What if you have the wrong number of tiles?
By Jerry Chen. Checked and updated November 1, 2026
Short answer: hand can be called dead
Your hand can be called dead. Between turns you should hold 13 tiles; after picking, 14.
The detail
Holding 12 or fewer tiles (13 or fewer after picking), or 15 or more (14 or more between turns), is grounds for another player to call your hand dead.
Keep your tiles on your rack rather than in your hand, so the count is never in doubt.
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 Mistakes and dead hands, the complete rules, or all 52 rule questions.