Mahjong League Rules and Scoring (American Mahjong)

This document outlines the general rules and scoring for the Mahjong League. These rules are based on American Mahjong, only played with a National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) 2025 card.

1. General Play

• Players: Four players per table.

• Tiles: A standard American Mahjong set (152 tiles) is used.

• Wall Building: Starting at 11am, players build four walls, two tiles high, 19 stacks long (or as per standard practice, usually 19 stacks for a full game).

• Dealing: Each player receives 13 tiles, with the East player receiving 14 (the first tile from the wall).

• Charleston: Right, Across(over), Left. Option to stop. Left, Across(over), Right. Optional courtesy pass (0-3 tiles).

• Turns: Play proceeds counter-clockwise. East discards first.

• Drawing: A player draws a tile from the wall at the start of their turn.

• Discarding: A player discards one tile at the end of their turn.

• Calling Tiles:

• Expose a called tile and follow NMJL rules in double calls.

• Mahjong (Mahjong!): Calling a tile to complete a winning hand. This takes precedence over all other calls.

• Jokers: Jokers are wild and can be used to represent any tile in a Pung, Kong, or Quint. They cannot be used in a pair or a single tile or a single tile grouping.

• Exchanging Jokers: If a player has a natural tile that is represented by a joker in an exposed Pung or Kong or Quint on another player's rack, they may exchange their natural tile for the joker at any time after their turn has begun and before they discard by verbally asking the person whose joker they are trying to exchange.

2. Winning Hands (Mahjong)

• A winning hand consists of 14 tiles arranged in specific combinations as listed on the current year's National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card.

• Types of Hands: Hands are typically categorized by the NMJL card (e.g., 2024-2025 card) into sections like "2468," "Any Like Number," "Quints," "Consecutive Runs," "Winds-Dragons," "Singles & Pairs," etc.

• Concealed vs. Exposed: Some hands on the card are designated as "concealed" (C). These hands cannot have any tiles called from other players' discards and must be completed by a self-drawn tile. Exposed hands can use called tiles.

• Jokers in Hands: Jokers can be used in most hands, but specific rules apply (e.g., not in singles or pairs or single tile groupings). The NMJL card will indicate if a hand can use jokers.

3. Scoring

Scoring in American Mahjong is based on the value of the winning hand as listed on the NMJL card, plus additional points for specific conditions.

• Base Value: Each hand on the NMJL card has a base point value (e.g., 25, 30, 40, 45 etc. points).

• Bonus Points:

• Self-picked Mahjong: Add 10 points if a player draws their own winning tile from the wall (not off a discard) (or by joker exchange).

• Jokerless Hand: Add 10 points if the winning hand contains no jokers (except for "Singles & Pairs" hands, which cannot use jokers).

• No Exposures: Add 10 points if the winning hand has no exposed Pungs, Kongs, or Chows (except for hands that are designated as concealed on the NMJL card).

• Heavenly Hand: East player wins Mahjong before the Charleston begins (i.e., before the first discard). Add 30 points.

• Earthly Hand: East player wins Mahjong at the end of the Charleston (i.e., after the Charleston is completed but before the first discard of regular play). Add 25 points.

• Wall Game (No Winner): If the wall runs out of tiles and no one has declared Mahjong, each player is awarded 10 points.

• Incorrect Mahjong: If a player declares Mahjong incorrectly (e.g., wrong hand, wrong tiles), they are "dead" for that hand and cannot win. For this league, an incorrect Mahjong declaration will result in the player being "dead" for that hand, and the game continues without them. No points awarded.

4. League Specifics and Penalties

Dead Hand: A player's hand is considered "dead" if:

• They declare Mahjong incorrectly.

• They expose tiles incorrectly (e.g., wrong Pungs, Kongs or Quints).

• A discarded tile that makes their hand impossible to win according to the card.

• If a player's hand is dead, they cannot win for that round, and do not play or receive points.

• It is not recommended to call your own hand dead if your opponents are not aware.

• If you want to call an opponent dead.. Please be respectful and do it in a nice way :) When this occurs.. Any previous exposures stay on the top of the rack and joker exchanges are allowed if available. The rest of the hand must not be allowed any joker exchanges! 

• Mis-discard/Mis-call: If a player discards a tile and immediately realizes it was a mistake, they may not be able to retrieve it if spoken or laid on the table. (Down is Down!) If a player discards a tile and names it incorrectly, the player (or opponents) must name it correctly and the game moves on. A mis-call (e.g., calling a Pung without the pair) results in a dead hand if the player puts the called tile on their rack.

• Mis-Called tile for Mahjong: if a player calls mahjong for an incorrectly named discard, the person who discarded will be penalized 10 points and the caller gets the value of the hand called. No extra points will be awarded.

• Touch it.. It is yours: If you touch the tile.. It is yours regardless if you are picking from the wall or taking a called tile.

• Table Etiquette: Maintain respectful play. Avoid excessive noise or distractions.

• Tails: it is ok to use a tail at the end of your wall (not for int/advanced play thou).

• Disputes: Any disputes will be resolved by the league organizer(s) / judges.

• Scorecard Acknowledgment: Each player must sign the scorecard in acknowledgment for the scores to be officially valued and get East’s signature before the next round.

• Zero points are awarded if the game is not finished by the buzzer! No exceptions!

5. League Scoring Format

• Per Hand Scoring: At the end of each hand where a Mahjong is declared, the winner(s) will record their score.

• East will Verify: East will verify all scores and sign all score sheets at the table before leaving.

• Total Points: Players will accumulate points over the league weeks.

• Weekly Tracking: Scores will be tracked weekly on the provided spreadsheet.

• Winning Line: The specific winning hand (e.g., "2468 #3," "Quints #1") should be recorded for each win. If you already won with that line… no need to record.. Only 1 check per line is allowed. Make sure to record your wins in the book!

These rules are a general guide. Specific interpretations or additional rules may be clarified by the league organizers.

6. Winning Prizes and Awards

• Each week, one winner with the highest points will win Mahjong swag! In case of a TIE, the player with the highest point hand wins.

• If there is a TIE for the Grand Prize... the player with the most hands won, will win the Grand Prize. 

• At the end of six weeks we will award a SPECIAL PRIZE to a winner who wins the "most hands won" (we hope this will help you reach for different hands and fill as many boxes as you can!) We will also have a gift of completion for everyone who participates in this fun 6 week league.

• GRAND PRIZE WINNER… Will be lavished with adornment and win a beautiful set of tiles from Oh My Mahjong!