How Can We Help?

PENALTY FOR A PLAYER WHO PICKS OUT OF TURN (Article 70) 

Created On
Last Updated On
You are here:
< All Topics

Commentary: When a player picks out of turn, they should be disqualified. What happens to the picked tile depends on the situation. Here are several scenarios that  explain what should happen next:

  • If the player racks the picked tile, it stays with the hand of the disqualified player.
  • If the player does not rack the picked tile and another player immediately notices, it is placed back in the wall.
  • If the player discarded the picked tile, it is a dead tile and cannot be called except for mah jongg.
  • If the player discarded the tile and another player declares mah jongg, the game stops and the discarder pays four times the value of the hand to the winner.

Question from a player: A player in my game picked out of turn. The player’s hand is dead. What happens to the tile?
 
Answer from the NMJL:  If the tile is racked, it remains in the player’s hand. If it has been thrown, it remains on the table. If the tile is in the player’s hand when someone notices, it goes back into the same position in the wall.

Source:  Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024 page 19 #15 [h])

Other answers from the NMJL: 

“Picking out of Turn: If a player picks out of turn the player’s hand is “dead.” If a player discards a tile that was claimed for Mah Jongg, but went out of turn, the game stops. The discarder pays 4x’s the value of the hand to the winner.” 

“The player’s hand is dead.” 
 
“The player who went out of turn pays the declarer of mah jongg four times the value of the hand.  Other players do not pay.” 
 
“Player went out of turn.  Player discarded a tile that was claimed for mah jongg, but player went out of turn.  Game ends and player who discarded out of turn pays declarer four times the value of the hand.  Other players do not pay.” 
 
“Player discarded a tile which was claimed for mah jongg.  Player who discarded the tile went out of turn.  Game ends on the declaration of mah jongg and the player who discarded out of turn pays declarer of mah jongg four times the value of the hand.  Other players do not pay.” 
 
“If a player discarded a tile that was claimed for mah jongg, but player went out of turn, the game stops and player who discarded out of turn pays declarer four times the value of the hand.  Other players do not pay.  If the player discarded a tile that is claimed for an exposure, the call is honored, and the game continues.”  
 
Source for other answers: National Mah Jongg League Bulletin Q&A (1993 page 13, 1997 page 6, 2000 page 6, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008,  2010, 2011, 2015, 2019) 

PENALTY FOR A PLAYER WHO PICKS OUT OF TURN (Article 70) 
Tags: