How to Read the NMJL Card
Master the notation and symbols
Last updated: January 28, 2026
The NMJL card uses a specific notation system to describe hands. Learning these symbols is essential for understanding which tiles you need and how to arrange them. This guide covers every symbol you'll encounter.
Numbers Represent Tile Values
Numbers on the card (1-9) represent the numbered tiles in each suit. When you see a number, it refers to that specific tile value.
For example, if you see '111' on the card, it means three tiles of the same number (a Pung). '1111' would be four of a kind (a Kong).
- •Numbers are literal - a 2 means a 2, not 'any even number'
- •The same number repeated means identical tiles
Suit Identification
The three suits in American Mahjong are:
Dots — circles that look like coins
Bams — bamboo sticks
Craks — Chinese characters with the 'wan' (ten thousand) symbol
On the modern NMJL card, suits are indicated by color groupings rather than individual letters. The colors show whether tiles must be the same suit or different suits.
- •Learn to recognize the three suits by sight — speed matters at the table
- •The card uses color to show suit relationships, not specific suit letters
Colors Indicate Suit Requirements
The colors on the card tell you about suit relationships:
When tiles are shown in the SAME color, they must be the SAME suit.
When tiles are shown in DIFFERENT colors, they must be DIFFERENT suits.
The actual color (blue, green, red) doesn't specify which suit - just whether suits match or differ.
- •Same color = same suit throughout that section
- •Different colors = different suits required
- •You choose which suits to use - the colors just show the pattern
How Colors Show Suit Relationships
The colors on the card are the primary way suits are indicated. This is one of the most important concepts to understand.
When groups of tiles are printed in the SAME color, all those tiles must be the SAME suit. When groups are in DIFFERENT colors, they must be DIFFERENT suits.
You choose which specific suit to use — the colors only show whether suits must match or differ across the hand.
- •Same color = same suit, different colors = different suits
- •You pick which suit goes with which color — the card doesn't dictate that
- •This gives you flexibility to work with whatever tiles you draw
Special Tiles
F = Flowers (the 8 Flower tiles in the set)
D = Dragons (when not indicating Dots suit - context matters)
Red, Green, or White/Soap indicate specific dragons
N, E, W, S = Wind tiles (North, East, West, South)
NEWS = All four winds together
0 = White Dragon (also called 'Soap' - the blank tile)
- •Dragons and Flowers appear in many hands
- •NEWS hands require all four wind tiles
- •Context tells you if D means Dragon or Dots
Point Values and Concealed
Each hand shows a point value (25, 30, 35, 40, 50, etc.) indicating its difficulty and worth.
A 'C' after the point value means the hand MUST be concealed - no calling tiles from other players.
Concealed hands are harder to make but worth more points.
If there's no C, the hand can be played exposed (with called tiles) or concealed.
- •Higher points = harder hands
- •Concealed hands require more skill and luck
- •Exposed hands are easier but give away information
Quick Reference
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1-9 | Specific numbered tile | 111 = three 1s |
| F | Flower tile | FF = pair of Flowers |
| D | Dragon tile | DDD = Pung of Dragons |
| N/E/W/S | Wind tiles | NEWS = all four Winds |
| 0 | White Dragon (Soap) | 000 = Pung of Soaps |
| Same color | Tiles must be the same suit | Blue 111 Blue 222 = same suit |
| Diff. colors | Tiles must be different suits | Blue 111 Red 222 = different suits |
| 25-50 | Point value | 25 = easiest, 50 = hardest |
| C (after points) | Concealed only | 30C = 30 points, must be concealed |