Intermediate · 2 practice decisions

Expose now or retain flexibility?

A legal claim is useful when its progress is worth the commitment it creates.

Practise this

Check legality first

An ordinary exposure claim must complete an eligible group of at least three identical tiles, with jokers allowed. You cannot expose a single, pair, or run of different tiles as an ordinary claim. A concealed card hand cannot make ordinary exposures. A discard may complete any required part of a legal Mahjong, including a single or pair.

Evaluate the hand after the next discard

Calling gives you the discarded tile, but you must then discard unless declaring Mahjong. Compare the final rack, not simply the satisfying sight of a completed set. Ask which remaining tiles still have jobs and whether you have spent jokers that another group needs.

Understand the commitment

An exposed group must fit every candidate you consider afterward. Exposing a pung of a number can rule out a backup that needs a kong of that number; you cannot later enlarge that exposure by adding a tile. Revealing a group also gives opponents information about possible targets.

Take useful progress when it matters

Do not reject exposures simply to keep every option open. A compatible claim that removes a difficult gap can be valuable, particularly when it leaves a realistic finish. An exposure that completes Mahjong is a different decision altogether: recognize the win rather than making an ordinary exposure and discarding.

Try a decision

Someone discards a 3 Dot. Your primary exposable candidate needs a pung of 3 Dots, while a comparably promising backup needs a kong. You hold two 3 Dots and could make the pung.

What must you account for before claiming the pung?

• The kong backup will no longer fit that exposure
• You can add a fourth 3 Dot to the exposed pung later