Can you use jokers in a concealed hand?
By Jerry Chen. Checked and updated November 1, 2026
Short answer: yes
Yes. Jokers can go in any pung, kong, quint or sextet, whether the hand is marked X or C on the card.
The detail
The only hands that can never contain jokers are the ones made only of singles and pairs.
With a concealed hand you can also redeem jokers from other players' exposures, because redeeming is not the same as exposing.
You can also win a concealed hand on a discard. What you cannot do is call a discard to make an exposure.
Sources
These follow standard National Mah Jongg League rules. House rules vary; agree on them before you play.
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See more questions in Jokers, the complete rules, or all 52 rule questions.