HOLD, WAIT, CALL, MAH JONGG, WHO GETS THE TILE? (ARTICLE 264)

When two or more players want the same discard—one for Mah Jongg and others for an exposure—the mah jongg claim takes precedence. If a player declares Mah Jongg while another player has already shown interest in the discard, the Mah Jongg declaration stands, even if the other player has already racked the tile or exposed tiles. The win is always honored, as Mah Jongg has the highest priority in all cases (Article 92).

When two or more players want the same discard for the same reason, priority is not determined by who speaks first. What matters is turn order. The player next in turn always has first right to the discard—unless they are not paying attention. If that player hesitates and another player both claims the discard and either racks it or exposes tiles, the inattentive player forfeits their priority.

When two players declare mah jongg simultaneously—one on the previous discard and one on a fresh pick from the wall—the National Mah Jongg League considers it a tie. Both wins stand. Because the League doesn’t define a payout for a tied mah jongg, the group must decide how to handle scoring or payment before play begins. This guidance is based on an NMJL letter dated November 19, 2025, confirming that simultaneous declarations result in dual winners.

Some players believe that saying “call” gives priority over saying “hold,” but this is a misconception. The choice of words—call, hold, wait, pause, take, stop, I want that—does not affect priority. What matters is the timing and the turn order, not the vocabulary used.

Why the Words Cause Confusion:

• “Call” feels decisive. New players often assume that using the word call secures the discard, but that’s not how priority works.
• “Hold,” or “Wait,” sounds tentative. Some interpret hold as a “maybe,” when in fact it is simply a placeholder word to pause the game until the player decides.
• “Claim” is an action. After a player verbalizes interest in a discarded tile, they claim the tile by picking it up.
• Mixed teaching. When unofficial guidelines spread, players may believe them to be official rules, which leads to disagreements.

Understanding these distinctions not only prevent heated debates but also can help new players build confidence that they are playing the game correctly.