Reading the Card
How to decode the NMJL® card — the blueprint for every winning hand
Goal: Understand every symbol, color, and pattern on the NMJL® card so you can scan it confidently during a real game
Estimated time: 12–16 minutes
Prerequisite: Lesson 2
Unlocks: Lesson 4
Why it matters: The card IS the game. Every decision you make — what to keep, what to pass, what to call — comes back to the hand you're building from the card.
Step 1 of 16
🃏 What Is the NMJL® Card?
Every year, the National Mah Jongg League® releases a card listing every legal winning hand. To win a round of American Mahjong, your 14 tiles must exactly match one of those hands.
No card = no game. It's the single most important item at the table.
The card changes every April— you'll buy a fresh card each spring from the NMJL® for about $15. Think of it like a new season in a video game.
You don't have to play the current year's card — but everyone at the table must be playing the same card. Most groups use the latest one.