Skip to content
I know Mah Jongg

Beginner walkthrough · Step 8 of 8

8. Mah Jongg!

ⓘ 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

Discard floor (center of the table)

NN中R7●WW

Your exposed group (face up)

3|3|3|3|

Your rack (14 tiles)— outlined: Winning tile

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

East discarded a 5 Bam — the tile that completes your pair. You said "Mah Jongg!", took it, and laid out all 14 tiles: 11 222 3333 444 55. The others check your hand against the card.

Mae, friendly neighbor

“Lay your whole hand out so everyone can check it. Winning or not, a kind 'nice game' goes a long way.”

Mae · Friendly neighborEtiquette
North
discards 5 Bam
East
NN中R7●WW
West
3|3|3|3|
You — South
You claim the winning tile and lay your whole hand face up for everyone to check against the card.

Watch it happen: Calling Mah Jongg and getting paid

EastNorthWestYou · South
NN中R7●WW5|
1|1|2|2|2|4|4|4|5|3|3|3|3|

1/5 East discards a 5 Bam, the exact tile you need. 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.
    When a discard or your draw completes your hand, say "Mah Jongg!" — and take the tile. Official Rule
  2. 2.
    Lay all 14 tiles face up on your rack so everyone can see them. Official Rule
  3. 3.
    Wait while the other players check your hand against the card. Nobody touches the tiles until it's confirmed. Etiquette
  4. 4.
    Payment: on a discard, the discarder pays double and the others single. Self-drawn, everyone pays double. Official Rule
  5. 5.
    Then everyone washes the tiles, and the deal moves to the right — the next player becomes East. Official Rule

What the League requires

  • Official Rule You may call a discard for a pair or single only when it's the tile that completes Mah Jongg.
  • Official Rule On Mah Jongg from a discard, the discarder pays double the hand's value and the other two pay single. Self-drawn: everyone pays double.

Good advice — not a League rule

  • Official Rule Agree on scoring before you start. A mistaken Mah Jongg follows NMJL rules: once your hand is exposed, it's dead and you pay the winner.
Try the Charleston drillPlay a practice gameBrowse all lessons