Can You Use a Joker in a Pair?

No. Jokers can't go in pairs. This is one of the most important rules in American Mahjong. A pair has to be two identical natural tiles. No Jokers.

No, Jokers can't be used in pairs. This is one of the most basic rules in American Mahjong. A pair has to be two identical natural tiles with no Joker substitutes. If Jokers worked in pairs, the many pair-heavy hands on the NMJL card would become too easy, throwing off the game balance. Jokers only stand in for tiles in groups of 3 or more (Pungs, Kongs, and Quints). Trying to use a Joker in a pair gives you a dead hand.