If you play American mahjong, you play from a card. New players are often surprised that the card is not something that comes with the tiles, and that it changes every year. Here is what you need to know.
What the card is
The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) publishes the official card of winning hands for American mahjong. Every hand you can win with is printed on it, grouped by category, with its point value. Most clubs, community centers and home games play from the current year's card.
A new card every year
The League releases a new card every spring, usually in April. The categories stay familiar from year to year, but the hands themselves change, so last year's card won't match what your group is playing. Plan to buy a new card each year, and expect a little relearning in the first few weeks. That's part of the fun.
How the card is organized
Hands are grouped into categories that typically include:
- Year hands, built around the digits of the current year. The White Dragon can be used as a zero.
- 2468 (even numbers) and 13579 (odd numbers)
- Like numbers and consecutive runs
- Winds and Dragons
- Quints, five of a kind, which always require at least one Joker
- Singles and Pairs, which can't use Jokers at all
Each hand shows a value, and an "X" or "C." X means exposed: you may call discards to complete groups. C means concealed: you may only call a discard for the final tile that wins the hand.
Standard or large print?
The card comes in a standard size and a large-print version. Many players like large print for long game nights or dim rooms. Every player at the table needs their own card.
Where to get it
Order directly from the National Mah Jongg League, or through a club or group that places group orders. Cards are printed by the League, and we don't sell them. Buying from the League directly is the surest way to get the current year's card.
Making the card easier to learn
- Pick two or three favorite hands each week and practice toward them.
- Read the small print under each hand: colors, exposed or concealed, and value.
- Play slow practice games with cards face up.
New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide to American mahjong, then find a set you'll love bringing to the table in our curated collection.