BEGINNING OF A PLAYER’S TURN (Article 153)

A player’s turn does not automatically begin when the previous player discards. A player can begin their turn in one of four ways:

1. Pick a tile from the wall and use it to request a joker exchange.
2. Pick a tile from the wall and place it in the sloped part of their rack.
3. Claim a discard and place it on the flat part of their rack.
4. Claim a discard and begin exposing tiles from the sloped part of their rack.

In each case, the player must first establish their turn by either picking from the wall or claiming a discard.

Call Eligibility

A player cannot say “wait” or “hold,” make a joker exchange, and then claim the previous discard for an exposure or mah jongg because they have not yet begun their turn.

For example, if a player needs a discarded 1 Crak for a pair but must first retrieve a joker to complete another part of the hand, they cannot claim the 1 Crak because it does not yet complete mah jongg. They also cannot make the joker exchange first because their turn has not begun.

Making an Exposure After Picking From the Wall

If a player makes an exposure after drawing from the wall, they deviate from standard procedure, but it is not a disqualifiable infraction. While they may believe they are simplifying their hand, they reveal unnecessary information and limit their options. This action could also create confusion at the table and disrupt the expected flow of play.

Source: Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024 page 14); back of the NMJL card, panel 1