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BLANKS AND SUPER JOKERS (Article 158)

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Johni Levene is a vintage mah jongg set dealer. She discovered an amusing little man on some extra Flower tiles in one of her vintage mah jongg sets and thought they would be fun to play with. When she showed the vintage mah jongg set to a prospective buyer, she presented the bonus tiles as possible super jokers, and the idea caught on like wildfire, to Johni’s amazement. Since then, people in Texas have adopted the concept but do not have vintage sets, so they use banks instead. People are being taught the game with blanks (super jokers) as if they are an official part of the game, and it’s growing in popularity. Some players call this “street mahj.”

Common Rules

  • Blanks/super jokers can be used as singles.
  • Blanks/super jokers can be used in pairs.
  • Blanks/super jokers can be exchanged for a natural tile in an exposure.
  • Blanks/super jokers can be exchanged for previously discarded natural tiles (e.g., resurrection).
  • Blanks/super jokers can be exchanged for a discarded natural tile anytime.
  • Blanks/super jokers in exposures cannot be exchanged.
  • Blanks/super jokers previously discarded cannot be exchanged.

The number of super jokers in a game ranges from 2-8, depending on the group. Also, some groups add super jokers, but some replace regular jokers with super jokers.

Mah jongg is a game of skill with a touch of luck, requiring critical thinking, situational awareness, and social acuity. Successful hand development depends on precise timing and the crucial ability to read the table, adapting to the ever-changing flow of the game. Introducing super jokers and blanks disrupts this balance, making the game significantly easier by reducing the challenge of forming hands. While this house rule has gained popularity, it deviates from the game’s original design and introduces inconsistencies that can lead to confusion and disputes. Though house rules can add variety, they risk diminishing the strategic depth and competitive integrity that make mah jongg a timeless and rewarding game.

BLANKS AND SUPER JOKERS (Article 158)
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