REASONS TO DISQUALIFY ANOTHER PLAYER (Article 24)

Commentary: In some situations, a player may disqualify another player by declaring their hand “dead” for violating the rules of play. Many players find the League’s term a bit harsh, so “disqualified” or “DQ’d” is another common term. Phrases like “that exposure is invalid,” “your hand is invalid,” or “your hand is unwinnable” are equally acceptable and often feel gentler in conversation.

A violation can stem from the wall (see examples in the linked article) or from the way a player has constructed their hand. What matters most is that a player cannot disqualify themselves. Even if someone says, “My hand is dead,” it isn’t official until another player recognizes the issue and confirms it.

Because the rules never say you must “wait your turn” to call another hand dead, a disqualification can be made at any point during the pick-and-discard phase. Two rule principles support this: first, self-disqualification isn’t allowed, so another player must intervene; second, jokers in exposures remain available for exchange only until that player is disqualified, which assumes another player has made the call. Jokers in exposures created before the disqualification remain eligible for exchange. Together, these details make it clear that disqualification is initiated by other players and exercised at their discretion.

To disqualify a hand, you must be able to demonstrate that the hand is unwinnable using only visible information—exposures and discards. You cannot rely on the concealed tiles in your own hand as proof. Most of the time, two exposures are needed to clearly establish that a hand cannot be completed; one exposure rarely provides enough evidence to make that determination confidently.

Once a hand is disqualified—whether for mah jongg in error or another violation—the guiding principle is preserving fairness. The procedure is as follows:

• Valid exposures remain up on the flat rack, and jokers in those exposures are still eligible for redemption.
• Invalid exposures or concealed tiles are returned to the sloped part of the rack, including the most recently called tile preventing further influence on play.
• The disqualified player’s turn ends immediately, and they do not discard. If another player can declare mah jongg with the claimed discard, the disqualified player must provide that tile and the game ends. Otherwise, play resumes with the player to their right.

Although Mah Jongg Made Easy describes this procedure in connection with a mah jongg in error, the same logic applies to any disqualification, such as a wrong tile count, invalid exposure, or other rule violation.

Weighing the Decision

Disqualifying a player is a serious action and should be done with strategic intent.

Advantages:

• If the player is not disqualified, jokers in exposures are eligible for exchange even if they are part of an invalid exposure.
• If the player is disqualified, they stop playing the game, so it increases the number of picks from the wall for the remaining players.

Disadvantages:

• The disqualified player’s concealed tiles are no longer in circulation, which might have included tiles that others need.
• If you choose not to disqualify a player with an unwinnable hand and they realize they can’t win, they may shift to defensive play, discarding safely and reducing others’ chances to win.
• If they’re unaware of their mistake, they may play aggressively, potentially discarding useful tiles or exposing jokers that help others.

Also, if you can prove the case, declare the hand disqualified and explain your reasoning. Strategically, this removes a competitor from the game and gives the remaining players more turns to draw from the wall. If a player contests the disqualification, play continues as usual; the dispute is settled at the end of the game between the two players involved. Whoever is wrong pays the other 50 points (or 50 cents).

Social Considerations

In Casual Play:
Disqualifying someone can feel awkward, but it helps everyone stay sharp on the rules and ensures a fair experience. When handled kindly and with clarity, it fosters respect for the game and even builds trust among players.

In Competitive Play:
Disqualification reinforces the integrity of the competition. It ensures all players are held to the same standards and supports the legitimacy of outcomes, especially critical in competitive play like tournaments. Consistent enforcement earns respect and contributes to a well-run game.

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