Can You Swap a Joker Into an Exposure? (American Mahjong Rule Explained)

A common question I've been getting recently: if someone has an exposure with a tile you need, can you swap your Joker INTO their exposure to take the tile? The answer is NO. Joker exchanges only go one way—you can take a Joker out by replacing it with the correct tile, but you cannot insert a Joker to remove another player’s tile.

This is crucial to know, especially when you’re building a hand with singles and pairs. If the tiles you need are exposed, you may need to pivot to another hand.

If you're new to Mahjong, here is a complete how-to guide with embedded videos so you'll be fully confident at your next game.

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