Table Companion

Pre-game table huddle

Settle these together in under a minute before East rolls. Asking up front means nobody feels awkward later.

Wellness breaks Etiquette

Table pace Etiquette

Late Mah Jongg calls House Rule

Scoring House Rule

Phones Etiquette

Always true Official Rule

Anyone may stop the second Charleston — no hard feelings.
A call for Mah Jongg beats a call for an exposure.
Blind passing is only on the last pass of a Charleston, and Jokers are never passed.

Read this aloud

"Before East rolls, a quick huddle: anyone can ask for a break, and we'll take it as soon as this hand ends; this is a teaching table, so questions are welcome anytime; a late Mah Jongg call on the last discard is still OK (our house rule — under NMJL rules it's too late once the next player racks a tile or discards); we're not keeping score; phones stay silent and off the table. Anyone may stop the second Charleston — no hard feelings. A call for Mah Jongg beats a call for an exposure. Blind passing is only on the last pass of a Charleston, and Jokers are never passed. Sound good?"

Card Analyzer

Type hands from your own card (any year or maker), one per box. Numbers = tiles, F = Flower, D = Dragon, N/E/S/W = Winds. Add a suit after numbers (B = Bam, C = Crak, D = Dot, e.g. 2222B) or a color after Dragons (R, G, W). End with C for concealed. Lines are saved only on this device.

Your rack (0 tiles · tap to remove)

Add a tile to match your real rack

grade

0% accurate · Pivot advised

Most tiles don't fit — try another line on your card.

14 tiles away

Wrong tiles (0)

Every rack tile fits this line.

FF: 0 natural · need 2(natural only)
2222: 0 natural · need 4(Jokers legal)
4444: 0 natural · need 4(Jokers legal)
6666: 0 natural · need 4(Jokers legal)

Pair vulnerability: Moderate1 pair, 0 singles

One pair or single needs natural tiles; secure it before relying on Jokers.
2 tiles still needed in pairs/singles — natural draws or calls only.

Same pair-trap rule as the Card Audit Lab.

Official Rule Jokers only fill groups of 3 or more — never singles or pairs. Groups without a suit letter accept any one suit.

Techniques to try

Joker AnchorYou hold 2+ Jokers. Aim for hands with many groups of 3+ (pungs, kongs, quints) — that's where Jokers can be used.Pair GuardsuggestedYour target has singles or pairs. Those spots need natural tiles. Keep matching pairs early; don't count on Jokers there.Two-Lane CharlestonsuggestedYour rack is undecided after the deal. Keep two candidate hands that share tiles; pass what fits neither.Flower BankYou're dealt several Flowers. Look first for hands that use Flowers — many do. If none fit, pass them, but usually after your clear junk tiles.Defensive DiscardSomeone has 3+ exposures. Discard tiles already on the table or matching what's dead; avoid feeding their groups.

Strategy Tip Your picked techniques are remembered on this device.

Tile Pressure & Discard Safety

Strategy Tip

Tap a tile each time you see one thrown or laid down. Colors show how risky it is to throw. Long-press isn't needed — use − to undo.

HotCautionSafer

0/4

0/8

A guide, not a guarantee: it only knows what you've tapped, not anyone's card.

152-tile unboxing checklist

0/152

House Rule Many commercial sets include extra blank tiles or spare Jokers. Set them aside — a standard game uses exactly 152. Some groups allow blanks as a house rule; ask first.

Quick reference

A turn Official Rule: Draw a tile (or call a discard), then discard one tile and name it. Play moves to the player on your right — counter-clockwise around the table.
Exposures Official Rule: Exposed groups are placed face-up on your rack. You may only call for Pungs or larger, or for Mah Jongg.
Two players call at once Official Rule: A call for Mah Jongg beats a call for an exposure. If both want it for the same reason, the player next in turn after the discarder (closest to their right) gets it.
Joker swap Official Rule: Only on your own turn — after drawing or completing an exposure, before you discard. Swap the matching natural tile for a Joker in any exposure, including your own. You can make several swaps in one turn. You may never call a discard solely to redeem a Joker.
Dead hand Official Rule: A hand is dead if it has the wrong number of tiles or an exposure can't match any hand on the card. The player stops play and still pays. Their exposures stay on the rack, and others may still swap for Jokers in exposures made before the hand was declared dead.
Too late to call House Rule: Once the next player has racked their drawn tile or discarded, the previous discard can't be called — not even for Mah Jongg under NMJL rules. Some tables allow a late Mah Jongg call; agree before play.
Wall game Official Rule: If the wall runs out with no winner, the game is a draw ('wall game').
Mistaken Mah Jongg House Rule: NMJL rules: caught before you expose your hand, no penalty — play continues. Once exposed, your hand is dead: stop playing and pay the winner. Extra payments apply if others threw in their hands.

First-table script Etiquette

"Hi! I'm newer to this — is it OK if I take my time on a few turns?"
"Do you play any house rules I should know about?"
"I need a minute." — perfectly fine to say before discarding.
"Could you say your discards a little louder? I'm still learning the tiles."
"Thanks for the game — same time next week?"