ANNOUNCING READINESS IN AMERICAN MAH JONGG (ARTICLE 271)

In American mah jongg, players are not required to announce when they are one tile away from winning. Under official National Mah Jongg League rules, play continues as usual until a player can legally declare mah jongg by either claiming a discard or drawing the winning tile from the wall. The element of surprise is intentional and is preserved by keeping one’s readiness private.

Some groups, however, adopt a house rule modeled after the card game UNO, requiring players to announce when they are waiting for a single tile to win. This practice is not part of League rules and is never used in tournaments or sanctioned games.

The “UNO-style” announcement can take different forms, such as:

• Saying “One away!” when holding a ready hand.
• Displaying a marker or token to signal readiness.
• Treating the declaration as a courtesy so others know they risk discarding the winning tile.

Although some groups enjoy this variation for novelty or transparency, it significantly changes the game’s dynamics. When players know who is ready to win, they often become more defensive, holding back discards, passing more cautiously, or avoiding risky exposures. This shifts the balance of play and removes much of the bluffing, judgment, and strategic tension that define the game.

NOTICE:
When a group chooses to play with house rules, its members are responsible for establishing the specific logistics, rules, and penalties that apply. Because these can vary widely from one group to another, players should always ask about the group culture before joining a game for the first time.