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Break Free from a One-Track Mind (Letter 19)
I have a question that’s been nagging at me. Perhaps I have a devious mind—and I promise I would never actually do this—but what’s to stop a player from falsely claiming mah jongg just to gain an advantage over another player who called the same discard for an exposure?
Couldn’t someone grab the tile under the guise of winning, then backpedal by saying, “Oh, darn, I guess I don’t have mah jongg after all,” and simply make their exposure instead?
Cautiously Curious
Dear Cautiously Curious,
You’ve asked what would stop a player from falsely claiming mah jongg to gain precedence over another player’s call, then backtracking once they’ve secured the tile. The short answer? Nothing in the written rules. But here’s the long answer: the real price is paid in reputation, trust, and community.
Mah jongg is more than tiles on a rack. It’s a game rooted in relationships, respect, and fair play. A player who “plays dirty” by twisting the rules for personal advantage might get away with it once, but over time, patterns show. Trust erodes. Friendships strain. Groups disinvite. Even in drop-in circles, word spreads quickly, and those who rely on tricks soon find fewer places left to play.
The surest safeguard is integrity:
- Declare mah jongg only when you’re certain you have it.
- Respect priority and never take what isn’t yours.
- Own mistakes honestly and without excuse.
What If Someone Does Play Dirty?
Most players honor the spirit of the game, but occasionally someone doesn’t. If that happens:
- Pause and Clarify: Stop the game and ask for explanation in the moment.
- Refer to the Rules: Let the NMJL guidelines and rules speak first.
- Set Expectations: Remind the group that respect and honesty are non-negotiable.
- Take Action: If someone persists in cheating or bullying, it’s within the group’s right to disinvite them. Protecting culture comes before protecting one player’s seat.
So yes, a player could try such a stunt. But the price of playing dirty is steep: once trust is lost, it’s hard to win back.
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