This is our series going over the questions and answers section of this year’s NMJL newsletter, which clarifies Mahjong rules and frequently asked questions.
Question number three: Please clarify, can a joker be used in the consecutive run 112345?
This question is essentially asking if a joker can be used in runs of non-identical tiles or in grouping of non-identical tiles such as NEWS or 2025. Here’s what the league says: you may not use a joker in the run 112345. This is a grouping of singles and a pair. You may only use jokers in groups of identical tiles, such as Pungs, Kongs, and Quints.
A Joker may never be used in a grouping of singles, including the run discussed here, news, and any year exposures. Similarly, a player cannot call for a Tile needed to expose a group of singles unless it is the last Tile they need to win mahjong.
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