How to Call a Tile in American Mahjong

Calling is how an American table stays honest. The discard is named out loud. Anyone who can legally use that exact tile for an exposure — or for mahjong — says so before the next player draws. There is no silent grab.

The sequence

• The player discards and names the tile.
• You say you want it, then take that tile only — not a twin from the table.
• Expose the completed pung or kong on your rack. For a kong, take a replacement from the back of the wall.
• Discard something else so the turn continues.

What you cannot call

You cannot call for a pair except to declare mahjong. You cannot call a tile that has already been covered by the next draw. You cannot call on a concealed line except to go out. If two people want the same discard, mahjong beats a pung, and the table’s house order decides the rest — agree that once, not every hand.

• Pung, kong, quint →
• Common calling mistakes →