Guide to the Hands: Understanding Your NMJL Card

One of the first things new American Mahjong players notice is the card, that little folded sheet packed with symbols, numbers, and colors. It can look like a secret code at first. But once you understand how hands are organized, it all starts to click.

This article is part of our Mahjong 101 (2026 Edition) beginner's guide.

What Is a "Hand"?

In American Mahjong, a "hand" is the specific combination of tiles you need to collect in order to win. Unlike other versions of Mahjong where you build any valid set of tiles, in American Mahjong your winning combination must exactly match one of the hands listed on the current NMJL card.

That's what makes the card so important, it defines what winning looks like for that year.

How the Card Is Organized

The NMJL card groups hands into categories, each with a theme. While the specific hands change every year, the types of categories tend to stay consistent. Common categories include:

• 2026 - Hands that use the numbers 2, 0, 2, and 6 (the current year's digits)
• Consecutive Run - Hands built from tiles in sequential order (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
• 13579 - Hands using only odd numbers
• 2468 - Hands using only even numbers
• Winds & Dragons - Hands built primarily from Wind and Dragon tiles
• 369 - Hands using multiples of 3
• Like Numbers - Hands using the same number across different suits
• Singles & Pairs - Hands made entirely of pairs
• Quints - Hands requiring five of the same tile (only possible with Jokers)

Reading a Hand on the Card

Each hand on the card uses a shorthand notation. Here's how to decode it:

• B = Bam, C = Crak, D = Dot
• N, E, W, S = North, East, West, South (Winds)
• G, R, F = Green Dragon, Red Dragon, Soap (White Dragon/Flower)
• Numbers = the value of the tile (e.g., 3B = 3 Bam)
• Groupings = tiles shown together indicate a set (pair, pung, kong, or quint)

A pung is 3 of the same tile. A kong is 4 of the same tile. A quint is 5 (only possible using a Joker).

Colors on the card matter too, same-colored tiles in a hand must be the same suit.

Point Values

Each hand on the card has a point value, typically ranging from 25 to 75 points. Harder hands are worth more. When you win, the other three players each pay you the point value of your hand.

Some hands are marked as "closed" - meaning you cannot use any tiles that other players have discarded. You can only win with tiles you draw yourself. Closed hands are riskier but often worth more points.

Tips for Working With the Card

Start with fewer categories. As a beginner, don't try to learn every hand at once. Pick 2–3 categories you like and get comfortable with those first.

Look for flexibility. Some hands can be built in multiple suits, giving you more options as the game progresses. These are great for beginners.

Know your closed hands. Mark or memorize which hands are closed so you don't accidentally try to win on a discarded tile.

Update your card every year. The NMJL releases a new card annually,  usually in the spring. Make sure you're playing with the current year's card!

Practice reading it off the table. The faster you can scan the card and match your tiles to a hand, the better your game will be.

Ready to Keep Learning?

Now that you understand the hands, it's time to figure out how to pick the right one for your tiles. Head back to our Mahjong 101 (2026 Edition) guide, or jump ahead:

👉 Picking a Hand — How to choose the best hand for your starting tiles
👉 Reading the Card — A deeper dive into decoding the NMJL card symbols