When to Switch Hands
Stay flexible early, commit at the right moment
Goal: Know exactly when to stick with your primary hand, when to pivot to a backup, and how NMJL®'s exposure rule makes the timing critical
Estimated time: 8–11 minutes
Prerequisite: Lesson 16
Unlocks: Lesson 18
Why it matters: The players who win consistently aren't always the ones with the best starting tiles — they're the ones who recognize the right moment to commit and never chase a losing hand.
Step 1 of 11
🔒 The Most Important Rule First
The NMJL® rule that makes every hand-switching decision permanent:
The rule
The moment you expose a group (Pung, Kong, Quint, or Sextet), your remaining options must all include that group. You can still switch — but only within compatible families.
This lesson is about choosing wisely before that first call.
The exception
Concealed hands (C on the card) — no exposures, full flexibility, but win only by self-draw or a Mahjong discard.