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I know Mah Jongg

Module 04

Reading the Card

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This task

Step 1 of 6 + quiz

In a real game: Experienced players scan the whole card in under a minute after the Charleston.

Lin, table lead

“The card looks busy at first. Read it one section at a time, and the patterns start to show.”

Lin · Table leadStrategy Tip
Official Rule

Colors mean 'different', not a suit

Colors on the card don't name a suit. One color in a hand means all those groups are in one suit of your choice. Two or three colors mean two or three different suits — you choose which suit goes with which color.

See it on the practice card

Fictional training card · NOT the official NMJL card

Tap a section to see all its practice lines. Compare how colors, group sizes and Exposed/Concealed change from section to section.

13579

  • 11333555577799(X) Exposed · 25 pts
  • FFFF11119999DD(X) Exposed · 30 pts
  • 11133355557777(X) Exposed · 25 pts
  • 1133557799FFFF(C) Concealed · 50 pts
  • FF555577779999(X) Exposed · 25 pts

Two colors means two different suits. The second line is Concealed — the real card marks this with (C).

On the real NMJL card: The real card uses its own colors, (X)/(C) marks and point values. Read your official card's key.