DEAD HAND DECLARATION CONTESTED (Article 160)

Commentary: When a player believes another player has an unwinnable hand, that determination must be based on visible information such as discards and exposures.

There is no rule prohibiting a player from voicing concern, but doing so can draw unnecessary attention to another player and create unease or tension at the table. This is more of a sportsmanship issue than a rules issue. For this reason, players should stay silent until they are certain the hand is unwinnable.

If a player chooses to challenge the hand, they should clearly state the reason for the disqualification. A comment like “Are you sure about your hand?” signals that the hand is under scrutiny and draws attention to a potential issue.

The player whose hand is being questioned may either concede or contest. If conceded, they simply stop playing. If contested, play continues. At the end of the game, both players prove their case, and the erring player pays the other 50 cents/points.

Question from a player: My hand was declared dead by another player but my hand was not dead. Is there a penalty for the other player?

Answer from the NMJL: If a player declares another player’s hand “dead” (and the player whose hand has been called “dead” disagrees) at the end of the game, the challenge is resolved. Whichever player was incorrect at the time of the challenge, pays the other player 50 cents in addition to the value paid to player who has made Mah Jongg.

Source: Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024 page 21 #21)