How to Read the NMJL Card: A Beginner's Guide
The NMJL card looks cryptic but follows a consistent shorthand. Here's how to read the sections, colors, numbers, and the C/X and point values — so you can find your hand fast.
The NMJL card lists every hand you're allowed to make this year. To win, your tiles must match one complete line on the card exactly. It looks like code at first, but it's a small, consistent shorthand.
Sections group the hands
The card is divided into categories — things like 2468, Like Numbers, Consecutive Run, 13579, Winds & Dragons, 369, and Singles & Pairs. Each category is a family of related hands. You only need to match one line.
Colors mean suits
Each color on a line is a different suit (Bam, Crak, or Dot) — but the color doesn't lock you into a specific suit. You choose which suit based on the tiles you're dealt. The rule is simple: same color = same suit, different colors = different suits.
Numbers and letters
- Digits are tile numbers (a 1 means a 1, a 5 means a 5)
- A repeated digit is a group: 111 is a pung, 2222 is a kong
- F = Flower, D = Dragon, and 0 = Soap (the white dragon)
- N, E, W, S = the wind tiles
C, X, and the points
Each hand is marked Concealed (C) or Exposed (X) — whether you're allowed to expose tiles by calling, or must keep the hand hidden until you win. The number at the end of the line is the hand's point value.
You'll need the current year's physical card to play — we can't reproduce it here. But once you know the shorthand, any card reads the same way.
Frequently asked questions
What do the colors on the NMJL card mean?
Each color marks a different suit — Bam, Crak, or Dot. Same color means same suit; different colors mean different suits. The color doesn't lock you to a specific suit, though — you choose which suit based on the tiles you're dealt.
What do C and X mean on the card?
C means the hand must be concealed — you can't call discards until your winning tile. X means exposed — you may call discards to complete groups. The number at the end of each line is the hand's point value.
What do F, D, and 0 mean on the card?
F is a Flower, D is a Dragon, and 0 is Soap (the white dragon). N, E, W, and S are the wind tiles, and plain digits are tile numbers — a repeated digit is a group, so 111 is a pung and 2222 is a kong.
Do I need this year's card to play?
You need a physical NMJL card to play, but an older card works fine as long as everyone at the table uses the same one. Once you know the shorthand, any year's card reads the same way.