# Jokers in play (American mahjong, lesson 10)

How to use jokers, and how to swap them out of other sets. Interactive version: https://learnmahjongquick.com/learn-american-mahjong/jokers-in-play

### 1. Sets of 3 or more

A joker can stand in for any tile in a pung, kong or quint.

- Yes (Pung): 7 Bam, 7 Bam, Joker
- Yes (Kong): East, Joker, Joker, East
- No (Never in a pair): 5 Dot, Joker
- No (Never for a single tile): 2 Bam, Joker, 2 Bam, 6 Bam

### 2. Joker rules

- Use jokers only in sets of 3 or more.
- If someone throws a joker, no one can call it.
- Never pass a joker in the Charleston.
- Hold on to jokers. They are the most useful tiles in the game.

### 3. Take a joker back

If an exposed set has a joker, you can put in the real tile and take the joker.

- Exposed (On someone's rack): 7 Bam, 7 Bam, Joker
- You have (The real tile): 7 Bam
- After the swap (The joker is yours): 7 Bam, 7 Bam, 7 Bam

### 4. When you can swap

- On your turn, before you discard.
- Any exposed set works, yours or anyone's.
- You need the exact tile the joker stands for.
- Pairs never have jokers, so you can't swap from a pair.
- Then discard as usual.

### 5. Make the swap

The player on your left has exposed 4 Crak, 4 Crak, Joker.

Try it: Pick the tile you can swap in for the joker. Tiles to pick from: 4 Dot, 5 Crak, 4 Bam, 4 Crak, Red Dragon, 3 Crak.

### 6. Quiz: Jokers in play

- Q: This set is exposed. You have a 9 Dot. Can you swap? [9 Dot, 9 Dot, Joker] A: Yes. The joker stands for a 9 Dot. Swap it in and take the joker.
- Q: This set is exposed. You have a 9 Dot. Can you swap? [9 Bam, 9 Bam, Joker] A: No. The joker stands for a 9 Bam. You need a 9 Bam.
- Q: Someone throws a joker. Can you call it? [Joker] A: No. A thrown joker can't be called.
- Q: Is this a pair? [East, Joker] A: No. Jokers can't be used in a pair.
- Q: When can you swap for a joker? A: On your turn
- Q: Can you pass this in the Charleston? [Joker] A: No. Never pass a joker.

## What this lesson teaches

- Jokers fit sets of 3 or more, never pairs or single tiles.
- A thrown joker can't be called.
- On your turn, you can swap a real tile for a joker in a set on the table.