Joker rules in American mahjong

Where jokers can go

• In any group of three or more identical tiles: a pung (3), kong (4), quint (5) or sextet (6).
• A group can be made entirely of jokers. Because a called discard is always a real tile, an all-joker group can only come from your own rack.
• When you call a discard to expose a group, you can add as many jokers from your rack as the group needs.

Where jokers cannot go

• In a pair or as a single tile.
• In hands made only of singles and pairs.
• In the Charleston. You can never pass a joker.

Swapping a joker out of an exposure

If a group is exposed on any rack, including yours, and a joker in it stands for a tile you hold, you can swap your real tile for the joker. The rules:

• Only on your turn, once you have 14 tiles: after picking from the wall, or after calling a discard and completing that exposure. Redeeming with only 13 tiles can get your hand called dead.
• A joker you redeem cannot be added to the exposure you made on the same turn.
• Place your tile on the owner's rack or hand it to them, then take the joker. After that, the swap is final.
• You can swap more than one joker in a turn, from any player's exposures.
• You cannot use a tile that someone else just discarded to swap for a joker. A discard can only be called to make a group or to win.

Discarding a joker

A discarded joker is dead. Nobody can call it. Some players discard a joker late in the game to avoid giving away a tile someone needs. Name it correctly ("joker" or "same"): a misnamed discard can still cost you.

Jokerless hands pay more

Winning without any jokers doubles the payment, except for hands in the singles-and-pairs and Quints sections. See paying.

A short history of the joker

The American game had no jokers until 1961; before that, flowers were the wild tiles. The numbers of flowers and jokers changed for several years until the League settled on 8 of each with the 1971-72 card. According to Tom Sloper's review of old League cards, the rule against jokers in singles and pairs may date from around 1984.

Joker rule questions

• Can you use a joker in a pair?
• Can you discard a joker?
• Can you call a discarded joker?
• When can you exchange a joker?
• Can you exchange a joker from a dead hand?
• Can a pung or kong be all jokers?
• Can you use jokers in a concealed hand?
• Can you use a joker in NEWS or a year like 2026?
• Can you take a discarded tile to swap for a joker?
• Can you swap your joker for a tile in someone's exposure?
• Can you undo a joker swap?
• Can you pass a joker in the Charleston?
• Is your hand jokerless if someone redeemed your joker?

Common questions

How many jokers are in American mahjong?

A standard game uses 8 jokers. Many sets include 10, so you have two spares.

Can you use a joker in a pair?

No. Jokers only work in groups of three or more identical tiles.

Can you use a joker for a single tile or in NEWS?

No. A joker can never stand in for a single tile, so it cannot be used in NEWS, single dragons or singles-and-pairs hands.

Can you discard a joker?

Yes. A discarded joker is dead and nobody can call it.

Can you call a discarded joker?

No, not even for Mah Jongg.

Can a whole group be jokers?

Yes, in your concealed tiles. You cannot expose a group of jokers alone, because you can only call a real tile.

See also the complete rules and the printable cheat sheet.

Sources: Tom Sloper's American mah-jongg FAQ; The Mahjong Line on scoring. House rules vary; the National Mah Jongg League's rulebook is the final word.