Can you use a joker in a pair?
By Jerry Chen. Checked and updated November 1, 2026
Short answer: no
No. Jokers can only be used in groups of three or more identical tiles: pungs, kongs, quints and sextets.
The detail
A pair must be two real, matching tiles. The same goes for any single tile, so a joker can never stand in for a flower, a wind in NEWS or a lone dragon.
Hands in the singles-and-pairs section are made only of singles and pairs, so they can never contain a joker at all.
Sources
These follow standard National Mah Jongg League rules. House rules vary; agree on them before you play.
Related questions
- Can you discard a joker?
- When can you exchange a joker?
- Does the jokerless bonus apply to singles and pairs?
- Can you call a discarded 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?
See more questions in Jokers, the complete rules, or all 52 rule questions.