If one thing defines American mahjong, it is the card. New players often expect a fixed set of winning patterns, the way other tile games work. In the American game the patterns live on a small printed card, and that card changes every year. This guide explains what the card is, how to read it, and why it sits at the center of every hand. If you are brand new, start with our beginner's guide to American mahjong, then come back here.
What the card is
The card is published each year by the National Mah Jongg League. It is a single folded card that lists every hand you are allowed to make that season, grouped into sections by theme. Your goal in every game is to build your 14 tiles to match one complete line on the card, exactly as written. Nothing else counts as a win, which is why every player at the table keeps a current card in front of them.
Why it changes every year
A new card is released each spring. The League retires the old hands and introduces fresh ones, which keeps the game challenging season after season and means even experienced players start each year learning new patterns. Because last year's card is no longer legal for League play, most groups buy new cards together when they come out. It is the one piece of the game you replace annually, unlike your tiles, racks and mat, which last for years.
How the card is organized
The card is divided into sections, each with a heading such as a year, a theme or a category of hand. Within each section are individual lines, and each line is one legal hand. A line tells you several things at once:
- The pattern of tiles, written as groups of numbers and letters, showing which tiles must match and which must differ.
- The point value, printed at the end of the line, which is what the hand scores if you win with it.
- Whether it must be concealed, usually marked with a C, meaning you cannot expose tiles by calling discards while building it.
- Color, since many hands require the three suits in specific colors, shown by the way the line is printed.
Reading the card feels like decoding at first. Within a game or two the shorthand clicks, and you start to see the lines as shapes rather than symbols.
How to read a single line
Take a line apart left to right. Each block of characters is one group of tiles, such as a pung of three matching tiles, a kong of four, a pair, or a run of consecutive numbers. The suits are usually noted as Bam, Crak and Dot, and honor tiles appear as winds, dragons or flowers. The colors across the line tell you whether those groups share a suit or must come from different suits. Once you can name each block and its suit, you can check your hand against the line tile by tile.
Using the card during play
At the start of a hand, scan the card for a line that fits the tiles you were dealt, and keep a backup in mind. During the Charleston and the early turns, stay flexible, since the tiles you pick up may point you toward a different, easier line. Good players read the card constantly, comparing what they hold to several possible hands before committing.
Tips for new players
- Do not try to memorize the card. Everyone reads it during play, and that is expected.
- Start with simpler hands while you learn, and leave the high value sections for later.
- Keep the card flat and in view. A mahjong mat gives you room to lay it beside your rack.
- Buy your card as a group each spring so everyone is playing the same season.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the card come from?
The National Mah Jongg League publishes it once a year, and a new edition is released each spring.
Do I have to use the current card?
For standard League play, yes. Every legal hand comes from the current year's card.
Can I play without a card?
Not the American game. The card defines every winning hand, so each player needs one.
Ready to put it into practice? Browse our American mahjong tile sets and set up a table with this season's card in hand.