General Joker Rules

• A JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More tile can represent any natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More in groupingsA collection of tiles that consist of identical tiles in different quantities and/or tiles arranged in an aesthetic manner. A winning… More of 3 or more identical tiles (PungA grouping that consists of three identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to three Joker tiles can be used… More, KongA grouping that consists of four identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to four Joker tiles can be used… More, QuintA grouping that consists of five identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to five Joker tiles can be used… More, SextetA grouping that consists of six identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to six Joker tiles can be used… More).
• JokersThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More may never represent tiles in SingleA grouping that consists of one individual tile. A Joker tile can not be used to represent this individual tile. More and PairA grouping that consists of two identical tiles. A Joker tile can not be used to represent either one or both… More groupingsA collection of tiles that consist of identical tiles in different quantities and/or tiles arranged in an aesthetic manner. A winning… More including visual appeal groupingsA collection of tiles that consist of identical tiles in different quantities and/or tiles arranged in an aesthetic manner. A winning… More of:
  • Two SinglesA grouping that consists of two different tiles (two Single groupings) that are shown grouped together on the NMJL Card… More
  • Three SinglesA grouping that consists of three different tiles (three Single groupings) that are shown grouped together on the NMJL Card… More
  • Four SinglesA grouping that consists of four different tiles (four Single groupings) that are shown grouped together on the NMJL Card… More
  • Pair and SingleA grouping that consists of a Pair and a Single grouping, of the same suit, that are shown grouped together… More
  • Two Pair and SingleA grouping that consists of Two Pair and a Single grouping, of the same suit, that are shown grouped together… More
  • Three PairA grouping that consists of Three Pair groupings, of the same suit, that are shown grouped together on the NMJL… More
• A discarded JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More tile is always considered dead and cannot be claimed for an exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More or Mah Jongg.
  • It is always safe to discard a JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More.

Important: Even if a player repeats the previously discarded tile’s name when discarding a Joker (instead of saying “Same” or “Joker”), the JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More tile is still a dead tileAny tile that has been discarded by a player and the window of opportunity has closed on the discarded tile… More and unclaimable.

Jokers in an Exposure

• When using JokersThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More in an exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More, it is recommended (if possible) to place the JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More tile between natural tilesAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More to clearly distinguish individual exposures.
• Players may use multiple JokersThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More within one exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More as long as at least one natural tile (the claimed discarded tile) is included.

Jokers for a Mah Jongg

• When arranging tiles in the sloped part of your rack, there is no minimum requirement for natural tilesAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More in a PungA grouping that consists of three identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to three Joker tiles can be used… More, KongA grouping that consists of four identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to four Joker tiles can be used… More, QuintA grouping that consists of five identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to five Joker tiles can be used… More, or SextetA grouping that consists of six identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to six Joker tiles can be used… More.
• A winning Mah Jongg hand can include groupingsA collection of tiles that consist of identical tiles in different quantities and/or tiles arranged in an aesthetic manner. A winning… More composed entirely of Jokers without any natural tilesAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More.

Obtaining Joker Tiles

Players can obtain JokersThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More in three ways:

• Receiving them during the deal.
• Picking them directly from the wall.
• Performing a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More.

Performing a Joker Exchange

A player (Exchanger) may perform a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More during their turn, but only after picking a tile from the wall or claiming a discarded tile and completing an exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More.

• A Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More is when a player exchanges a JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More tile from an exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More with the matching natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More from their own hand.
  • The Exchanger trades a natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More for a JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More.
• Players may perform a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More with exposures on other players’ racks or the top of their own rack.
• Multiple Joker ExchangesAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More are permitted in one turn.

Recommended Joker Exchange Procedure

1. The player (Exchanger) initiates the procedure by clearly announcing the Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More loud enough so all players can hear.
   1. No penalty if announcement is not made but recommended to prevent confusion and to clearly close the window of opportunityThe period of time where a discarded tile can be claimed by another player. The period of time to claim a… More.
2. The Exchanger hands the natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More to the player (Exchangee) with the exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More containing the JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More they want to exchange.
   1. Players should not touch another player’s tiles directly.
   2. The Exchangee should visually confirm the natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More handed to them matches the tiles in their exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More.
3. The Exchangee replaces the JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More tile with the natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More provided.
4. The Exchangee hands the JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More tile to the exchanger.
5. The Exchanger places the JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More into the sloping part of their rack (racking the tileThe action of a player placing a tile on the sloping side of the player’s rack. This action is complete (finished)… More) or immediately declares Mah Jongg (see Mah Jongg via Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More).

Important: If exchanging JokersThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More from their own rack, announcing the Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More is recommended but not mandatory. No penalty if announcement is not made but recommended to prevent confusion and to clearly close the window of opportunityThe period of time where a discarded tile can be claimed by another player. The period of time to claim a… More.

Rules for Joker Exchanges

• The Exchangee must perform the Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More when initiated by the Exchanger.
• Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More is not the same as claiming a discarded tile
  • An exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More cannot be made after a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More unless immediately declaring Mah Jongg.
• JokersThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More obtained via Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More must be placed in the sloping part of the rack unless declaring Mah Jongg immediately.

Joker Exchange and Concealed Hands

• Players assembling a Concealed HandOne of the two types of hands displayed on the current National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) Card and marked with… More (C) may perform Joker ExchangesAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More, since exchanging a JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More doesn’t cause any tiles to be exposed.

Joker Exchange Restrictions

• A discarded tile cannot be claimed to perform a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More; a discarded tile can only be claimed for an exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More or Mah Jongg.
• Players cannot replace a natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More in an exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More with a JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More from their hand (reverse Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More).
• A JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More obtained from a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More cannot be used to modify any exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More.
  • Initiating a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More (or discarding a tile) locks all current exposures for the remainder of the game.

Commitment to Joker Exchange

• The Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More becomes irrevocable when the Exchanger places the received JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More tile into the sloping part of their rack (rackingThe action of a player placing a tile on the sloping side of the player’s rack. This action is complete (finished)… More).