DISCARDS CANNOT BE CALLED TO COMPLETE A PAIR (Article 125)

Commentary: Unless a player is ready to win, a player cannot claim a discard to be used as a single or complete a pair. In other words, a discard can be claimed to make an exposure of three or more identical tiles or the discard can be claimed to declare mah jongg.

Abstract: When a player is ready to win on any tile regardless of the tile (i.e., complete a pair, single) and regardless of the type of hand (i.e., exposable, concealed), they can call any discard to complete their hand.

Question from a player:  I need to complete a pair and have one tile. If that tile is discarded, can I claim it and expose the pair?

Answer from the NMJL:    “A player cannot claim a tile to expose a pair unless it is the final tile needed to complete Mah Jongg.” 

Sources: Mah Jongg Made Easy (2020 page 15 para 2; not in MJME 2024)

Other answers from the NMJL:  “You can always call your 14th tile if it results in a mah jongg.”

“You can always call your 14th tile if it results in a mah jongg including a pair.”

“A discarded tile which completes a pair cannot be called for an exposure only for mah jongg.”

“A single tile can always be called for mah jongg, whether you are playing either a concealed or an exposed hand.”

“When an exposed hand contains pairs, you can never call a discarded tile and expose a pair. A discarded tile may only be called to complete a pair if the call resulted in mah jongg”

Sources for other answers:  NMJL Bulletin Q&A (1977 page 4, 1978 page 4, 1990 page 13,1989 page 5, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 )