Exposure
A group of tiles (Pung, Kong, Quint, or Sextet) placed face-up on the table after calling a discard. Once exposed, these tiles cannot be returned to your hand.
What Is an Exposure?
An exposure is a group of tiles displayed face-up on the table in front of a player. Exposures are created when you call another player's discard to complete a Pung (3 tiles), Kong (4 tiles), Quint (5 tiles), or Sextet (6 tiles).
Once tiles are exposed, they are permanently committed, they cannot be taken back into your hand or rearranged. This is why making an exposure is a significant strategic decision.
How Exposures Work
When you call a discard:
- Announce your call clearly ("Call!" or the specific group)
- Pick up the discarded tile
- Place the complete group face-up on top of your rack
- Discard one tile from your hand to end your turn
Exposures reveal information to all players. Opponents can see exactly what tiles you have in your exposed groups, which gives them clues about what hand you're building. This is a key element of reading opponents.
Concealed vs. Exposed Hands
Some hands on the NMJL card are marked as concealed, meaning they cannot have any exposures. These hands must be completed entirely from tiles drawn from the wall.
Other hands are exposable, meaning you can call discards and make exposures. Generally:
- Concealed hands are worth more points but harder to complete
- Exposable hands are easier to complete but reveal your strategy
- Once you make an exposure, you're locked out of all concealed hands
Joker Exchanges with Exposures
When an opponent has an exposure containing a Joker, you can perform a Joker exchange on your turn. You replace the Joker with the natural tile it represents and take the Joker into your hand.
This makes exposures with Jokers slightly vulnerable, opponents who hold the matching natural tile can steal your Jokers.