The mahjong card is the small folded sheet that American mahjong players keep beside their racks, and it is the reason the game feels so different from other tile games. It lists every hand you are allowed to win with in a given year, and it is published by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL). If you are new, the card can look like a wall of colored symbols. This guide shows you how to read it one piece at a time.
Key takeaways
- The mahjong card is a yearly list of winning hands, not a book of rules.
- Each line is one hand, and every winning hand is 14 tiles.
- A line shows groups of tiles, colors that stand for suits, a C or X, and a value.
- The hands change every year, so always play with the current year's card.
- You win only by matching one line exactly, so you read the card all game long.
A list of hands, not a rulebook
Beginners often assume the card explains how to play. It does not. The card has one job: it tells you which combinations of tiles count as a win this year. How to deal, pass tiles, take a turn and call a discard are all part of the way the game is played, and you learn those separately. Think of the rules as the road and the card as the destination list.
This is why American mahjong rewards planning. You are dealt 13 tiles (14 if you are East), and you look for the line on the card that your tiles are closest to. Then you work toward it by drawing, discarding and, when it helps, calling a discard from another player.
What is on a line of the card
Every line follows the same basic pattern. Once you can spot the four parts, any line becomes readable.
| Part of the line | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| The groups | Which tiles to collect and how many go together, such as a group of three or a group of four. |
| The colors | On most lines, a code for suits. Same color means same suit; different colors mean different suits. |
| C or X | Whether the hand must stay concealed (C) or may include exposed sets (X). |
| The value | What the hand is worth if you win with it. |
The groups
A line is built from groups of tiles. Some are pairs, some are sets of three, and some are sets of four or more. Add up all the tiles in all the groups and you get 14, because a winning hand is always 14 tiles. If you ever count a line and do not reach 14, count again.
The colors
The card prints its groups in different colors. These are not the colors of your tiles. On most lines they are a code for suits, and you decide which suit takes which color. We cover this in detail in our guide to how card colors stand for suits.
The C or X
A small letter at the end of the line says how the hand may be built. X means you are allowed to call discards and expose sets. C means the hand is concealed. Our guide to C and X hands explains the difference.
The value
A number beside the line shows what the hand is worth. The values come from the card itself.
A worked example with an invented line
Real card lines are the property of the league, so we will not copy any. Instead, imagine a made-up line that has four parts: a group of four flowers, a group of three dragons, a group of three tiles from one numbered suit, and a pair of winds. Nothing about this is a real hand. It is only a teaching tool.
Here is how you would read it, step by step.
- Count the groups. Four, three, three and two make 12 tiles in this invented line. A real line always totals 14, so imagine one more group to fill the gap.
- Check each group for letters or numbers. The flowers would be written with the letter F, the dragons with D, and the winds with letters for their directions. Our guide to the letters on the card lists them all.
- Look at the colors. If two groups share a color, they must come from the same suit. If they differ, they must come from different suits.
- Read the C or X. If the line is an X line, you may call discards to complete sets. If it is a C line, you plan to build the hand without exposing sets (the winning tile may still be a called discard).
- Compare with your rack. Count how many tiles you already hold that fit. The more you have, the closer you are.
Why there is a new card every year
The NMJL publishes a new card each year, and the list of hands changes with it. A hand that was legal on last year's card may not appear on this year's card at all. That keeps the game fresh for experienced players.
For you, that has three practical meanings:
- Use the current year's card for your games, and make sure everyone at your table is using the same year.
The tile set does not change from year to year; a complete American set is 152 tiles. See our guide to how many tiles are in an American mahjong set for the breakdown.
How players use the card during a game
Before and during the Charleston
First, sort your rack so you can see what you have. Then scan the card for a few lines that fit your tiles. You do not need to pick just one, and the tiles you pass and receive will shift which lines look promising.
Once play begins
After the Charleston, many players narrow down to one or two lines. We cover that decision in our guide to choosing a hand after the Charleston. As tiles come and go, you may switch lines. That is normal and often smart.
Keeping your place on the card
The card has many lines, and it is easy to lose your spot. Many players use a line reader card to help them follow one line at a time. SOLMAY sells a 4-pack of mahjong line reader cards (the hand card is not included), and you can browse the mahjong accessories to see them.
Common mistakes
- Treating the card as a rulebook. It lists hands only. For how to play, use the league's rule materials and your group's agreement.
- Reading tile colors instead of card colors. The colors on the card are a code, not a description of what is printed on your tiles.
- Forgetting to check the C or X. Exposing a set while chasing a concealed line is a costly slip.
Try it at your next game
Before the first hand, open the card and choose three lines at random. For each one, say out loud how many groups it has, how many tiles are in each group, whether the colors repeat, and whether it ends in C or X. Then add up the tiles and confirm you reach 14. Doing this for five minutes before a game trains your eye faster than any amount of staring.
Frequently asked questions
Is the mahjong card the same as the rules?
No. The card lists the hands that can win. The rules cover how to deal, pass, take turns and call discards. You need both to play, but they are separate things.
Can I use last year's mahjong card?
The hands change every year, so an old card lists different hands from the current one. It can be fine for practice, but check with your group before you play a real game with it.
Do I need my own card to play?
Because a winning hand must match a line exactly, you need to be able to see the card. Most players keep their own beside the rack, but it is worth agreeing on this with your group.
How many tiles are in a hand on the card?
Every winning hand is 14 tiles. You hold 13 during play (East starts with 14) and reach 14 with the final tile.
What do the colors on the card mean?
On most lines they are a code for suits, not the colors of your tiles. Groups in the same color come from the same suit, and any note on the line overrides the colors.
Keep reading
- Colors on the card mean suits
- Reading the letters on the card
- C or X: concealed and exposed hands
- Sort your rack first
- After the Charleston: choosing which hand to chase
These guides follow the way American mahjong is commonly played with the National Mah Jongg League card. Groups sometimes add house rules, so agree on yours before the first hand, and always use the current year's official card. SOLMAY is not affiliated with the NMJL.
