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MAH JONGG CRUTCHES (ARTICLE 220)

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A crutch is something that someone depends on for help and support. In mah jongg, it’s a mechanism for helping someone when playing the game. Crutches may seem helpful temporarily, but they can have a wider impact than one might think because they can have negative effects on the game and all the players.

Tail on the Wall

Each player turns the last stack of tiles perpendicular to their rack when building the walls. When it’s time to pick tiles from their wall, they push it out to a 45-degree angle, and the last stack of tiles in the wall is turned as a reminder to pick from the other end. Most groups call this a tail, which is also known in some circles as a caboose.

This can become a crutch that someone relies on. When someone plays with a group that does not allow it (i.e., experienced players, tournament), they may be confused about which end of the wall to pick from because they have not trained their mind to pick the tile closest to the center of the table.

Additionally, experienced players who view it as unnecessary may scrutinize anyone who relies on a tail. This is usually not acceptable to do when playing in a tournament.

Tombstone

Some tables use a house rule where, after a discard is claimed, the discarder stands the tile upright in front of their rack. The idea is to mark whose turn it was in case the caller changes their mind, and to make it easier for the caller to identify the correct tile.

The challenge is that this practice can quietly shift from a simple aid to a dependency. Once a player gets used to having a visual marker, they may struggle in settings where the cue isn’t used. It can also draw unwanted attention; seasoned players who consider the habit unnecessary sometimes view it as a sign of inexperience. In tournament play, where consistency and rule-based procedures matter, relying on improvised cues like this is discouraged.

A long-term approach is to train your eyes and mind to stay focused—tracking turn order, and listening for calls—so your judgment rests on awareness rather than on cues that won’t always be present.

Dead Jokers

During the game, players may have exposures with jokers. Any player with the natural tile can exchange it for the joker. When all the natural tiles used for exchange are visible (i.e., discarded, other exposures), the joker is no longer eligible for exchange, so it’s turned upside down.

One benefit of playing mah jongg is that it allows you to practice critical thinking when surveying the discards for tiles. However, this opportunity is waived when using this mechanism.

Discard Formations

Chronological Discards
Players line up their discards in order of play, creating a visible sequence.

Pillars
Each new discard is stacked directly on top of—or grouped tightly with—the previous one, forming a column or cluster.

Last One Up
Before discarding, a player flips over the previous tile so that only the most recent discard is visible.

These methods take time to maintain and can slow down the game.

There is no rule governing discard formations in American mah jongg, but traditionally, discards are scattered randomly in the center of the table. Surveying discards is a critical thinking skill developed through play. Relying on structured discard formations removes that challenge and can be viewed by experienced players as unnecessary or even distracting.

Hand Highlighters

Anyone learning how to navigate the card or who has trouble with short-term memory may find it helpful to mark potential hands with a ruler, sticky highlighter, or post-it tab.

Sticky Highlighters:

This mechanism can be exploited by other players if used in person. Consider using a card cover or turning it over when it is unnecessary to block wandering eyes.

Shout-out to Shawn Martin for inspiring this wiki article. Shawn is a member of the Mahj Life Instructor Guild serving the Greater Atlanta area. You can learn more about her by visiting her instructor profile: https://mahjlife.com/instructor-guild-directory/name/shawn-martin/

MAH JONGG CRUTCHES (ARTICLE 220)