close up of mahjong card

Reading the Card: How to Decode the NMJL Mahjong Card

The NMJL card is the heart of American Mahjong. Every winning hand lives on that card,  and learning to read it quickly and confidently is one of the most important skills you'll develop as a player. Let's break it all down.

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

What Is the NMJL Card?

The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) publishes an official card every year, usually in the spring. This card lists every valid winning hand for that year's play. If your hand isn't on the card, it doesn't count, no matter how beautiful it looks!

The card changes annually, which keeps the game fresh and means even experienced players have to study up each spring.

The Layout of the Card

The card is organized into categories, each grouping hands with a similar theme or structure. Within each category, you'll find several individual hands listed in rows.

Each row shows you:

  • The tiles you need - using letter and number shorthand
  • How many of each tile - shown by grouping
  • The point value - listed on the right side
  • Whether the hand is open or closed - indicated by a marker

Decoding the Tile Symbols

Here's your quick reference guide to the shorthand on the card:

Suits:

  • B = Bam (bamboo tiles)
  • C = Crak (character tiles)
  • D = Dot (circle tiles)

Honor Tiles:

  • N, E, W, S = North, East, West, South (Wind tiles)
  • G = Green Dragon
  • R = Red Dragon
  • F = Soap / White Dragon (also called Flower)

Numbers refer to the tile value — so 3B means the 3 Bam tile, 7D means the 7 Dot tile, and so on.

Understanding Sets

Tiles on the card are grouped into sets. The size of the group tells you what kind of set it is:

  • Pair = 2 of the same tile
  • Pung = 3 of the same tile
  • Kong = 4 of the same tile
  • Quint = 5 of the same tile (requires a Joker)

So if you see 333 BBBB 333 on the card, that's a pung of 3 Bams, a kong of Bams, and another pung of 3 Bams, nine tiles total in that section.

Colors Matter

Many hands on the card use color coding to indicate suit flexibility. Here's the general rule:

  • Tiles shown in the same color must be from the same suit
  • Tiles shown in different colors can be from different suits

For example, if a hand shows three groups all in the same color, all three groups must use the same suit (all Bams, all Craks, or all Dots). If the groups are in different colors, you can mix suits.

This is one of the trickiest parts for beginners, always double-check the colors before declaring Mahjong!

Open vs. Closed Hands

Every hand on the card is either open or closed:

  • Open hands - You can win by picking up a tile that another player discards
  • Closed hands -You can only win by drawing the tile yourself from the wall. You cannot call a discarded tile to complete a closed hand.

Closed hands are marked on the card (the exact marking varies by year). They're usually worth more points because they're harder to complete — but they require more patience and a bit of luck.

A Step-by-Step Approach to Reading the Card

When you sit down to play, here's a simple process for using the card effectively:

  1. Look at your tiles after the deal - note which suits and numbers you have the most of
  2. Scan the card by category - which categories match your tiles?
  3. Narrow down to 2–3 hands - pick hands you're closest to completing
  4. Check open vs. closed - make sure you know which of your target hands are closed
  5. Reassess after the Charleston - your tiles will change, so revisit your hand choices

Tips for Getting Faster at Reading the Card

Study it before you play. Even 10 minutes of card review before a game makes a big difference. Familiarity is everything.

Highlight your favorite categories. Some players lightly mark the categories they play most often to find them faster during a game.

Get a new card every year. The NMJL card is updated annually, playing with last year's card is a common (and costly!) beginner mistake.

Quiz yourself. Cover the tile notation and try to recall what each hand needs. The more you practice, the faster you'll read it at the table.

Ready to Keep Learning?

Now that you can read the card, it's time to put it to use. Head back to our Mahjong 101 (2026 Edition) guide, or continue with:

👉 Picking a Hand — How to choose the right hand for your tiles
👉 Guide to the Hands — A deeper look at hand categories and scoring

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