INTEGRITY AT THE TABLE (ARTICLE 275)

Mah jongg is a complex game that requires critical thinking, situational awareness, and social acuity in addition to skills and sportsmanship to play the game well. The National Mah Jongg League rules exist to create fairness and consistency, but not every situation can be prevented by rule alone. True integrity depends on player ethics — doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

There are times when players may misuse or exploit the rules, and how awareness and integrity protect the game for everyone.

From Savvy to Sneaky—Where Ethics Matter Most

Mah jongg rewards sharp thinking, quick judgment, and keen awareness—but there’s a fine line between being clever and being questionable. The difference often comes down to intent. Ethical play keeps the game rooted in fairness, integrity, accountability, and respect—the Four Pillars of Sportsmanship.

Below are examples of common exploits—behaviors that might appear strategic but actually compromise the spirit of fair play. Understanding these tactics helps players, group leaders, instructors, and tournament directors recognize when savvy slips into sneaky—and how to steer the game back toward integrity.

Misnamed Tiles and Ethical Play

“A tile cannot be claimed until correctly named. The correctly named tile may then be called for an exposure.”

If a player misnames a tile, anyone at the table may correctly name it so the game can continue. The League does not specify that the discarder must be the one to correct the name.

Integrity comes into play when a misnamed tile leads to a potential win. If a player declares  mah jongg on a misnamed tile, the game ends and the discarder must pay four times the value of the hand — even if the error was unintentional.

While this rule exists to protect accuracy, ethical players should resist the temptation to exploit it. If you recognize that a tile has been misnamed, the correct action is to name the tile properly and wait for a legitimate opportunity to win. Integrity means winning fairly, not opportunistically.

Source: https://mahjlife.com/wiki/consequences-of-a-misnamed-discard-article-67/

Joker Exchanges and Invalid Exposures

Jokers are often at the center of confusion—and sometimes, questionable conduct.

According to league rules, jokers from valid exposures belonging to active players remain eligible for exchange until the hand is declared disqualified. After disqualification, the player’s tiles are no longer in play. Newly exposed tiles and invalid exposures—including jokers—must be returned to the sloped part of the rack, and no further exchanges may be made. Previous valid exposures remain visible and their jokers, if any, are still eligible for exchange.

While technically permissible, it becomes an ethical concern when a player knowingly exchanges a joker from an exposure or hand they suspect is invalid, only to later declare that hand dead. This behavior, though within the letter of the rule, violates the spirit of integrity and fair play.

Unscrupulous players might attempt to exchange jokers from a hand they know or suspect is invalid or concealed and continue exchanging from a bad hand as though it were still active.

Integrity means honoring both the rule and its intent. If a hand is dead, so are its jokers—for the remainder of the game.

Source: https://mahjlife.com/wiki/joker-protocols-article-221

Intentional Slow Play or Fake Confusion

Deliberately stalling or feigning confusion to gauge opponents’ reactions is an exploit that disrupts game flow. Such behavior manipulates pace to harvest information or create frustration.

Reasonable time limits, gentle reminders, and escalating warnings can prevent abuse.

Maintain a respectful pace and request help only when genuinely uncertain.

Source: https://mahjlife.com/wiki/decision-making-timeframe-guidelines-article-198/

Rushing the Play

If a player grabs or calls a discard after another player has indicated intent, or has drawn a tile from the wall and requested a joker exchange or declared mah jongg, they are rushing the play.

This rule can be abused if players attempt to:

• Steal priority or another player’s legitimate right to claim
• Create confusion to gain an extra opportunity.

Integrity means respecting claim order and priority with the player to the right of the discarder.

When in doubt, pause and clarify—don’t assume the tile is yours.

Source: https://mahjlife.com/wiki/simultaneous-call-for-a-discard-both-for-exposures-article-93/

False or Withdrawn Declarations of Mah Jongg

If a player declares mah jongg on a discard, then realizes they are not ready, they may withdraw the declaration and instead call the tile for exposure. The game continues without penalty.

However, this rule can be abused in a way that undermines fairness. An unethical player might falsely declare mah jongg to gain precedence over another player who has legitimately called the discard for exposure. After taking the tile and completing an exposure, they retract their declaration and continue play—effectively skipping the rightful claimant through deceit.

Players may also misuse the rule to:

• Stop play temporarily
• Observe opponents’ reactions
• Gain extra thinking time

While retracted declarations are allowed, they are intended for honest mistakes, not tactics. Integrity means declaring mah jongg only when you are certain. Using a false claim to gain advantage crosses the line from savvy to sneaky.

Source: https://mahjlife.com/wiki/tag/mah-jongg-in-error

Collusion or Signaling

Two players who communicate through gestures, timing, or verbal cues undermine fairness and compromise competition. Collusion gives an unfair advantage, damages credibility, and erodes trust at the table.

Examples of Collusion:
During the Charleston, players who know each other may secretly coordinate passes—agreeing in advance to exchange desirable tiles such as year tiles, dragons, winds, or flowers. While it may appear friendly, this behavior manipulates the game and undermines competitive fairness.

In timed tournaments, players realizing that time is running out and neither will complete a hand may agree—implicitly or explicitly—to “rush the play.” By picking and discarding rapidly without strategic intent, they force a wall game to avoid a zero-point result and instead split the wall-game bonus. Though subtle, this coordinated tactic is collusion, not strategy, and violates the spirit of fair play.

Compete independently and with integrity. Never adjust your pace, passes, or decisions to benefit another player’s score or standing.

Prevention includes assigning known friends the same seat assignment or random seating, vigilant director oversight, and player education on recognizing subtle signs of cooperation. Suspected collusion should be investigated immediately, and involved players may be penalized or removed from play.

Source: https://mahjlife.com/wiki/the-four-pillars-of-sportsmanship/

Using Electronics or Outside Assistance

Using chats or apps on mobile devices during play introduces outside information that undermines the skill-based nature of mah jongg—and often slows the game with unnecessary delays.

Devices should remain turned off or face down unless expressly approved by the group leader or tournament director. In competitive play, unauthorized device use may be considered cheating and can result in disqualification.

Source: https://mahjlife.com/wiki/etiquette-and-sportshanship-article-115   

The Spirit of Fair Play

Mah jongg is a game that requires critical thinking, situational awareness, and social acuity to play it well. Every table relies on mutual respect for the rules and for one another. Ethical lapses erode that trust and diminish the joy of play.

Playing with integrity means:

• Correcting misnamed tiles immediately.
• Refusing to take advantage of another player’s mistake.
• Respecting the dead-hand protocol for joker exchanges.
• Declaring mah jongg only when sure of your hand.

Integrity is what keeps mah jongg a game of honor and skill, not manipulation.

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” — C.S. Lewis