American Mahjong Card

What the annual card actually is

The annual mahjong card is the National Mah Jongg League's printed reference for the winning arrangements and scoring instructions used in its version of American Mahjong. The League publishes a new edition each year, as described in its overview of the League.

At a table following that edition, the card gives everyone the same target. A collection of tiles that looks promising still needs to meet its printed requirements. This is why the reference belongs beside you during play, rather than in a drawer with the packaging.

Think of learning it as learning where to look. You can begin by finding section headings, then practice following a line without drifting into its neighbor. There is no need to reproduce the printed arrangements in your notes.

The card and the equipment do different jobs. If you are also choosing tiles, use our American mahjong set guide for that separate decision. Keep your reading practice focused on the reference in front of you.

When the new card comes out each year

The League's store currently accepts orders for the 2026 card. Check the edition year on the listing before buying, and confirm that it matches the card your group will use. Check the store for current prices and release information.

The standard card measures 5 1/8" × 4", and the large-print card measures 6 1/8" × 4 3/4". If smaller print has become difficult to read, the large-print version is a practical option to consider. Choose the size you can comfortably consult beside your tiles.

Switch to the new edition once it is released for play, and put the old card aside. Confirm that everyone at the table has made the same switch. Read the new instructions instead of relying on what you remember from the previous edition.

If shipping is charged, a group order may reduce the shipping cost per person. Check the store's shipping terms before combining purchases. Confirm each player's preferred size and edition before placing the order.

Leave room for the open card beside your rack so you can read it without moving your tiles. Our guide to choosing an American mahjong set covers racks and the equipment to consider for your first table.

How to read a card

The card is divided into sections, with several lines in each section. Each line describes one complete legal hand, so you cannot combine parts of different lines. Follow the line on your card all the way through to its accompanying instructions.

A pair is two identical tiles; a pung is three, a kong is four, and a quint is five. These names describe the size of a group, not a complete winning hand. Check the line on your card to see which groups it requires.

The three suits are Dots, Bams, and Craks. Identify the suit of each tile as well as its number when comparing your rack with the line on your card.

Within the suit groups on a line, matching ink colors require the same suit, while different ink colors require those groups to use different suits. The ink does not name red, green, or white dragons. Follow the explanation printed on your card.

A line marked Concealed does not allow you to claim another player's discard during play. The exception is the final tile that completes Mah Jongg. Check that restriction on the line before calling a tile.

A joker can stand in for a tile in a pung, kong, or quint, but not for a single tile or a pair. Check the line on your card before applying that substitution. Do not assume a joker can fill every gap in your rack.

How to use it during a hand

First, look for a possible direction among the printed choices. Then compare your tiles with the complete line, working from one end to the other. Separate what is already present from what is still missing in your own mind.

Next, reread the notes attached to that choice. Check whether the hand must stay concealed and what the calling rules allow before reaching for a discard. A tile being useful does not, by itself, make taking it legal.

Keep the sequence simple: find the line, compare the tiles, then check whether the action is allowed. Our American mahjong rules guide covers the wider flow of play. For a disputed detail, consult the printed instructions and follow the rules as applied by your club.

Return to the reference as your tiles change. If you change direction, reread the whole new line instead of checking only the part that attracted your attention. Before declaring a win, compare the complete arrangement again and let the table verify it.

When your tiles don't match anything on the card

Begin with the location, not a guess about an exception. Check that you are reading the intended section and row. It is easy to follow one arrangement while accidentally reading the note beside another.

Next, compare the required groups with the tiles you actually hold. A missing tile can be easy to overlook when the rest looks close. Check suit relationships separately, so a familiar-looking number does not distract you from a suit mismatch.

If the match still fails, do not invent a substitution to make it work. During a lesson, describe exactly which part you cannot reconcile and ask the teacher to point to the relevant instruction. That question is easier to resolve than asking whether a hand merely looks right.

A mahjong score card is a reference, not a promise that your current tiles already fit. Review other possibilities before choosing your next action. Scoring comes after checking the hand; our planned mahjong scoring calculator will not replace that check.

Five mistakes beginners make

1. Reading from memory. Open the edition in use and check its wording, even if you remember a similar arrangement.
2. Drifting onto another row. Follow the chosen line through to its notes before looking at the next possibility.
3. Checking numbers but overlooking suits. Make suit requirements a separate part of your comparison.
4. Calling before checking restrictions. Read the relevant instruction before taking a discard or exposing tiles.
5. Choosing a direction and never reviewing it. Compare again as play develops, especially when you decide to change your plan.

FAQ

Does the card change every year?

Yes, the League publishes an annual edition. Read the new copy afresh instead of treating familiar headings as proof that the instructions underneath are unchanged.

Do I need a new one every year?

You need the edition used by your group. If the group plays with each new annual release, bring that new card rather than continuing with the previous one.

Can I still use last year's card?

You can agree to use an older edition for private practice. Tell everyone beforehand, and do not assume that arrangement applies to a club session or lesson using the new edition.

Is everyone at the table using the same card?

Everyone should use the same edition and rules for that game. Compare labels before starting so the table is working from a shared reference.