...because Jokers may NEVER be used in a single or a pair...is it still the fault of Player A who misnamed the Joker or is their now some fault on Player C who should not only be playing by ear, but by sight as well-to see that it was indeed a Joker discard and not a 6 bam?
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Best,
Michelle Nice aka the "Mahj Lady"
Wake-Up N' Mahj Social Club
Wakeupandmahj.com
Wakeupandmahj.com/lessons
North Carolina
954-658-2129
Yes, it's still Player C's win at Player A's expense. The win was based on the technicality of the discarder saying the wrong thing - NOT on taking the joker and using it in a pair. Player C doesn't have to take the joker. She just shows that the hand would be won with a 6B, not with a joker. And it doesn't matter that Player C could see that the misnamed tile is a joker.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 8, 2026
The 2026 NMJL card, part 3
On Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 11:39:06 PM EDT, Sue M wrote:
Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
Good evening, in the new 2026 card, under Singles and Pairs, the last hand FF 2026 2026 2026 (any 3 suits)
Question while three different suits, the square or soap dragon would need to be placed within all 3 suits?
Have I understood correctly?
Thank you
Sue M
Yes, Sue! You do indeed have to have three single soaps (which are also called "white dragons") for "the big hand" this year.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 8, 2026
Mahj on a misnamed Joker
On Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 09:05:55 PM EDT, Michelle Nice wrote:
American Mahjong Question
If Mahjong is made on an incorrectly named Joker discard, is the tile allowed to be used as it was called in the following example: Player A discards a joker, but calls it a 5 bam, because the discard b4 by player D was a 5 bam, however the joker was incorrectly name and called to make mahjong in either a single or a pair, is the mahjong that was called by player C legit? Does player A pay player C 4 times the amount for the value of the mahjong hand??? Is this the very 1 exception where a joker may show up in a single or a pair because player C called a 5 bam for mahjong, not a joker ( level though it was a joker, but misnamed during the discard)???
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Best,
Michelle Nice aka the "Mahj Lady"
Wake-Up N' Mahj Social Club
Wakeupandmahj.com
Wakeupandmahj.com/lessons
North Carolina
954-658-2129
On Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 09:10:25 PM EDT, Michelle Nice wrote:
Re: American Mahjong Question
I do see that on page 24, rule #9 at the top of the 2023 edition of Mah Jongg Made Easy that “(a) At no time may a Joker be used as a replacement for a single tile or as part of a pair.”
When I teach mahjong lessons, I ALWAYS say ‘Jokers may NEVER be used in a single or a pair, never, ever, Eva!!!’
Follow me on IG
Best,
Michelle Nice aka the "Mahj Lady"
Wake-Up N' Mahj Social Club
Wakeupandmahj.com
Wakeupandmahj.com/lessons
North Carolina
954-658-2129
Hi, Michelle! I'm honored to meet the Mahj Lady.
Reading through your example, you said the joker was misnamed. But Jokers may legally be named the same as the previous discard. And you say that's what Player A did. Player D had said "5 bam" and Player A also said "5 bam." That's permissible under the rules (MJME p.24 rule #11), so the joker was not misnamed.
Player C called mahj on Player A's joker instead of Player D's 5 bam. Player C should have called Player D's discard for the win, but missed the chance. Since the joker was not misnamed, the joker is a dead tile and Player C cannot have the win on this discard.
Now if Player A had said "6 bam" after Player D said "5 bam" and 6 bam was Player C's winning tile, that would be game over, and Player A must pay for the party.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 8, 2026
When can a joker be exchanged, part 2
On Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 12:28:33 PM EDT, Phyllis G wrote:
Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A
THANK YOU so much for your response and info. Much appreciated.
You're welcome, Phyllis. I saw that you also posted your question on Facebook. (^_^)
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 7, 2026
When can a joker be exchanged? What's the procedure?
On Monday, April 6, 2026 at 06:40:05 PM EDT, Phyllis G wrote:
Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
Player called for a tile to expose. At the same time, is she allowed to exchange a joker from another player’s exposure.
Hi, Phyllis! Not at exactly the same time, but in the same turn, yes. First she makes the call, takes the tile, and exposes a complete set atop the rack. Then she may exchange or redeem jokers from any and all racks, putting the taken jokers into the hand and not atop the rack unless the new joker(s) gave her mah-jongg. If you want to know more about the order of things in joker exchanges, see FAQ 19-M.
And see page 23 in Mah Jongg Made Easy, the official rulebook of the National Mah Jongg League.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 6, 2026
Thank you
On Monday, April 6, 2026 at 11:36:01 AM EDT, David T wrote:
THANK YOU, Tom!
Hello Mr. Sloper!
I wanted to drop a quick line to say I've enjoyed reading your website for years now. I started playing Mah Jongg in 2017 and the person who first gave me some lessons suggested I review your website Sloperama. Brilliant content! And I've also purchased your book The Red Dragon and the West Wind via Kindle in 2021 and have studied it ever since.
Thank you again!
David
I appreciate your kind words, David. Since you have
The Red Dragon
&
The West Wind, I hope you also have the
errata that lists all changes and corrections.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 6, 2026
How to score this in MCR
On Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 10:19:12 AM EDT, C, Lauralee wrote:
Mah-Jongg Q+A
My mah-jongg question or comment is:
Is this just a mixed shifted fan (6 point not including wait or melding) or because there are 4 related chows, is it more?
Is this an example of the rule in your book about not using the same sets twice?
Lauralee
On Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 10:32:38 AM EDT, Carbone, Lauralee <lauralee.carbone
bellinghamschools.org> wrote:
I Teach MCR
I love to teach MCR and use your book! I live in Bellingham WA, Whatcom County.
Please add me to your list.
Lauralee Carbone
Hi, Lauralee! So glad to hear from someone who's read
The Red Dragon
&
The West Wind
!
In the book, it's page 139 (rule 64) where you find the principles governing the Inclusions And Combinations In Scoring. But FAQ 22 covers your question exactly:
This hand is All Chows and All Simples. All of the sets in the hand work together to create these two scoring patterns, and it is permitted to combine them when adding the score.
In addition, the 234B 345C 456D comprises Mixed Shifted Chows. The winner might wish to claim that the remaining chow, 567B, should be combined with the 345C 456D to make a second Mixed Shifted Chows scoring pattern, but the non-identical rule prohibits doing this because it uses one of the sets in the first Mixed Shifted to make a second Mixed Shifted. However, the 567B can be combined with the 234B to make a Short Straight, because the set hasn't been used for Short Straight already.
So let's take a look at your hand.
It's All Chows. It's not All Simples (9C). It's not "all" anything else.
Mixed Shifted Chows, 456C-567D-678B. Just like the example from FAQ 22, you can't make another Mixed Shifted Chows with the 789C, due to a couple of the Principles:
c. Prohibition against identical patterns. Once a set has been used to form a particular two- or three-set pattern, the player may not use the same set to form an identical pattern with another set.
e. Prohibition against repetitive set usage. Once two or three sets have been combined for a scoring pattern, any other remaining sets in the hand may be combined only once with an already-scored set, when creating additional two- or three-set scoring patterns. (RDWW p 139)
And just like the example from FAQ 22, you can combine 456C and 789C to make a Short Straight.
So the hand scores All Chows, Mixed Shifted Chows, and Short Straight, in addition to any other fan the hand might have earned.
And. Per your request, you are now listed as an MCR teacher in FAQ 4a.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 2, 2026
Help me resolve this, part 2
On Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 02:03:39 PM EDT, Kelly F wrote:
Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A, Thank You!
Mr. Sloper,
Thank you so much for your quick response. My friend and I were looking at several sources, and I finally found all my old yearly newsletters (that took me a while) and started looking through and found the supporting evidence for not being able to change your mind once it was placed on the top of the rack.
Your further clarification helps as I have used your book as my Mahj “bible” when I teach. I loved mahjong so much when I first played it 17 years ago, that I read as many books as I could as I wanted to understand the rules as written, not always as taught. A Jewish friend taught me and she had played with her Mother and Grandmother, but when this occurs, little things slip into or out of the game over the years, or they just didn’t pay attention to rule changes/clarifications over the years. I was taught a few things incorrectly that I had to change when I started preparing for tournaments. I had to break bad habits. I am adamant about teaching good habits and giving the correct rules/rulings when I teach or when others in my groups ask me for a “ruling”. I have met and played with so many ladies who paid to be taught incorrectly.
My friend I lament that the NMJL does not have a clear concise rule book. Yes they have Mahjong Made Easy, but it is sorely lacking as an overall definitive rule book. Which is why I expect you wrote your book. Even when they do answer questions in the newsletters/bulletin their wording is not always clear and sometimes leaves room for interpretation which is frustrating.
If you have any pull with NMJL, mention a more in depth rule book is wanted by many, and everyone I know laments that NMJL is stuck with no way to contact them except by letter or phone. An email address seems like a minimum these days. I stay loyal to them as they are the ones who standardized the game, but this game is so crazy popular in Dallas, and already people are changing the rules, and I fear it will be further de-standardized by those companies made wealthy and influential because of their products. They don’t just call these other rules “table” rules. When teaching with blanks, they don’t mention that this isn’t “standard NMJL” mahjong, they teach it as a normal part of the game.
I will get out my stationary and a stamp, and write to NMJL myself, but if you have any extra sway, it would be good if they would modernize!
Kind Regards and greetings from Texas,
Kelly F
Glad I could help, Kelly!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
April 1, 2026
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