American Mahjong for Beginners: What Is the NMJL Card?

American mahjong is a social, four-player tile game defined by its unique National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card, which lists specific winning hand patterns that change every year. If you are brand new to the game, clearing up a few common misconceptions is the best place to start.

First, real mahjong is a social, competitive game played with four people, distinct from the digital "mahjong solitaire" tile-matching app found on phones. Second, while Asian variants like Chinese or Hong Kong mahjong rely on open-ended scoring and matching suits freely, the American style follows a rigid official card. Whether you are learning through our guide on how to play American mahjong or browsing a starter set, understanding how the annual card works is your gateway to mastering the U.S. version.

What is the NMJL Card?

The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) publishes a brand-new official card every spring, and playing with the current year's card is mandatory for official American mahjong. Every single winning hand in the game must match one of the printed patterns on this small, folded sheet of paper.

Unlike traditional Chinese or Japanese riichi mahjong, where you can win with many flexible combinations, American mahjong forces you to pick a specific hand from the card early on. The card categorizes hands into sections like 2468, Quints (five-of-a-kind), Consecutive Runs, and Year-specific hands (such as 2026). Because the card changes annually, strategies shift, keeping the game fresh for veterans and offering a structured roadmap for beginners.

Decoding the Symbols on the Card

Reading the NMJL card for the very first time can feel like looking at a secret code. The lines of text use abbreviations and color coding to tell you exactly which tiles you need to collect.

Here are the most common abbreviations you will encounter on the card:

• B: Bamboos (one of the three main suit families)
• C: Cracks or Characters (the Chinese character suit)
• D: Dots or Circles (the coin suit)
• N, E, W, S: The four wind tiles
• F, C, G: Dragons (Soap/White, Red, and Green)
• 1-9: The numbers corresponding to suit tiles

Colors also matter significantly. Numbers printed in red typically mean tiles from the character suit, green represents bamboo, and blue or black represents dots. If a line on the card has a number in red next to a letter, it means those specific tiles must be of that suit. If the line is printed in all one color or uses generic terms, it might be a "any suit" hand where you can choose which suit to build.

The Role of Jokers in American Mahjong

One of the most exciting features that sets American mahjong apart is the inclusion of eight joker tiles. Jokers act as wild cards and can substitute for almost any tile in your chosen hand on the NMJL card.

There are, however, strict rules regarding how jokers can be used. You can never use a joker in a single, un-paired tile (a "singlet"), nor can you use them to complete a natural pair unless the card specifically calls for a pair of jokers. Furthermore, if an opponent plays a tile and you use a joker from your hand to claim it for a meld (exposed group of tiles), that joker becomes locked in place once the exposure is exposed on the table.

The Charleston and Tile Passing

Before actual play begins in an American game, players participate in the Charleston, a mandatory ritual of passing unwanted tiles to other players at the table. This tile-passing sequence is designed to help everyone improve their hands before the draw-and-discard phase officially starts.

For a deeper dive into setting up your table and managing this phase, check out our resource on how to play American mahjong.

Essential Table Etiquette for Beginners

American mahjong has a distinct rhythm and a set of polite etiquette rules that make game nights enjoyable for everyone. Because games move quickly, keeping your tile racks organized and paying close attention to the flow of play is vital.

Always call out your actions clearly, whether you are claiming a discarded tile to complete a pung (three-of-a-kind), a kong (four-of-a-kind), or declaring mahjong. Respect the wall-building process, keep your conversations light during the Charleston, and never touch another player's tile racks. If you want to practice your hands away from the physical table, you can test your combinations using an American mahjong hand checker to verify validity.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a new NMJL card every year?

Yes, purchasing the official National Mah Jongg League card annually is standard practice because the valid winning hands change every spring. Playing with outdated cards means your hand patterns won't match what other players are building in competitive or club settings.

Can I use jokers to complete any tile combination?

Jokers are wild and can substitute for almost any tile, but they cannot be used to form single, un-paired tiles or natural pairs unless the card explicitly requires a pair of jokers. They are primarily used in groups of three, four, or five identical tiles.

What is the Charleston in American mahjong?

The Charleston is a mandatory tile-passing ritual that happens at the very beginning of every game before any discards are made. Players pass unwanted tiles to their right, across the table, and to their left in a specific sequence to improve their initial tile distribution.

How does American mahjong differ from solitaire?

Mahjong solitaire is a single-player digital puzzle game where you match pairs of identical tiles on a board. Real American mahjong is a social, four-player game involving strategy, tile-passing rituals, defense, and following a complex set of winning hands on a card.

Pick up a current NMJL card and a set of tiles to join your first friendly game night today.