Mah Jongg Tournament
To Register use the QR code or this link: templeemanuellakeland.com/tournament
Mah Jongg Tournament
Benefiting the Temple Emanuel Religious School
Sunday, October 25th 2026
11:30 am until 4 pm
At Temple Emanuel
$54 registration fee includes lunch and prizes!
Tournament Schedule & Rules
We will play a series of 3 rounds of Mah Jongg. Each round consists of 4 games, and everyone at the table will have an opportunity to be East.
Registration and lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m., and you will receive your first table assignment. Round 1 will begin at approximately 12:15 pm, followed by a short break, Round 2, a short break, Round 3, and then awards.
There will be a total of 12 games played. Each round will have a one-hour time limit, so figure roughly 15 minutes per game. Points are earned after each game and totaled at the end of each round. For any unfinished games, all players at the table will receive a zero.
Players are responsible for recording their own scores after each game. The player across from you should verify your score. After each round, players will bring their score sheets to the registration table to be tabulated.
POINTS:
Player who declares Mah Jongg gets the amount shown on the card
(for example: 25 on card = 25 points)
Player picks their own winning Mah Jongg tile = add 10 points
Player throws Mah Jongg to a hand with 0 exposures or 1 exposure = lose 10 points
Player throws Mah Jongg to a hand with 2 exposures = lose 15 points
Player throws Mah Jongg to a hand with 3 exposures = lose 20 points
Player has a winning hand with no jokers = add 20 points
(Note: Singles & Pairs wins do not get extra 20 points)
Wall Game = Every player at table receives 10 points
Time’s up before game is finished = Each player gets 0 points for that game
Players who do not throw Mahj or win the game get 0 points for that game
Dead hands score 0 points for that game
- The pick is the start of your turn. Each player must pick/call a tile before discarding or exchanging a joker.
- If you touch the tile, it’s yours.
- Once a tile is placed in the rack, the previous tile is no longer available to be called.
You will receive your table assignment upon arrival and follow the rotation below.
Rotation After each round:
East moves up 1 table.
West moves up 2 tables.
North moves down 1 table.
South moves down 2 tables.
FAQ
What happens differently if I’m at a table of three?
We follow the National Mah Jongg League rule of no Charleston. Also, for the fourth game, roll the dice to see who will be East.
Should I pick and rack in one quick motion?
Some players have gotten into the habit of “Picking-And-Racking” in one fast and continuous movement, which doesn’t give that player’s opponents a fair and timely opportunity to claim a previously discarded tile. Please make an effort to pause for a second between picking and racking your tiles.
Do I need to bring anything to the tournament?
Nope! Just bring your official NMJL card.
What happens if my table finishes its round early?
This is a great chance to quietly grab a snack or a drink, take a bathroom break, or go outside the room to chat. Please be mindful of fellow players who are still concentrating on the game.
What if there’s a tie?
We’ll look at who won the most individual games. If that’s still a tie, we’ll look at who had the highest total for a single game.
What about parking?
There’s plenty of parking in the upper grassy area that is accessed from Nevada Ave. There is also a handicapped parking area on the lower level by the side door, which is clearly marked.
HAVE FUN!
