Registration & League Policies

Registration & League Policies

Welcome

Our Mahjong League is designed to provide a friendly, organized, and enjoyable playing experience for all participants. To ensure fair play and a welcoming atmosphere, all players are expected to follow these policies.

Registration

  • League registration is for individual players only. Teams are not permitted.
  • Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Your seat is confirmed only after registration and payment have been received.
  • League size is limited. Once full, additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list.

League Commitment

  • Registration reserves your place for the entire league session.
  • Players are encouraged to attend every week to promote consistency and fair competition.
  • If you cannot attend a session, please notify Harbor Winds Mahjong as soon as possible.

Attendance & Absences

  • Missed sessions are not refundable and may not be made up.
  • Harbor Winds Mahjong may use substitute players when needed to complete tables.

Seating

  • Players register as individuals.
  • Seating assignments and table rotations are determined by Harbor Winds Mahjong and/or Maj with Lor.
  • Requests to sit with specific players cannot be guaranteed.
  • Seating may change from week to week to encourage social play and balanced competition.

League Format

  • League rules, scoring procedures, and the number of games played each session will be announced before the league begins.
  • All league standings and scoring decisions made by Harbor Winds Mahjong or Maj with Lor are final.

Player Conduct

Participants are expected to:

  • Treat all players, instructors, volunteers, and staff with courtesy and respect.
  • Display good sportsmanship at all times.
  • Follow the current National Mah Jongg League rules unless otherwise announced.
  • Play honestly and maintain the integrity of the game.
  • Keep conversation respectful and avoid behavior that distracts other players.
  • Help create a welcoming environment for players of all experience levels.

Harbor Winds Mahjong reserves the right to remove any participant whose conduct is disruptive, abusive, or unsportsmanlike. Registration fees will not be refunded in these circumstances.

Punctuality

  • Please arrive at least 10–15 minutes before the scheduled start time.
  • League play will begin promptly.
  • Late arrivals may be assigned to available seating or may be unable to participate in that week's games if league play has already begun.

Cancellation Policy

Before the League Begins

  • 14 or more days before the first session: Full refund.
  • 8–13 days before the first session: Refund less a $25 administrative fee.
  • 7 days or fewer before the first session: No refund unless your spot can be filled from the waiting list.

After the League Begins

  • No refunds or credits will be issued after the first league session.
  • Missed sessions cannot be made up or transferred to another player.

Waitlist Exception

  • If Harbor Winds Mahjong is able to fill your reserved spot from the waiting list, you will receive a refund less the $25 administrative fee, regardless of when you cancel.

Waiting List

  • If a league is full, players will be placed on a waiting list in the order registrations are received.
  • Players will be contacted if a space becomes available.

Inclement Weather

If weather or unforeseen circumstances require cancellation of a league session, Harbor Winds Mahjong will notify participants as soon as possible. A make-up session or other accommodation will be provided when practical.

Photography

Harbor Winds Mahjong may take photographs during league play for marketing and social media. Participants who prefer not to appear in photographs should notify staff before the first session.

Personal Belongings

Participants are responsible for their own personal belongings. Harbor Winds Mahjong is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

Changes to League Format

Harbor Winds Mahjong reserves the right to modify schedules, instructors, seating assignments, league format, or policies when necessary to provide the best possible experience for participants.

League Cancellation by Harbor Winds Mahjong

  • If Harbor Winds Mahjong cancels a league before it begins, participants may choose a full refund or transfer their registration to another league.
  • If a league must end early due to circumstances beyond our control, a prorated credit or refund may be offered.

Agreement

By registering for the Harbor Winds Mahjong League, participants acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by these League Policies.

How We Play — League Rules and Procedures

Harbor Winds Mahjong & Maj with Lor League Rules and Procedures (2-hour sessions)

This league is based on official National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) rules with a few exceptions to keep the league fun and enjoyable. Please keep game play courteous and respectful! Players are required to use the 2026 NMJL card in addition to these procedures.

The tournament will consist of 2-hour sessions held on Wednesdays over four weeks. Each session will consist of 6 games. More games can be played if your table finishes before the session ends; but only the first 6 games will be counted. Players will rotate tables each week but not during the session.

Players will be assigned a table number upon arrival.

Directions for Play

All players begin each round at the same time. Please arrive at least 10–15 minutes before your scheduled time. League play will begin promptly. Late arrivals may be assigned to available seating or may be unable to participate in that week's games if league play has already begun. This is up to the league moderator discretion.

If you finish early, please be mindful of the other tables still in session and keep talking to a minimum or exit the playing area.

If you are unable to finish the six games by the end of the session, no points will be awarded for any unfinished games.

Prior to mixing the tiles, please make sure to review the reference sheet for the tiles at your assigned table.

To begin the games, each player rolls the dice to determine who is East:

  • East rotates one seat to the right (counterclockwise) for each game
  • East rolls the dice to determine where to break the wall
  • Each player deals their own tiles
  • East begins the first game by discarding a tile

The first Charleston is required; the second Charleston is optional. Any player may stop the Charleston after the first left if no one has racked their tiles from the second left. If a player wishes to stop the Charleston, they should promptly alert the others to avoid making the second left pass. Be mindful of not passing ahead to avoid confusion.

Blind passes are only allowed for the first left and the last right only.

Claiming a Tile

  • Please verbalize your intent to claim a tile saying but not limited to “pause, call or take”
  • Tiles may only be called for a single or pair to get Mah Jongg
  • Please take your tile from the wall on your turn prior to doing a joker exchange
  • A tile cannot be claimed until it is correctly named
  • A racked tile is set down completely in the slanted portion of the rack, not tapped on the rack
  • A discarded tile that is claimed for a Pung or higher, must be placed on top of the rack not in the rack
  • The caller may adjust the number of exposed tiles until a discard is made
  • If multiple players call for the same tile:
    • The tile goes to the player who needs the tile for Mah Jongg
    • If none of the players have Mah Jongg, the tile goes to the player closest to the right of the player who discarded the tile
    • If both players called the tile for Mah Jongg, the tile goes to the player that is closest to the right of the player who discarded the tile

When displaying a Mah Jongg hand, the hand must be displayed EXACTLY as it appears on the NMJL 2026 card in the correct order. Players should not throw their hands until Mah Jongg is verified by all players at the table. If a player calls Mah Jongg in error, and the mistake is rectified before the hand is exposed, play continues.

Dead Hands

A player's hand is declared "dead" (disqualified for the round) if they have an incorrect tile count, expose an illegal combination, or make an invalid Joker exchange. If the declaration is disputed, please call over the league moderator to verify.

The following guidelines apply to “dead” hands:

  • If a player's hand is declared dead, that player no longer picks or discards tiles
  • If the dead player's hand has exposures, jokers may be exchanged from that player's hand if the exposure was made before the hand was proclaimed dead
  • Jokers may not be exchanged from the exposure that made the hand dead
  • If the declaration is disputed, please call over the league assistant to verify

Scoring Rules

Whoever is EAST will record the scores for that game. At the end of the session, each player will initial their TOTAL score. The league moderator will collect all score cards at the end of each session. Once the scorecard is turned in there can be no changes.

If you need help scoring, please call over the league moderator and adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Base Hand Value: Point values match the 2026 NMJL card
  • Self Picked Bonus: +10 points if Mah Jongg is won due to a self-drawn tile from the wall
  • Jokerless Bonus: +10 points for completing a Jokerless hand (unless the hand explicitly bans Jokers, such as Singles & Pairs)
  • Wall Game: If the wall runs out with no winner, all active players will receive 10 points
  • Zero points for any unfinished games during the session
  • There will be no penalty points made for errors or discarding a tile for Mah Jongg

The league does not allow “house” rules; including but not limited to:

  • Hot wall
  • Cold wall
  • Using blank tiles
  • Picking ahead of turn

All decisions made by the league moderator shall be based on the above guidelines. Any questions about these procedures or scoring should be addressed by the league moderator; not the players. Good Luck and have fun!