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I know Mah Jongg

Beginner walkthrough · Step 3 of 8

3. Sorting your rack

ⓘ Fictional training card · NOT the official NMJL card

Not a real card. Fictional practice card — NOT the official NMJL card. Its hands are made up for learning. To play real games, buy the current NMJL card from the League and study it. Real hands, sections and points will be different.

Practice card line (fictional) · Bams

11222333344455

One color = one suit. On the card, two or three colors mean the line needs two or three different suits.

1|1|
2|2|2|
3|3|3|3|
4|4|4|
5|5|

Any one suit · exposed (X) allowed · 14 tiles

Your rack (13 tiles)— outlined: Doesn't fit — pass candidates

1|1|2|2|3|3|4|4|4|8●9●WWNN

Sorting by suit makes your hand easy to read. The 8 Dot, 9 Dot, West and North don't help this hand. They are your candidates to pass.

Lin, table lead

“Group your tiles by suit first, then by number. The tiles that don't fit anywhere are your easiest passes.”

Lin · Table leadStrategy Tip
North
East
West
You — South
Your rack faces you. The others see only the backs of your tiles.

Watch it happen: Sorting your rack

EastNorthWestYou · South
9●4|NN1|3|WW2|4|8●1|4|2|3|

1/5 Your 13 tiles arrive in random order. Strategy Tip

Takes about 15 seconds. You can pause any time and pick up where you left off.

Seen from above. You are always South at the bottom; East is on your left, North across, West on your right. Practice tiles only, not a real NMJL card hand. About 15 seconds.
Show details: how it happens, League rules and tips

How it happens at the table

  1. 1.
    Stand your tiles upright on the rack, faces toward you. Official Rule
  2. 2.
    Group them by suit (Craks, Bams, Dots), then in number order within each suit. Strategy Tip
  3. 3.
    Put Winds, Dragons and Flowers at one end, and Jokers where you can find them fast. Strategy Tip
  4. 4.
    Spot the tiles that match nothing in your chosen direction — those are your first pass candidates. Strategy Tip

What the League requires

  • Official Rule Keep your tiles on your rack where other players can't see them. Nobody may look at or touch another player's rack.

Good advice — not a League rule

  • Strategy Tip Keep multiples (pairs, triples) together. Lone tiles that match nothing are usually your trash.
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