Calling Tiles and Exposures

Calling means claiming another player’s discard to complete a set. In American mahjong, you may call a discard to finish a pung, kong, quint, or sextet. You then place that set face up on top of your rack, and it is called an exposure. You may not call a discard for a pair or a single tile, unless that tile finishes your whole hand. Then you discard, and play moves on.

How to call

1. Speak up quickly. When someone discards a tile you need, say “call” or “I’ll take that.” Do so before the next player draws or racks a tile.
2. Take the tile.
3. Show the set. Place it, with the other tiles from your hand, face up on top of your rack. Use jokers if needed.
4. Discard. Your turn ends with a discard, as usual.
5. Play moves on from you. The next player is the one to your right, and players between may lose their turn.

Who gets the tile

If two players call the same discard, these rules decide:

• A player who can win on that tile comes first.
• If neither can win, the player next in turn after the discarder gets it.
• Some groups have time limits on calling, so ask about local custom.

What exposure tells other players

An exposure is public. Everyone can now read part of your hand, and they can:

• Avoid discarding tiles you likely need.
• Take any jokers in your exposure, by swapping the real tile.
• Think about which hand on the card you may be building.

That is why experienced players are careful about calling.

Should you call?

Consider these questions first.

• Do you know your hand? If you are still between two hands, a call may force you into one.
• Can your hand be exposed at all? Some hands on the card must stay concealed. A call would rule them out.
• Are the tiles you need still around? Check the table first. If most copies are gone, your plan may be stuck.
• How late is it? Late in a hand, speed matters more.

Concealed hands

If you are building a concealed hand, you can only call for the last tile that finishes your hand. Then you show your complete hand all at once.

Fixing errors

Mistakes happen, especially in your first few games. Common cases:

• Exposing the wrong tiles. Tell the table right away. Whether you can fix it depends on your group’s rules.
• A hand that no longer fits any card hand. Another player may call your hand dead. You stop trying to win, though you stay at the table.

Printed rules from the League are the reference for standard games. For friendly games, agree on a kind approach for beginners before you start.

Common beginner mistakes

• Calling every tile you can. It can feel like progress, but it reduces your options.
• Calling for a pair. You cannot, unless you are winning.
• Forgetting to discard after a call. You hold too many tiles if you do.
• Waiting too long. Once the next player has racked a tile, the discard is gone.