American Mahjong scoring revolves around the annual NMJL card, which lists 70+ hand patterns worth 25-50 points each. Learn how payments, doubles, and jokers work.
American Mahjong scoring is unlike any other mahjong variant because it revolves entirely around a single printed card published each year by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL). Instead of memorizing complex scoring tables, players match their tiles to one of roughly 70 or more hand patterns listed on the card, each assigned a specific point value — typically 25 to 50 points. This guide explains how to read the card, calculate payments, apply doubles, and sharpen your scoring strategy.
The NMJL card is the sole authority on which hands score in American Mahjong. Every legal winning hand must match one of the patterns printed on the current year's card — no exceptions. The League releases a new card each April, which means the entire scoring landscape resets once a year.
The card organizes hands into named categories such as "2468," "Quints," "Consecutive Run," "13579," "Winds–Dragons," and "Singles and Pairs." Each category contains multiple hand patterns written in a shorthand notation that specifies the exact tiles, groupings, and suits required. Next to each pattern, you will find a point value — commonly 25, 30, or 50 points — that determines how much the winner collects.
Because the card changes every year, no single hand pattern is guaranteed to appear from one year to the next. A hand worth 50 points on last year's card may vanish entirely on the new one. This annual reset is one of the defining features of American Mah Jongg and keeps the game fresh for veteran players.
The card uses specific symbols and colors to convey information at a glance. Numbers represent tile values, "D" stands for Dragon, "N E W S" represent Wind tiles, and "F" stands for Flower. Colors on the card — typically blue, green, and red — indicate which of the three suits a grouping belongs to. When a color is specified, you must use that exact suit; when a pattern shows a neutral or open color, you choose the suit yourself, as long as you follow the pattern's constraints.
One critical marking on the card is the letter "C," which appears next to certain hands. This designates the hand as "Concealed," meaning you cannot use exposed melds — and in most cases, you cannot use Jokers in that hand either. Understanding this distinction directly affects your scoring eligibility and is covered in detail below.
Most hands on the NMJL card are worth 25 or 30 points, while more difficult patterns earn 50 points. The point value directly determines how much money or chips the winner collects from the other three players.
In standard American Mahjong, players agree on a monetary value per point before the game begins. The most common rate is 25 cents per point, though groups vary. At that rate, a 25-point hand pays $6.25 from each losing player, and a 30-point hand pays $7.50 from each. A 50-point hand — the highest standard value on most cards — pays $12.50 from each loser.
Here is a reference table for standard payment amounts:
| Hand Value | Payment per Loser (at $0.25/point) | Total Collected by Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 25 points | $6.25 | $18.75 |
| 30 points | $7.50 | $22.50 |
| 50 points | $12.50 | $37.50 |
| 25 points (doubled) | $12.50 | $37.50 |
| 30 points (doubled) | $15.00 | $45.00 |
| 50 points (doubled) | $25.00 | $75.00 |
Payment flows in one direction: all three losing players pay the winner. There is no separate settlement between non-winning players as you find in some Asian mahjong variants. If a player discards the winning tile, that player pays double while the other two pay the standard amount in many house rules — but the official NMJL rules handle this differently, as explained in the section on doubles.
The fixed-value scoring system makes American Mahjong far more approachable than variants like Riichi or MCR, where dozens of scoring elements combine into complex calculations. In American Mahjong, you look at the card, find your hand, read the number, and multiply. That simplicity is one reason the game has thrived in social and recreational settings across the United States for decades.
Doubles are the most impactful scoring modifier in American Mahjong, and the primary way to earn a double is by winning on a self-drawn tile. When you draw your winning tile from the wall yourself — rather than claiming another player's discard — every losing player pays you double the hand's point value.
This means a 25-point hand won by self-draw collects $12.50 from each player at the standard $0.25 rate instead of $6.25. A 50-point self-drawn hand collects $25.00 from each player, for a total of $75.00 — four times what a standard 25-point discard win earns. Self-drawn wins are relatively uncommon because you have only one draw per turn compared to three opponents each making discards, which is precisely why the bonus is so generous.
Some hand patterns on the NMJL card carry an inherent double, meaning the payment is doubled regardless of how you win. These hands are typically the most difficult patterns on the card — often requiring rare tile combinations, all concealed tiles, or specific configurations that are statistically hard to complete. When you win one of these hands by self-draw, the double stacks: you receive quadruple the base payment from each player.
Understanding doubles changes your strategic calculus. A 25-point hand with a self-draw is worth as much as a 50-point hand won by discard. This creates a meaningful incentive to stay flexible and keep your hand concealed when possible, since exposed melds signal your intentions to opponents and reduce the chance that someone will discard your winning tile — though they do not directly affect self-draw odds.
Some playing groups add house rules for additional doubles, such as doubling when the winning tile comes from the last wall draw of the game. Always confirm which doubling rules your group uses before play begins.
American Mahjong uses 8 Joker tiles — a feature unique among major mahjong variants — and these Jokers interact directly with the scoring system. A Joker can substitute for any tile in a group of 3 or more identical tiles (Pung, Kong, Quint, or Sextet), but it cannot replace a tile in a pair or a single.
Most hands on the NMJL card allow Joker use, which makes them easier to complete. However, hands marked with a "C" for Concealed generally prohibit Jokers entirely. Because Concealed hands are harder to finish without Joker flexibility, they often carry higher point values or built-in doubles as compensation.
Here is how Joker eligibility breaks down:
| Hand Type | Jokers Allowed? | Typical Point Value | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (exposed OK) | Yes | 25–30 points | Moderate |
| Concealed ("C") | No | 25–50 points | High |
| Concealed with double | No | 50 points (doubled) | Very high |
Jokers also create a secondary strategic layer through the "Joker exchange" mechanic. If an opponent has an exposed meld containing a Joker, you can — on your turn — swap the Joker out by replacing it with the tile it represents. This gives you a free Joker for your own hand. The exchange does not affect scoring directly, but acquiring extra Jokers dramatically improves your ability to complete higher-value hands.
Strategically, the decision of whether to pursue a Joker-eligible hand or a Concealed hand shapes your entire game. Joker-eligible hands are more forgiving and complete more often. Concealed hands pay more when they hit but fail more frequently. Experienced players read the card each year and identify which Concealed hands offer the best risk-to-reward ratio given the specific tile distributions required.
The 8 Jokers in the American Mahjong set bring the total tile count to 152 — notably more than the 136 tiles in a standard Chinese or Riichi set. This larger set, combined with Joker substitution rules, gives American Mahjong a distinct tactical feel that rewards adaptability.
The Charleston — a structured tile-passing ritual before gameplay begins — is a uniquely American Mahjong mechanic that directly shapes your scoring potential. During the Charleston, each player passes 3 tiles to the right, then 3 across, then 3 to the left, with an optional second Charleston and a final courtesy pass.
This pre-game exchange allows you to shed tiles that do not fit your target hand and potentially receive tiles that do. The Charleston is your first and best opportunity to steer toward a high-value hand on the NMJL card. Skilled players use the Charleston to accomplish three goals simultaneously: eliminate tiles from suits they are abandoning, avoid passing tiles that help opponents, and gather tiles that support multiple possible hands.
Because the NMJL card changes every April, Charleston strategy resets each year along with the scoring landscape. A suit that supported many high-value hands last year may have fewer options on the new card. Experienced players study the new card as soon as it releases and identify which tile families — Winds, Dragons, odd numbers, even numbers — appear most frequently in high-value hands. They then use the Charleston to move toward those families.
One advanced Charleston strategy involves "defensive passing" — deliberately passing tiles that are unlikely to help the player receiving them. For example, if the current card has few hands using the 1 of Crak, passing that tile is relatively safe. This requires deep familiarity with the card, which is why many dedicated players spend time analyzing new cards each spring.
The Charleston typically involves passing 9 tiles in the first round alone (3 in each direction), meaning you cycle through a significant portion of your starting hand before the first draw. This makes the Charleston as strategically important as any phase of actual gameplay. Players who treat it as an afterthought consistently score lower than those who approach it with a plan.
Consistent scoring in American Mahjong comes from hand selection flexibility, card familiarity, and disciplined decision-making during play. The best players do not lock into a single hand early; instead, they keep 2 or 3 candidate hands alive as long as possible and commit only when the tiles clearly favor one path.
Here are the core strategic principles that lead to higher scores:
1. Prioritize hands with overlapping tile requirements. When two hands on the card share many of the same tiles, you can pursue both simultaneously and decide late in the game. This flexibility increases your win rate, which is the single most important factor in long-term scoring.
2. Know when to switch hands. If your target hand requires a specific tile and you see two of them discarded early, the hand becomes significantly harder to complete. Recognizing dead hands and pivoting to alternatives is a hallmark of experienced players.
3. Balance risk and reward. A 50-point Concealed hand pays well, but if it requires a rare combination and prohibits Jokers, your completion rate drops. Sometimes a reliable 25-point hand that you win frequently outperforms a 50-point hand you rarely finish.
4. Watch the discards. Tracking which tiles have been discarded tells you which hands are still viable — both for you and your opponents. If an opponent exposes a Pung of West Winds, you can look at the card and narrow down which hands they are likely pursuing, then avoid discarding tiles that complete those hands.
5. Manage your exposures carefully. Every time you call a discard to make an exposed meld, you reveal information. Expose too early, and opponents will stop discarding tiles you need. Expose too late, and you miss opportunities to complete your hand.
6. Study the new card each April. Players who analyze the card early in the season gain a significant edge. They identify which categories have the most hands, which hands share tile requirements, and which Concealed hands offer realistic completion rates. If you want structured guidance, consider looking for mahjong lessons near you.
Over a session of multiple games, the player who wins most frequently — even with lower-value hands — typically finishes with the highest total. Winning a 25-point hand three times ($56.25 total at standard rates) beats winning a single 50-point hand ($37.50). Volume matters.
American Mahjong's card-based scoring system is fundamentally different from the scoring methods used in Chinese Official (MCR), Riichi (Japanese), and Hong Kong Old Style mahjong. Understanding these differences helps players who explore multiple variants — and highlights what makes American scoring unique.
| Feature | American (NMJL) | Chinese Official (MCR) | Riichi (Japanese) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoring basis | Annual card with fixed hands | 81 scoring elements, combined | Han/fu system |
| Number of possible winning hands | ~70+ (changes yearly) | Thousands of combinations | Thousands of combinations |
| Point range | 25–50 per hand | 8–88+ per element | 1–13+ han |
| Jokers | Yes (8 tiles) | No | No |
| Total tiles in set | 152 | 144 | 136 |
| Scoring complexity | Low | High | Medium-high |
| Annual rule changes | Yes (new card each April) | No | No |
In MCR, a single hand can contain multiple scoring elements that stack — for example, a hand might score for All Pungs, Mixed Shifted Pungs, and a specific Dragon Pung simultaneously. The total score is the sum of all applicable elements. Riichi uses a han/fu system where han (scoring factors) determine a base value that is then modified by fu (minipoints) through a lookup table. Both systems reward deep knowledge of scoring combinations.
American Mahjong simplifies this entirely. Your hand matches one pattern on the card, and you receive that pattern's fixed point value. There is no stacking, no combination, and no calculation beyond a single multiplication. This makes American Mahjong the most accessible variant for casual and social players.
However, the annual card change adds a layer of complexity that other variants lack. While MCR and Riichi players can study scoring tables that remain constant for years, American Mahjong players must re-learn the available hands every spring. This annual reset keeps the meta-game dynamic and prevents any single strategy from dominating indefinitely.
For a broader look at how scoring works across all major mahjong variants, visit our Scoring Overview. And if you want to find American mahjong games near you, our directory can help you connect with local players and groups.
Now that you understand how American Mahjong scoring works, the best way to improve is through practice with experienced players. Find mahjong lessons near you to get personalized instruction on reading the NMJL card and building winning hands. You can also join a mahjong club to play regularly and sharpen your scoring instincts in a social setting.
American Mahjong scoring revolves around the annual NMJL card, which lists 70+ hand patterns worth 25-50 points each. Learn how payments, doubles, and jokers work.
You do not need to memorize the NMJL card. Players keep the card on the table and reference it throughout the entire game. Familiarity develops naturally over multiple sessions, but even tournament players consult the card regularly. The card costs a few dollars from the National Mah Jongg League and is essential equipment for every player.
At the standard rate of 25 cents per point, individual hand payouts range from $6.25 to $25.00 per losing player. A typical session of 12–16 hands produces net wins or losses between $10 and $40 for most players. Groups set their own per-point rates, so stakes vary. Some groups play for chips with no monetary value at all.
The National Mah Jongg League releases a new card every April with an entirely new set of hand patterns. All previous hands become invalid. Players must purchase the new card and learn the updated hands to continue playing. This annual change keeps the game fresh and prevents any single strategy from becoming permanently dominant.
Jokers cannot be used in every hand. Hands marked with a "C" on the NMJL card are Concealed hands and generally prohibit Joker use. For all other hands, Jokers substitute for any tile in a group of 3 or more identical tiles — such as Pungs, Kongs, or Quints — but never in pairs or singles.
A self-drawn win pays double because drawing your own winning tile is statistically less likely than claiming an opponent's discard. You get only one draw per turn, while three opponents each make discards. The double payment rewards this lower probability and adds strategic depth by encouraging players to keep hands concealed when possible.
Now that you know the basics, find a game near you.
Riichi mahjong scoring uses the han/fu system. Learn how to calculate base points, apply limit hands, and understand dealer vs. non-dealer payment splits.
Hong Kong Mahjong uses the faan (番) scoring system. Learn minimum faan requirements, common scoring patterns, payment calculations, and limit hands.
