OFFICIAL SIAMESE Mahjong RULES

From MahJong Masters

To Learn More about the origin of Siamese MahJong, visit the official website at www.mahjongmasters.org

PLAYING THE GAME

1. Players and Racks

• The game is played by two players seated across from each other.
• Each player uses two racks (or one Double Siamese Rack).
• Each rack represents a separate Mahjong hand, but tiles on both racks may be used interchangeably while building hands.
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2. Building the Walls

Option A – Two Individual Racks

• Each player builds two walls in front of their racks.
• Each wall contains 19 stacks, 2 tiles high (38 tiles total).
• When the first wall is fully used, move that rack behind the other rack so the second wall can be pushed forward.

Option B – Double Siamese Rack

• Build two walls positioned one behind the other.
• Place a pusher between the walls so they can slide forward easily as tiles are used.
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No Walls (Social Play Only)

Walls are strongly recommended because they prevent players from remembering where certain tiles are located.

If playing without walls:

• Leave shuffled tiles in a mixed pool on one side of the table.
• Place discards on the opposite side.
• Occasionally mix the pool of tiles to prevent players from tracking tile positions.

Note: Walls are required for tournament play.

3. Breaking the Wall

• East throws one die to break the wall.
• Starting from the right side of East’s wall, count the number shown on the die.
• Move the counted stacks to the tail end of the wall, creating the break.
• Both of East’s walls are used first, then play continues clockwise to the opponent’s walls.



4. Dealing Tiles

Each player deals from East’s cut wall.

• Take 4 tiles at a time (two stacks of two).
• Continue until each player has 27 tiles.

Both players receive 27 tiles to eliminate any advantage normally given to East.

5. Arranging Tiles

Players may:

• Arrange tiles across both racks freely
• Move tiles between their own racks at any time

There is no restriction on how many tiles are visible on each rack.

Even if one hand becomes dead, tiles may still be rearranged on the racks.

6. The Charleston

There is no Charleston in Siamese MahJong.  Players already control a large portion of the tile pool through their two hands.

7. Starting the Game

1. East draws the 28th tile from the wall.

2. East discards a tile.

3. The opponent then:

• Draws from the wall or
• Claims the discard.

Play then continues normally.

8. Jokers

Jokers may be exchanged from:

• Your own exposures
• Your opponent’s exposures

Jokers cannot be exchanged from:

• A completed Mah Jongg hand
• An exposure that caused a hand to be declared dead
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9. Declaring Mah Jongg

A player declares Mah Jongg when 14 tiles form a valid hand and the player completes their turn by discarding.

After declaring:

• Remaining tiles may stay on the rack(s).
• Players may continue building their second Mah Jongg.

STRATEGY, PENALITIES AND SCORING

Strategy and Scoring

• If you delay exposing Mah Jongg, you can continue using Jokers.
• However, you must expose the Mah Jongg to receive payment/points
• A Mah Jongg still hidden in your rack does not count for scoring.

Claiming a Discard for Mah Jongg two players want the same discard:

• The player closest in turn order to the discarder has priority.
• This rule applies whether claiming for:
• an exposure
• first Mah Jongg
• second Mah Jongg

Exception:

• A Double Siamese Mah Jongg claim takes precedence.
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Mah Jongg Declared in Error

If a player claims two Mah Jonggs but only has one valid hand:

• Both hands become dead
• The player stops playing
• All tiles remain visible
• Jokers should be turned face down to show they cannot be exchanged
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Using Two Racks

Tiles may move between racks, but exposures must stay with the correct hand.

If exposures from different racks combine into an invalid hand:

• That hand becomes dead

The player may continue playing the other rack.

Correction Rule

If an exposure is placed on the wrong rack, it may be corrected before discarding to end the turn.

Dead Hands

If Both Hands Become Dead

• The game ends immediately.
• The player receives –100 points.
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If One Hand Is Dead

• The opponent continues playing until:
• they complete a second Mah Jongg, or
• all tiles are used.

Dead Hand Restrictions

If a hand becomes dead:

• Tiles may still move between racks.
• Tiles from the exposure that caused the dead hand cannot be reused.
• Jokers may still be exchanged if that exposure did not cause the dead hand.
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Tile Count

Correct tile counts:

• 27 tiles per player normally
• 28 tiles during your turn (after drawing)

Incorrect Tile Count

If a player has too many or too few tiles:

• Their hand becomes dead

If discovered immediately after the deal:

• It is a misdeal
• The tiles are redealt.
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Misnamed Discard

If a player calls the wrong tile name when discarding:

If Claimed for Exposure

• If the correct tile is in the player’s hand, it must replace the incorrect discard.

If the Tile Is Not in Their Hand

• Play continues normally.

If Claimed for Mah Jongg

• The claim still stands, even if the tile is incorrect.
• The discarder receives the standard penalty.

If the tile completes a second Mah Jongg, the discarder receives an additional penalty.

End of the Game

The game ends when:

A player declares two Mah Jonggs, or

All tiles are drawn and the final discard is made.

If no Mah Jongg has been exposed, the result is a Wall Game.

Scoring and Payouts

General Method

Scores may be tracked during play, with payments made at the end of the round.

The player with the lower score pays the difference to the winner.

First Mah Jongg

• Pays the value shown on the card.
• Jokerless hands double in value
  (except hands made entirely of singles and pairs).

Second Mah Jongg

• Value is automatically doubled.
• If jokerless, the score is doubled again.
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Two Mah Jonggs Declared at the Same Time

• Both hands receive double value.
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Discard Penalties

If your discard allows an opponent to complete their second Mah Jongg:

• You receive a –25 point penalty.

This applies even if the discard completed the first Mah Jongg of two revealed simultaneously.

Wall Game

If no Mah Jongg is declared:

• Each player receives +10 points.

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