Every year the National Mah Jongg League publishes a new card of winning hands, grouped into sections such as 2468, Quints, 13579, 369 and Singles & Pairs (the lineup varies by year). The hands change every year, but the way you read them doesn't. (We don't reproduce the card here; it's the League's, and every player should buy their own.)
Rule 1: colors mean "same suit" or "different suit"
The card prints tiles in up to three colors. The colors aren't the suits themselves. They tell you which tiles must match: everything in one color is one suit, and a different color is a different suit. Flowers, winds and zeroes have no suit. You pick which suits.
Rule 2: X or C
Next to each hand's value you'll see an X or a C. X (exposed) means you can call discards to build the hand. C (concealed) means you build it entirely from the wall and the Charleston; the only tile you can call is the one that wins.
Rule 3: the number is the value
Each hand shows a point value, starting at 25. Harder hands are worth more. That number is what the payout calculator uses.
Rule 4: the letters
| On the card | Means |
|---|---|
| F | Flower |
| D | Dragon. Color decides which one: a D in the same color as a suit's numbers is that suit's dragon; a different color means a different suit's dragon |
| N E W S | North, East, West, South winds |
| 0 | The white dragon, nicknamed "Soap," used as a zero in year hands |
Rule 5: groups are printed together
The card prints groups as runs of the same tile: three in a row is a pung, four a kong, five a quint. Jokers can fill any group of three or more, never a pair or a single. See joker rules.
Learning trick: before the Charleston, find two hands on the card your tiles already fit, and circle them in pencil. You'll read the card twice as fast after a week of games.
Questions
What do the colors on the mahjong card mean?
Colors tell you which tiles must share a suit, not which suit to use. Tiles printed in the same color must be the same suit; different colors must be different suits. You choose which suits.
What does X and C mean on the mahjong card?
X means the hand can be exposed: you can call discards to build it. C means concealed: you can't call any tiles for it except the one that wins.
What does Soap mean in mahjong?
Soap is the nickname for the white dragon, which is used as a zero in year hands like 2026.
Can I print or copy the mahjong card?
No. The card is published and sold by the National Mah Jongg League each year; buy one for every player.