Mah Jongg via Self-Pick

If a player completes a winning Mah Jongg hand by picking a tile from the wall, they must immediately declare Mah Jongg loud enough for all players to hear.

Recommended announcements: “I picked it,” “Mah Jongg, I picked it,” or “Mahj, I picked it.”

Emphasizing that the player picked the tile from the wall for Mah Jongg is important for scoring purposes (see Hand Value and Payment).

After declaring Mah Jongg, the player exposes all 14 tiles clearly on top of their rack.

Steps After Declaring Mah Jongg

  • It is recommended, though not required, that players arrange exposures in the same order as shown on the current NMJL Card to make verification easier for the other players.
  • It is recommended, though not required, that the winner identifies their hand on the NMJL Card to make the verification process easier for other players.
  • Other players should verify the winning hand’s validity before proceeding.

Important: Other players must not expose or discard their tiles until the winning Mah Jongg hand is officially confirmed as valid by all players.

Announcing Winning Hand Value

  • Once the Mah Jongg is confirmed, the winner announces the hand’s total value and the amount owed by each player.
  • Other players should not assist in calculating the winning hand’s value.

Incorrect Winning Hand Value Announcements

  • If the winner announces a total hand value lower than than deserved, and another player corrects the error, the winner receives only the originally announced lower total hand value.
  • If the winner announces a total hand value higher than deserved, any player may question it, and the payout is based on the correct value once verified against the current card.