HOT WALL AND COLD WALL (Article 131)

Commentary: The short wall in front of East after dealing the tiles determines how the game is played when picking from this wall. With a hot wall, the player who discards the winning tile for another player pays for the table from their purse, not their pie. A player’s discard cannot be claimed for any reason with a cold wall. In other words, players can only win if they pick their winning tile from the wall.

Question from a player:  What is a hot and cold wall?

Answer from the NMJL:  “We have no ruling on a hot tile.  However, a good player would try to never discard a dangerous or obvious tile at any time or into the third or fourth exposure, thereby helping their opponents or giving mah jongg.” 

Source:  National Mah Jongg League (2007)

Other answers from the NMJL:  
“Mushing, hot or cold walls are all examples of “table rules”, not NMJL rules. Usually, the members of a particular game decide on these modifications.”

“Please remember that we do not and never have sanctioned hot wall, cold wall or a pay game and therefore we have never made any official rulings on any of these operations as we do not approve of any of them.” 

“We have no ruling for a hot tile or hot wall.  That is strictly an individual game’s table rule.”

“No ruling for a “hot” or “cold” wall.  A good player will not throw a dangerous or obvious tile at any time.  Every pick and discard should be a challenge to the vary last tile.” 
 
“No” hot” or “cold” wall.  A good player will try and play defensively at all times.  You should always watch and check the table and try and see what tiles are already discarded.  We have no ruling on “hot” and “cold” wall.” 
 
“We cannot give you hard and fast rules for defensive playing.  This knowledge comes with experience.  However, a good player never throws an obvious tile especially into a third exposure.  As the saying goes, “you cannot mah jongg second.” 
 
“Hot or Cold wall a good player never throws a dangerous or obvious tile at any time or into a third or fourth exposure, and every pick and discard should be a challenge to the very last tile on the wall. This is part of the fun.

Sources for other answers:  National Mah Jongg League Q&A, (1967 page 5, 1968 page 4, 1972 page 5, 1975, 1970, 1980 page 3, 1981 page 3, 1982 page 3, 1993, 1997, page 5 (last sentence left out), 1998 page 5, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2017, 2023)  http://www.nationalmahjonggleague.org