EXCHANGING A JOKERS FROM A DEAD HAND (Article 38)

Commentary: When a hand is declared dead, the exposure(s) that caused the disqualification must be placed back in the sloped part of the rack. Jokers exposed before a hand is declared dead are still available for a joker exchange. If the player was working on a concealed hand, any previous exposures would have been invalid so they should all be returned to the sloped part of the rack.

Question from a player:  A player has an incorrect exposure displayed.  No one notices until several rounds later in the game and the hand is declared dead.  Is the joker in the incorrect exposure redeemable at that time? 
 
Answer from the NMJL: When a player declares Mah Jongg in error and has been playing an exposed hand, the Jokers which were in the correctly called exposure(s) before the error, may be redeemed by any of the other players with a like tile, when it is their turn. However, at the point the hand becomes “dead” the part of the hand that was in error is returned to the rack. When a player declares Mah Jongg in error and has been playing a concealed hand, no Jokers may be redeemed, and the entire hand is returned to the sloped portion of the rack.

Source:  Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024 page 22 #4[b])

Other answers from the NMJL: 

“When a player declares mah jongg in error and has been playing an exposed hand, the jokers which were in the correctly called exposures before the error may be redeemed by any of the other players with a like tile when it is their turn.  However, at the point the hand becomes dead, the part of the hand that was in error is returned to your rack.  But a concealed hand that has been incorrectly exposed for a declaration of mah jongg must be returned to the rack, the errant declarer stops picking and discarding and nothing can be redeemed from the concealed hand.”

“Jokers may be redeemed from a “dead” hand if they were exposed prior to the hand being declared “dead”.   

“If an incorrect exposure results in a “dead” hand, but it is not realized until later in a game, Jokers in that exposure are not available for redemption.”  

“No Jokers exposed prior to a concealed hand being declared “dead” are redeemable since they were part of an incorrect exposure. “

“Only the joker that represented a 3 bam would be eligible for replacement. The joker in the pung of 4s was not eligible, since that exposure was the case of the hand being called “dead.”

“Any jokers that were exposed in a valid exposure(s) before the hand went dead may be redeemed by any of the remaining players.” 

 “Any jokers that were exposed prior to a hand being declared dead are redeemable.  Any jokers exposed in the course of the hand being declared dead are not redeemable.  These jokers, along with any other tiles that were exposed as part of the dead hand, are to be returned to the player’s rack.  Only the exposure or exposures, made prior to the hand being called dead should remain on top of the rack.”  
 
“Jokers may be redeemed from any and all exposures that were made before the hand went dead, any jokers that were exposed with that declaration cannot be redeemed.” 
 
“Jokers may be redeemed from any and all valid exposures that were made before the error (before the hand went dead).  Once a hand is declared dead, any jokers that were exposed with that declaration cannot be redeemed.” 
 
“Jokers may be redeemed from any and all valid exposures that were made before the hand went dead.” 
 
“Jokers may be redeemed from the part of the hand that was exposed prior to the hand becoming dead due to an incorrect exposure or declaration of mah jongg.” 
 
“Jokers may be redeemed from an exposure that was made before the hand went dead.  Once a hand is declared dead, any jokers that were exposed with that declaration cannot be redeemed as that is when the error was made.” 
 
“Jokers exposed properly (prior to a hand going dead) remain valid for joker redemption after a player’s hand has been declared dead.  Any jokers in that exposure remain available for redemption even if the hand is declared dead later.  All portions of the hand exposed as part of the dead hand are returned to the rack, including and especially the jokers which are not redeemable.” 
 
“You may exchange jokers from exposures that were made before the hand went dead.” 
 
“You may exchange jokers form exposures that were made before the hand went dead.  Once a hand is declared “dead:, any jokers that were exposed with that declaration cannot be redeemed as that is when the error was made.” 
 
“When a player declares mah jongg or exposes in error and has been playing an exposed hand, the jokers which were in correctly called exposures before the error may be redeemed by any of the other players when it is their turn, but a concealed hand that has been incorrectly exposed for a declaration of mah jongg must be returned to the rack and the errant declarer ceases to pick and discard.  Nothing can be redeemed from the concealed hand.”
 
“When a player calls for a discarded tile, makes an exposure in error, the jokers which were in the correctly called exposure before the error may be redeemed by any of the other players with a like tile when it is their turn but a concealed hand that has been incorrectly exposed for a declaration of mah jongg must be returned to rack and errant declarer stops picking and discarding and nothing can be redeemed from the concealed hand.” 
 
“When a player exposes or declares mah jongg in error and has been playing an exposed hand, the jokers which were in correctly called exposures before the error may be redeemed by any of the other players with a like tile, when it is their turn.  However, at the point the hand becomes dead, the part of the hand that was in error is returned to your rack.  But a concealed hand that has been incorrectly exposed for a declaration of mah jongg must be returned to the rack, the errant declarer stops picking and discarding and nothing can be redeemed from the concealed hand.” 
 
“When a player declares mah jongg in error and has been playing an exposed hand, the jokers which were in correctly called exposures before the error may be redeemed by any of the other players with a like tile, when it is their turn.  However, at the point the hand becomes dead, the part of the hand that was in error is returned to your rack.  But a concealed hand that has been incorrectly exposed for a declaration of mah jongg must be returned to the rack, the errant declarer stops picking and discarding and nothing can be redeemed from the concealed hand.” 
 
“When a player declares mah jongg in error and has been playing an exposed hand, the jokers which were in correctly called exposures before the error may be redeemed by any of the other players with a like tile, when it is their turn.  However, at the point the hand becomes “dead”, the part of the hand that was in error is returned to the rack, and no jokers may be redeemed by any of the other players.” 
 
“When an error is noticed, and the exact timing is not discovered until sometime later in the game, jokers that are part of the incorrect exposure are not redeemable once the hand has been declared dead.”   
 
Source for other answers:  (2020 page 16 #3 [b], page 24 #19-21); National Mah Jongg League Bulletin Q&A (1970 page 4, 1972 page 4, 1974 page 3, 1975 page 3, 1976 page 3, 1977 page 4, 1978 page 4, 1979 page 4, 1980 page 3, 1981 page 3,  1982 page 3, 1984, 1985, 1986 page 4, 1987 page 5, 1988 page 5, 1991 page 12, 1993 page 12, 1995 page 5, 1997 page 6, 1999 page 6, 2000 page 6, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019) https://www.nationalmahjonggleague.org