How Can We Help?
JOKER EXCHANGE RESULTING IN MAH JONGG (Article 45)
Commentary: When a player calls a discard to make an exposure or picks and racks a tile, they can also do any number of joker exchanges. If a joker exchange results in a winning hand, the player should be paid double the value of the hand from all players because it’s considered a self-picked win.
There is a joker tactic called a “finesse” move. Ruth Unger, the previous President of the league, named it finesse. There is a way to force this tactic.
- Call a discard and make an exposure with a joker.
- If you have the natural tile in your hand, keep it.
- If you draw the natural tile, keep it.
- When your hand is set and the ready tile is discarded, call it to complete the last exposure, then do the joker exchange and declare it in mah jongg. The ready tile can also be picked from the wall.
Question from a player: Player A exposed two 7 Cracks and a joker. Player B drew a 7 Crack, replaced Player A’s 7 Crack, then called “mahj” using the joker to complete her hand. Did Player B draw it herself so all players pay her double, or did Player A give it to her since it was her joker that enabled Player B, meaning she only owes double?
Answer from the NMJL: If a players last move before declaring Mah Jongg is to redeem a Joker from their own rack, it is considered self-picked and everyone pays the player double. This is called a “finesse” move.
Source: Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024 page 23 #7; page 30 paragraph 3)
Other answers from the NMJL:
“This exchange is self-picked and winner receives double from all players.”
“If the exchange of the joker gave the player mah jongg, it is self-picked and all players pay double value to the declarer of mah jongg.”
“The discarder of the tile that set the hand does not pay double when the exchange of the joker is made to complete the mah jongg. The exchange is considered self-picked and winner received double value from all players.”
Source for other answers: National Mah Jongg League Bulletins (1972 page 4, 1973 page 4, 1977 page 4, 1978 page 3, 1979 page 4, 1980 page 3, 1981 page 4, 1999 page 6, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017)