(BASED ON THE OFFICIAL STANDARD HANDS AND RULES-NATIONAL MAH JONGG LEAGUE)

PLEASE BE PROMPT

THERE WILL BE A MINUS 25 POINT PENALTY TO A PLAYER WHO IS NOT SEATED AT THE PLAYING TABLE WHEN THE DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES “LET THE GAMES BEGIN”.

Please find your correct table and seat position. The number on your nametag is the starting table number (if you are 9, you will sit at table 9, etc.). The letter on your nametag is the direction in which you will move after each round (North, South, and West). A round consists of 4 (four) games. You will play 4 games at each table before moving to the next table.

DIRECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENT AFTER EACH ROUND

EAST               -            Remains stationary throughout the tournament.

WEST              -            Moves up two tables (after each round).

NORTH            -            Moves up one table (after each round).

SOUTH            -            Moves down one table (after each round).

50 MINUTES ALLOTTED PER ROUND. NO POINTS WILL BE GIVEN FOR ANY HAND (IN ANY ROUND) NOT FINISHED IN TIME.  (EXCEPTION: IF PLAY IS DELAYED DUE TO DISCREPANCY.)

If you finish the round early, please QUIETLY leave the room until the next round. Please, NO TALKING IN THE TOURNAMENT ROOM while the games are still in progress. It is very disturbing to those still playing.

1.      If a player calls a tile for exposure or Mah Jongg, they must put that tile on the top of their rack (not in their rack).  If a called tile for Mah Jongg (or exposure) is placed in their rack, before exposure, player will be call dead.  (Exception: If a player picks their own Mah Jongg tile from the wall the tile may be put in their rack before exposing for Mah Jongg.

2.      A player may “call” a tile for exposure or Mah Jongg. As long as no tiles are exposed, the player can change their mind without penalty. Play continues.

3.      Never declare yourself  “Dead”. If an exposed hand is declared “dead” (any player can declare it “dead”), that hand stops playing.  However, if you declare a hand “dead”, and it is not, your hand is “dead”.

4.      East must show players their Flower tile and 1 Bam tile at the start of each round. East must make sure all players are sitting in the proper positions.  If a player sits in the wrong position and makes Mah Jongg, all hands are thrown in and the game is replayed.

5.      East position will be the scorekeeper for the entire tournament. Check your scores to make sure they are accurate. Players should initial the box next to their total score after each round. West will initial East’s score and bring to Director's table. The player opposite a winning hand is to sign above column verifying the win after every game.  (This does not apply to “wall” games.)  Absolutely no changes will be made on any signed scores, after one round, unless East verifies the error.

6.      Scoring for each hand is the same as NMJL Standard Hands on the current card.  See “Scoring”.

7.      Any player may stop the passing after the first Charleston is completed.Optional pass allowed-No Mushing!

8.      If you “steal” a tile, you cannot look at that tile.  Player will receive minus 10 pts. if they do!

9.      Positively NO LOOKING/PICKING AHEAD. A player may not pick a tile until the previous player has discarded.  Then the next player picks BEFORE discarding.

10.  There is NO “HOT OR COLD” wall.  A player may call last tile discarded for Mah Jongg or exposure.  (Exception: When last discard is a joker.)

11.  A tile covered by the next discard cannot be called for Mah Jongg or an exposure.

12.  If a question arises during play, call for Director.  Director’s ruling will be final.

13.  A player should never throw in hand or expose hand until Mah Jongg is verified (see Mah Jongg In Error).

14.  A player who throws a tile and incorrectly names it cannot take it back once it is on the table (see Penalty).

15.  In their turn a player cannot call the previous tile thrown if they have touched a tile on the wall.

16.  If a player has the wrong amount of tiles after the Charleston, all hands are thrown in and game starts again, as long as East has not discarded the first tile. 

17.  If a player picks from the wrong wall OR from the wrong end of the wall, they are DEAD.

SCORING

·        The winner of each hand scores exactly the value on the card.

·        Add 15 points extra to score if player picks own Mah Jongg tile.

·        Add 15 points extra to score if player makes any Singles & Pairs hand.

·        Add 20 points extra to score if player makes any jokerless Mah Jongg except for Singles & Pairs hand.

·        Add 10 points to each players score for a wall game unless a hand is dead.  (See Penalties)

PENALTIES

·        No penalty to a player who throws Mah Jongg tile to an unexposed hand OR with one exposure.

·        Minus 10 points to player who steals tile and looks at it.

·        Minus 10 points to player who misnames a tile called for exposure.

·        Minus 10 points to player who throws Mah Jongg tile to hand with two exposures.

·        Minus 25 points to player who throws Mah Jongg tile to hand with three exposures or when there are two exposures and only one more group of tiles will complete the hand. (i.e.: Refer to QUINTS only).

·        “Dead” hands do not get 10 points for a wall game.

MAH JONGG IN ERROR

1.         If Mah Jongg is declared in error and one player destroys remaining wall, players who are in tact receive 10 points. Miscaller and player who destroyed wall get 0.  If tile is miscalled and declarer calls Mah Jongg, declarer gets amount of hand and thrower gets minus 25 points.  If hand is “dead” for any reason, player gets 0.

2.         If Mah Jongg is declared in error and every player exposes hand, error of Mah Jongg is scored 0.  Other players score 10 points.  If only one person does not expose hand, that player scores 10 points.  Everyone else scores 0.  Mah Jongg called in error and two or more hands in tact, game continues.

3.                  If a player calls a tile and exposes incorrectly and discards, and another player recognizes the incorrect exposure, that exposure makes player’s hand “dead”.  However, if player has not discarded and sees mistake and corrects it, the game continues – No Penalty.

REDEEMING JOKERS

·         A concealed hand incorrectly exposed for Mah Jongg must be returned to rack.  Player is "dead".  The player stops picking and discarding.  NO JOKERS CAN BE REDEEMED.

·        Player, who has been playing an exposed hand calls Mah Jongg or exposes in error and discards. Hand is “dead”.  Any player may redeem only those jokers exposed prior to error in their turn.

·        A player must pick (or call a tile for exposure) to open up their turn before making any other moves          (i.e.: such as replacing a joker). You will be called dead if you do not open up your turn first.

                                                                                             Revised   7-13-08

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