NMJL
National Mah Jongg League — the governing body that publishes the annual card of valid hands for American Mahjong.
Definition
The NMJL (National Mah Jongg League) is the organization that standardizes American Mahjong. Founded in 1937, it publishes a new card each year listing the only valid winning hands for that year. The card is the heart of American Mahjong — without it, you can't play. The NMJL also sets official rules and promotes the game across the United States.
How It Works in Gameplay
Every player needs a copy of the current year's NMJL card at the table. The card is organized into categories like "2468," "Quints," "Consecutive Run," "13579," and "Singles and Pairs." Each line on the card shows a specific tile pattern required to win. During play, you study the card to find a hand that matches the tiles you're collecting. Since the card changes every year, strategies and hand values shift annually.
Example
You look at your 2026 NMJL card and see a hand in the "Like Numbers" section that requires a pung of 3 Dots, a pung of 3 Bams, a pung of 3 Craks, and a pair of 3s in any suit. You hold two of those pungs already, so you decide to pursue that hand for the rest of the round.
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