PENALTY FOR MISNAMING A DISCARD (Article 67)

Commentary: Occasionally, a player may misname their discard, leading to different outcomes based on when the mistake is noticed and how they are held accountable. It doesn’t matter if the misnamed discard is a symbol tile or a joker. Both situations follow the same principle: the hand’s validity is determined by its overall structure, not by a single tile. A symbol tile (e.g., dot, bam, crak, wind, dragon) can be easily verified within the context of the hand’s pattern, regardless of whether the specific tile is on the table. On the other hand, a joker cannot be claimed or used to verify a winning hand since its role is to substitute for a different tile, and it cannot complete a hand in the same way as a standard tile. In both cases, the overall pattern of the hand can be verified without needing the misnamed tile, ensuring that the game remains fair and the win is legitimate.

Here are four common scenarios exist, each with its own ramifications, impacting the flow of the game and, in some cases, leading to penalties.

Misnamed Discard Noticed Immediately

If a player misnames a discarded tile but the mistake is corrected before any further action is taken, the discarder simply names the discarded tile correctly. There is no penalty, and the game continues normally since no one else was affected.

Misnamed Discard Leading to Disqualification

If a player misnames a discarded tile and goes unnoticed until another player claims it, racks the wrong tile, or exposes incorrect tiles, the affected player may be disqualified. If disqualified, they must stop playing while the game continues with the remaining three players. The discarder incurs no penalty.

This rule reinforces that each player is responsible for both seeing and hearing discards to maintain the integrity of their hand.

Misnamed Discard That Results in Mah Jongg

If a player misnames a discarded tile and goes unnoticed until another player declares mah jongg, the win is honored. Because the misnamed discard influenced the player’s decision to declare mah jongg, the game ends, and the discarder is penalized by paying four times the hand’s value to the winner, while the other players owe nothing.

Misnamed Discard That Results in Mah Jongg with Two Players

If a player misnames a discarded tile and two players declare mah jongg—one based on the misnamed tile and another on the actual tile—priority is given to the player who needs the actual tile to win. The discarder must correctly name the tile and pay double the hand’s value to the rightful winner while the other players pay the hand’s value.

Verifying a Winning Hand After a Misnamed Discard

When a player declares mah jongg after hearing their winning tile, the hand does not require the final tile. This is because each hand follows a pattern that can easily be verified, even if one tile is in question. Sometimes, the tile may not even be on the table. Additionally, if the misnamed discard was a joker, it is disregarded, as jokers can never be claimed.

Question from a player:  Is there a penalty for discarding a misnamed tile?

Answer from the NMJL: A tile cannot be claimed until correctly named. The correctly named tile may then be called for an exposure. If exposure is made with an incorrectly named tile, the hand is “dead.” Misnamer is not penalized. However, if Mah Jongg is called with the incorrectly named tile, the game ceases and misnamer pays claimant four times the value of the hand. Others do not pay.

Source: Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024 page 16 #3); NMJL Bulletin 2020; SIMULTANEOUS CALL FOR MAH JONGG WITH A MISNAMED DISCARD (Article 94)

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Other answers from the NMJL: 

“If a miscalled tile is called, causing an invalid exposure, the calling player’s hand is dead and there is no penalty for the discarder of the misnamed tile. The caller should have been listening as well as looking when the tile was discarded. If the misnamed tile is claimed for mah jongg, the game stops and the miscaller pays the claimant four times the value of the hand; the other players do not pay.” 

“If the miscalled tile is called causing an invalid exposure, the calling player’s hand is dead and there is no penalty for the discarder of the incorrectly named tile.  If the incorrectly named tile is claimed for mah jongg, the game stops and the miscaller pays the claimant 4 times the value of the hand; others do not pay.  Remember, a tile may never be called unless correctly named.” 
 
“A tile cannot be claimed until correctly named. A player must look as well as listen before calling a discard for an exposed hand or mah jongg (see ruling regarding miscalling on the back of the card).” 
 
“A tile cannot be claimed until correctly named. Correctly named tile may be called for an exposure or mah jongg. However, if mah jongg is called with the incorrectly named tile, the game stops. Then miscaller pays claimant four times the value of the hand. Others do not pay.” 
 
“A tile cannot be claimed until correctly named. Correctly named tile may then be called for an exposure or mah jongg. However, if mah jongg is called with the incorrectly named tile, the game stops. Miscaller pays claimant four times the value of the hand. Others do not pay.” 
 
“A tile cannot be claimed until correctly named. If a misnamed tile is wanted for an exposure it cannot be claimed, there is no penalty. If a misnamed tile is wanted for mah jongg, game ends. Miscaller pays four times the value of the of the claimant’s hand. Other players do not pay. If no one claims mah jongg, the misnamed tile must be correctly named. It then may be called for pung, kong or quint for exposure.” 
 
“A tile cannot be claimed until correct named. If a misnamed tile is wanted for an exposure, the tile cannot be claimed until correctly named, no penalty. If a misnamed tile is wanted for mah jongg, the game ends. Miscaller pays declarer four times the value of the hand. Others do not pay mah jongg.”  
 
Sources for other answers:  National Mah Jongg League Bulletin Q&A (1970 page 4, 1972 page 5, 1981 page 2, 1983 page 3, 1985, 1987 page 4, 1988 page 5, 1989 page 5, 1990 page 5, 1991 page 13, 1993 page 5, 1997 page 6, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020)