Errors and Penalties

Jokers and Joker Exchange

Withdraw Joker Exchange Announcement
1. If a player (Exchanger) announces a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More but realizes they have not yet picked a tile from the wall or claimed a discarded tile for exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More, they may withdraw the Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More announcement and proceed correctly without penalty.
Joker Exchange With Another Player Without First Picking or Claiming a Discarded Tile
1. If a player (Exchanger) performs a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More and either racks the JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More tile or declares Mah Jongg without first picking a tile from the wall or properly claiming a discarded tile for an exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More the player’s hand is dead.
Joker Exchange With Self Without First Picking or Claiming a Discarded Tile
1. If a player (Exchanger) exchanges tiles from their own exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More without first picking from the wall or claiming a discarded tile for an exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More the player’s hand is dead.
Unannounced Joker Exchange – Natural Tile Touches Playing Area
1. If a player (Exchanger) does not announce a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More and the natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More intended for exchange touches the playing areaThe open area located within the center of the table that is naturally created by the racks of the four… More:
  1. The tile is considered discarded, and the Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More cannot proceed.
  2. The exchanger’s turn immediately ends, and this discarded tile cannot be claimed for a Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More.
  3. Important: If the player (Exchanger) announced the Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More beforehand (as recommended), placing the tile on the playing areaThe open area located within the center of the table that is naturally created by the racks of the four… More to pass to the other player (Exchangee) is permitted and the Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More could proceed.
Incorrect Natural Tile Given to Exchangee (Two Outcomes)
1. If a player (Exchanger) mistakenly hands an incorrect natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More to another player (Exchangee), creating an invalid exposureWhen a player creates an exposure that would make the player’s hand dead if another player issues a dead hand… More for the Exchangee, there are two possible outcomes:
  1. Error Noticed Before Exchanger Discards a Tile:
    1. The error may be corrected without penalty.
    2. If the exchanger does not have the correct natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More, the Joker ExchangeAn action that a player may perform when it is their turn to play that allows a player to trade… More is canceled without penalty.
  2. Error Noticed After Exchanger Discards a Tile:
    1. The Exchangee’s exposureWhen a player places a grouping of three or more identical tiles on the top part of their rack after… More becomes an invalid exposureWhen a player creates an exposure that would make the player’s hand dead if another player issues a dead hand… More and their hand is dead.
    2. The Exchanger faces no penalty for providing the incorrect natural tileAny tile in an American Mah Jongg set other than a Joker tile. An American Mah Jongg set of tiles contains… More causing the invalid exposureWhen a player creates an exposure that would make the player’s hand dead if another player issues a dead hand… More.