Lesson 4 - Playing Basics

Playing Basics

The game starts when the dealer (East) discards their 14^th tile.

Draw or Call

On your turn, choose one:

• Draw a tile from the wall

OR

• Call the last-discarded tile to complete an exposed set or for Mahjong

Rack the Tile

Put the tile in the rack as quickly as possible. This limits other players’ ability to call the last discarded tile.

      Some people are taught to "tap" the tile on the rack, but this is bad advice. The point of racking immediately is to close the window in which another player can call the just-discarded tile from the last player. 

Calling a Just-Discarded Tile

• Anyone can call the just-discarded tile, even if it is not their turn
• They must do it before the next player racks their next tile.
• You MUST immediately put the called tile on TOP of your rack, never on the sloped part
• Add the other tiles for that set on top of the rack – this is called an “Exposure”
• The person to the right of the person who called the tile will be the next to play after the tile-caller discards a tile (so your turn may be skipped).

When to Call a Just-Discarded Tile

• To complete a meld of 3+ tiles (Pungs, Kongs, Quints and Sextets) in an exposed hand
• For Mahjong

Don’t Call a Just-Discarded Tile:

• If it's a Joker. A discarded Joker is considered "dead". You can't use it even for Mahjong.
• To complete a single tile or a pair (unless for Mahjong)
• If you need the tile but don’t already have enough of them or enough jokers to create the meld (of at least 3 tiles) you need for your hand. Once you expose a meld (which you must do if you call the just-discarded tile) you cannot change the number of tiles in it.
  •  For example, if you need 4 of the 3 Bam tile, but you only have 1 3 Bam and 1 Joker. The just-discarded tile, your 3 Bam and joker only make up a set of 3.
  • Once a set is exposed, the quantity can NOT be changed. It is essentially “set in stone” with the exception of Joker swaps.
• If you are trying for a concealed hand (concealed hands, indicated by a C on the card rather than an X) you cannot call any tiles except the final one for Mahjong).
• For a sequence of tiles such as 456, 2026 or NEWS.

If Two Players both want the same tile:

• If one player wants it for Mahjong, that player gets it
• If it’s not for Mahjong, preference goes to the player whose next turn is closest.

Exposures

• Other players may swap matching tiles for the jokers (ask first) during their turn (once they have racked their drawn or called tile). The Joker Swap helps the player who initiated obtain a joker. It helps the person with the exposure because winning without any jokers in your hand is worth more points.
• The player first draws from the wall and racks the tile, officially starting their turn (or calls a tile and exposes). Then the player asks for the joker swap. Multiple Joker swaps can happen during this same turn. After the Joker swap(s), the player discards a tile and play moves to the player on the right. 
• A player can swap a matching tile in their own exposure during their turn. 
• Other than joker swaps, Exposures are considered “set in stone” and cannot be changed or added to.
• If you are going for a concealed hand, and accidentally call & expose tiles, you will need to pivot to an exposed hand that uses the meld you exposed.

Discarding Tiles

• First make sure there aren’t any exposed jokers you could swap for (including your own).
• Lay the tile down and simultaneously say the name of the tile (“Two Bam”). Naming the tile is required. 
• When named and laid on the table (whichever comes first), your turn is over.
• You may make mistakes when naming the tile you're discarding. This happens to beginners, but this can cause your hand to be declared dead or cost you a penalty if another player needed the tile you named for Mahjong. 
• You cannot change your mind if you realize there was an exposed joker you could have swapped for. Down is down.
• The only time you can call a discarded tile without completing a set of 3 or more tiles is when the tile gives you Mahjong. Take the tile, place it on top of your rack, and add your other tiles to the top of the rack so others can verify your Mahjong.
• You'll start to notice when one player discards a tile and no one calls it, the next few turns may see the same tile discarded by other players. It is considered a "safe" discard since it wasn't called by another player. 
• If you have a pair that you no longer need, you can use it as "Joker Bait." Discard one of the tiles and hope that someone calls it and exposes it with a joker or two. Then on your next turn if there are still Jokers remaining in the exposure, you can swap the 2nd tile for one of the Jokers.

Strategy towards the end of the game

As the remaining wall tiles dwindle, it becomes more and more important to ensure you aren't discarding "dangerous" tiles that another player may need to declare Mahjong. There are penalties for discarding the tile that is claimed for Mahjong. There will be times when it is obvious which hand another player is going for (if they have multiple melds exposed with the same tile number, for example). If there are only a few tiles left and you are unlikely to get Mahjong, it's a good idea to discard "safe" tiles, such as a number tile that has already been discarded 3 times (leaving your tile as the 4th). Of course, Jokers are the safest discard there is - as they cannot be called under any circumstances, even Mahjong. 

Wall Games

If you get to the end of the tiles to draw from, that is called a "Wall Game." It's okay to be disappointed by a wall game but look on the bright side: nobody else called Mahjong! In certain leagues you may get 0 points if somebody else gets Mahjong (or -20 if your discard was called for Mahjong) and 10 points if it's a wall game. 

Ending the Game

The game is over when someone calls Mahjong or the wall runs out of tiles. In a friendly game other players may want to continue playing if they are close. In a league or competition, the tiles would be turned over, mixed up, and 4 walls built again for the next game. The player to the right of East (North) becomes the dealer for the next game. 

Ideally you would play 4 games so each player could be the dealer. The dealer has a slight advantage because they start with 14 tiles and continue with 14 tiles through the Charleston until they discard one tile to start the game. 

For the next lesson, click here: Lesson 5 - Playing with Less than 4 Players – Mahjong for Makindu