How Can We Help?
Rack It or Risk It (Letter 23)
I play with a lady who splits her tiles between her rack and her card after the Charleston. From what I can tell, the tiles on her rack are her “Plan A,” and the ones on her card are “Plan B.” Eventually, they all end up back on the rack, but it got me wondering—is this even allowed?
Sorting Through It
Dear Sorting Through It,
Great question—and I’ve seen this kind of thing happen more than once. Creative storage might feel strategic in the moment, but in National Mah Jongg League play, where you place your tiles matters.
According to NMJL standards, your 13 tiles must be either in the slope of your rack or on top of your rack as exposures.
Placing live tiles on the flat part of the rack, on your card, or even on the table is considered improper handling. It’s not just frowned upon—it’s grounds for disqualification. That’s not a scare tactic—it’s been confirmed directly with the League.
So while this player might be organizing her strategy, she’s doing so at the risk of invalidating her hand. A quick reminder in a friendly tone—maybe paired with a reference to official rules—can go a long way in preventing future confusion or conflict at the table.
Play smart, play fair, and as always… keep it on the rack.