Official Tournament Rules

Tournament play is according to the National Mah Jongg Rules (NJML) plus the Illume Mah Jonng Tournament Rules and uses the NJML Card.


ROTATION


East moves DOWN 2 tables, North moves UP 1 table, South moves DOWN 1 table, West moves up 2 tables after a round of 3 games has been completed in 60 minutes.


The tournament will consist of 3 rounds, thus playing 9 games in total.


East will have the responsibility to keep the game moving at a good pace.  Time keeping clocks will be displayed for all players to see.


THE CARD


Players are required to display the NJML card during tournament play.  The Card is part of this game and is considered a sign of courtesy.  


SCORING


  • Value on card - Player who makes Mah Jongg (i.e. a 25 listed hand on the card equals to 25 points)
  • + 10 points - Player who picks their own Mah Jongg
  • + 20 points - A winning hand with NO JOKERS.  Singles & Pairs hands do NOT get this bonus.
  • + 10  - A Wall Game:  All players get points, except for a hand that was declared dead or Mah Jongg in error.


  • - 10 points - Player who THROWS Mah Jongg to a hand with NO exposures or ONE exposure.
  • - 20 points - Player who THROWS Mah Jongg to a hand with TWO exposures.
  • - 25 points - Player who THROWS Mah Jongg to a hand with THREE or more exposures.
  • - 10 points - if you LOOK at a stolen tile during the blind pass, you still play in the game.  
  • - 25 points - to the discarder who mis-names a tile that can be called for Mah Jongg.  Play stops and the winner of the Mah Jongg receives value of the hand.
  • - 10 points - Dead Hand and they do not receive points for a wall game.
  • 0 points - if the players at a table do not complete 3 games in a round, each player gets a score of ZERO for the last game of the round.


Once scores have been submitted to the Director after each round, no changes can be made later.


PLAYING


Calling 

You must verbally call for a discarded tile.  PENALTY, if you don’t call the tile, you can’t have it and must be placed back on the table.

Jokers

Request the exchange and hand the person the tile to replace.  If you put the tile on the table without verbalizing the exchange, then the tile is dead for exchanging and available to others for calling for an exposure.


PICKING AND THROWING TILES


  • NO PICKING AHEAD.  If you pick ahead, your hand will be called DEAD.
  • Your turn begins when you pick a tile or call a tile for exposure.  
  • Do not place your hand on the next tile or hover over the wall until the player before you has made their discard.
  • IF YOU TOUCH THE TILE, it’s yours!  This applies to BOTH picking from the beginning of the wall and/or calling the last discarded tile.
  • EXCEPTION: If you pick from the wrong end of the wall and look at the tile, your hand is dead.  If you have not looked at the tile, then put it back and continue from the correct side of the wall.  Also, if the wall was moved out and tiles were hidden your hand will not be called dead.  The player pushing out the wall should be careful that tiles are not hidden, he/she should realign the remaining tiles.
  • A player may call the last discarded tile for Mah Jongg or an exposure until the next player either racks or discards the picked tile.
  • Once a tile is racked, the previous tile is “dead”. It’s no longer available.
  • You must discard your tile if : (a) the tile touches the table, or (b) you start to say the name of the tile.  It is called intent.  Continue the discard.
  • Players must pick before discarding or exchanging jokers.  The pick is the start of the turn.
  • Picking and racking - although the last discarded tile is still available until your tile is racked, it is discourteous to rack very quickly.  Please take a pause before racking your tile; count to 3, there is plenty of time.
  • Jokers may be replaced from any exposure before a hand went “dead”.  Jokers in an exposure that made the hand dead are not available.  Jokers in a concealed dead hand that were exposed prior to the hand declared dead are not available.
  • When declaring Mah Jongg, the hand should be displayed as it appears on the card as a courtesy to others.


CALLED TILE


  • If you call a tile for Mah Jongg or for an exposure, the called tile MUST be placed ON your rack, not IN the slope of your rack.  This verifies that you picked the right tile.  If you rack the tile, your hand will be called dead and play continues with the 3 remaining players.
  • If you call a tile for an exposure or Mah Jongg, you can change your mind only if you have NOT touched the discarded tile.  If touched, then it must be used for an exposure.
  • If two players call at the same time for Mah Jongg the tile goes to the next player in the rotation.




MAH JONGG CALLED IN ERROR


  • If the 3 other players expose their hands, all get 0 points.
  • If 2 players do not expose their hands, game continues with 2 remaining players.
  • If 1 player does not expose their hand, that player gets PLUS 10 points while the others get 0 points.
  • If a player calls Mah Jongg in error and the mistake is rectified BEFORE the hand is exposed and BEFORE any other player exposes or disturbs their hand, game continues without penalty.
  • If Mah Jongg is called and the player doesn’t pick up their Mah Jongg tile and place it on the rack the Mah Jongg is no good.


MIS-NAMING A TILE


  • Correct the tile name and continue.
  • A mis-named discarded tile can be called for Mah Jongg.  The discarder is penalized 25 points and the Mah Jongg receives the point value on the card.
  • A mis-named discarded tile cannot be called for an exposure.  If you start to expose tiles based on what you hear, and not see, your hand will be called dead.


CIRCUMSTANCES/REMINDERS


  • If you know a hand is “dead”, you can declare it.  But, if you declare a hand dead in error, your hand is “dead”.  Do not discuss it with other first.
  • You must play all rounds of the tournament, if there is an emergency contact the Director.
  • Players are required to supply their own NJML card.
  • The game does not start until East throws.
  • You cannot go dead in the Charleston.


COURTEOUS PLAY


  • Please do not criticize or judge your opponent’s play.
  • Have patience for others.  We all learn differently.
  • Cell phones will be on mute and NOT placed at the table.  Please text or call at the end of a round.
  • If you finish your round whilst others are still playing please keep quiet.
  • The tournament enforces ZERO TOLERANCE for inconsiderate, rude or abusive behavior.
  • The Director’s ruling is final.