REASONS TO DISQUALIFY ANOTHER PLAYER (Article 24)

Commentary: In some situations, a player can disqualify another player (i.e., declare another player’s hand dead) from the game. Some reasons to disqualify a player from the game involve the wall (see below), and some involve a player’s hand. It’s important to note that a player cannot disqualify themselves because it is their opponents’ responsibility. When a player has an unwinnable hand, the other player must know what hand they are playing. With one exposure, this isn’t easy to do. Typically, two exposures are needed to confirm what hand someone is playing. To disqualify a player, you can only use visible tiles (i.e., discards, exposures) to prove your case. In other words, the tiles in your concealed hand cannot be used. Do not disqualify the player if you cannot prove your case with the visible tiles. If you can prove your case with the visible tiles, disqualify the player and prove your case. The benefit is that the remaining players get more turns, and there is one less competitor for the win.

If a player contests a disqualification, the game is played normally. At the end of the game, the player who initiated the disqualification and the player who contested are the only ones who debate the issue. The wrong player pays the other player 50 points (i.e., 50 cents).

After disqualification (i.e., dead hand confirmed), newly exposed tiles must be returned to the sloped part of the rack. Any valid exposures made before the disqualification remain on the flat part of the rack, and jokers, if any, can be exchanged. If it was a concealed hand, all the tiles are returned to the sloped part of the rack, including the called tile. The disqualification ends their turn, so they do not discard. The game continues with the player to the right of the disqualified player. If there is a winner, they pay as usual.

Disqualifying a player has ramifications, so make a decision that will give you an advantage. If the player is disqualified, they are out of the game, but any jokers in valid exposures are still eligible for exchange. The active players will get more picks from the wall, but the disqualified player may have needed tiles in their concealed hand. If the player is not disqualified and knows they cannot win, they will play defensively and discard as safely as possible, decreasing the other players’ potential to win. If they are unaware, they may discard normally, increasing the other players’ potential to win. They may also claim discards and make exposures with jokers, which could help the other players.

Memorize the situations with preventative measures to stay in the game!

• Mah Jongg In Error: A player should be disqualified if they declare mah jongg with errors or infractions (articles).
• Exposing a hand not on the card: Double-check the hand you are playing to ensure the shape is correct (i.e., pung-kong-pung-kong vs pung-pung-kong-kong; find a hand that can use those exposures. If you cannot find a hand, keep it to yourself and play defensively to force the game to a draw (i.e., wall game; MJME 2024 page 19 #15 [d]).
• Exposing a concealed hand: When a player discards a tile you need, and you have no exposures, always check the card to double-check if you are playing a concealed hand (C)or an exposable hand (X). If you have one or more exposures and realize the exposures are for a concealed hand, find a hand that can use those exposures. If you cannot find a hand, keep it to yourself and play defensively to force the game to a draw (i.e., wall game; MJME 2024 page 19 #15 [f]).
• Invalid exposure: A player should be disqualified if they have exposures that don’t fit a hand on the card or if they attempt to make an exposure of single tiles (i.e., year, NEWS; MJME 2024 page 19 #15 [c]). There are a couple of reasons why this might happen:
  • Someone made a joker exchange with the wrong tile. This is why joker exchanges should be done hand-to-hand.
  • You call a misnamed discard and exposed tiles; then, you cannot use the actual discard. Listen and watch to confirm the discard before you rack it or expose tiles.
• Wrong number of tiles: Always count your tiles after the Charleston! The game does not officially begin until East discards their winning tile so you can catch mistakes before it’s too late. If you have the wrong number of tiles during the game, keep it to yourself and play defensively to force the game to a draw (i.e., wall game; MJME 2024 page 19 #15 [a]).
• Unwinnable hand: A player should be disqualified if they have exposures that indicate a specific hand that requires a single or pair tile that has already been discarded or exposed (MJME 2024 page 19 #15 [e], page 20 #18). Playing a concealed hand means you’re in stealth mode, so even if you cannot complete the hand, you cannot be disqualified. The more exposures you have, the easier for your opponents to figure out what hand you are playing. So, minimize exposures so your opponents cannot determine which hand you are playing. Play in STEALTH (no exposures) or SEMI-STEALTH MODE (one exposure).
• Invalid joker exchange: A player should be disqualified if they attempt to do a joker exchange before they start their turn (i.e., pick and rack a tile from the wall, call a discard and rack it, or expose tiles from their rack; MJME 2024 page 19 #15 [b]). Sometimes, you may be so excited to do a joker exchange that you forget to start your turn properly. Your turn begins when you pick a tile from the wall and rack it, pick a tile from the wall and request a joker exchange, or call a discard and complete an exposure.
• Picking ahead: A player should be disqualified if they discard a tile before picking from the wall (MJME 2024 page 19 #15 [g]).
• Tampering with the tiles in the wall: A player should be disqualified if they take a seen tile from an interrupted pick and mix it with other tiles in the wall to create a new random order (NMJL Bulletin 2025).
• Picking from the wrong wall: A player should be disqualified if they pick from the wrong wall and rack the tile. The tile remains in the disqualified player’s hand (MJME 2024 page 19 #15 [i]). NOTE: A community leader called the league, and they confirmed that racking isn’t required to disqualify the player. If players pick from the wrong end of the wall, they should be disqualified.
• Pushing out the wrong wall:
  • A player should be disqualified if they push out the wrong wall. The game should continue from the wrong wall and proceed from the correct one. MJME 2024 page 20 #16 (a).
  • A player should be disqualified if they push out their wall before the previous wall is exhausted, causing another player to pick from the wrong wall. Both players’ hands are “dead.” A wall is pushed out in clockwise order, so when a new wall is pushed out, double-check to ensure it is the right wall before reaching for a tile (MJME 2024 page 20 #16 [c]).
  • If no one notices that the wrong wall has been pushed out and someone declares mah jongg while picking from that wall, the player who pushed out the wrong wall pays for the table (MJME 2024 page 20 #16 [b]).
• Picking from the wrong end: When a new wall is pushed out, pick the tile from the end closest to the center of the table.
  • A player should be disqualified if they pick from the wrong end of the wall. The other players continue by picking from the correct end (MJME 2024 page 19 #15 [j]).
  • If no one notices that a player picks from the wrong end of the wall and their discard results in another player declaring mah jongg, the discarder pays for the table (MJME 2024 page 20 #17 [c]).
• Picking out of turn: Train yourself to count to three in your head after a tile has been discarded. This will give you and other players time to call for an exposure. Only pick from the wall if the player on your left was the one who discarded last.
  • If the tile is racked, it remains with the hand.
  • If the tile is not racked and another player immediately notices, it should be put back on the wall.
  • If the tile is discarded, it remains on the table and cannot be called for an exposure.
  • If the tile is discarded and another player declares mah jongg, the win is honored and the discarder plays for the table (MJME 2024 page 19 #15 [h]).

Question from a player:  A player has two exposures on their rack, and only one obvious hand can be played.  The needed pair is accounted for on the table (three of the tiles is discarded).  Can that player be declared dead? 
 
Answer from the NMJL:  “A hand is considered dead if the player has too many or too few tiles, incorrect exposures, mah jongg in error, or if a player is playing a hand, not on the current card.” 

Source:  Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024 page 19 #15)

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Other answers from the NMJL: 

“You should declare a hand dead if from exposures showing on the player’s rack you know what hand they are playing and the needed pair or single tile is shown on the table or in another exposure.  The player has to stop picking and discarding.” 
   
“You may declare a player dead if from the exposures showing on their rack and from the discards on the table that the hand cannot be completed with the natural tile or pair of tiles needed.” 
 
“When there are exposures indicating a definite hand is being played, the hand may be declared dead if all the necessary tiles to complete a single tile or pair is shown on the table as discards or in another player’s exposure.  The player whose hand is declared dead would discontinue picking and discarding.” 
 
“You could and should declare that player dead if from the exposures showing on their rack and from the discards on the table that the hand cannot be completed with the natural tile or pair of tiles needed.  The player who was declared dead ceases to pick and discard.”  
 
Source for other answers:  National Mah Jongg League Bulletin Q&A (1997 page 6, 1999 page 6, 2000 page 5, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016)  https://www.nationalmahjonggleague.org