If you just joined a mahjong group, you've probably heard someone say "Did you get the new card yet?" That card is the heart of American mahjong. It lists every hand you're allowed to win with, and a fresh one comes out each year. This guide explains how the yearly card works and how to get comfortable with it quickly.
A quick note before we start. firstmahj.com does not and will not publish the official card, and nothing on this page describes its hands. The card is the National Mah Jongg League's copyrighted work and an important part of how the League supports itself. Get your own copy from the League at nationalmahjonggleague.org.
What is the American mahjong card?
In Chinese styles of mahjong, a winning hand usually follows a general pattern. American mahjong works differently. You can only win with a hand that appears on the current year's card, published by the National Mah Jongg League.
The card is a small folded sheet. It groups hands into sections, or families of related hands, and each line shows one hand using numbers, letters and colors. Each hand also shows whether you may expose groups (marked X) or must keep it concealed (marked C), plus how much it's worth.
If that notation looks like a secret code right now, that's completely normal. Our guide on how to read the mahjong card walks through it step by step, using our own practice hands.
When does the new card come out?
The League usually releases a new card each spring. Exact timing can vary, so check the League's website for current details rather than relying on a date you read somewhere else.
Many groups switch to the new card as soon as most members have a copy. Some wait a week or two so everyone can study first. House rules vary, so just ask.
How and where to buy the 2026 card
The only official source is the National Mah Jongg League itself. Visit nationalmahjonggleague.org to order. A few tips:
- Choose your size. The League offers a standard card and a large-print card. If you ever squint at small type, large print is worth it.
- Check the price and shipping on the League's site. We don't list prices here because they can change.
- Order one per player. Everyone at the table needs her own card, since you'll be glancing at it all game.
- Be wary of copies. Photocopies, screenshots and "free card" downloads are not legitimate, and they don't support the League.
Some teachers and clubs help members order together. If you're in a class, your instructor may already have a plan.
Why clubs switch to the new card every year
A new card keeps the game fresh. Hands you mastered last year may be gone, and new ones take their place, so long-time players and beginners are learning together. That's one of the nicest things about American mahjong: every spring, everyone gets a little bit of a fresh start.
It also keeps every table on the same page. If one player wins with a hand from an old card, the win doesn't count. Clubs, classes, online games and tournaments generally use the current card so everyone plays by the same list.
What to do with last year's card
Don't throw it away just yet. Old cards are still handy:
- Practice at home. An old card is fine for solo practice while you're learning the flow of the game.
- Give it to a brand-new friend. It's a gentle way to show someone what a card looks like before they buy their own.
- Keep it as a keepsake. Many players save every card they've played with. It's a sweet record of your mahjong years.
Just remember to use the current card at game night. Keep the old one in a different spot so you don't grab it by mistake.
How to learn a new card quickly
Nobody memorizes the whole card, not even players with decades of experience. The goal is to know your way around it. Here's a calm, simple plan.
1. Study one section at a time
Instead of reading the card top to bottom, pick one section and get to know it well. Notice what the hands in that family have in common. Then move on to the next section another day.
2. Pick three or four favorite hands
Choose a few hands that make sense to you and learn them really well. When you look at your tiles after the deal, you'll spot those patterns quickly. Over time, your list of favorites grows naturally.
3. Practice reading the notation
The notation on the card follows the same logic every year. Once you can read one hand, you can read them all. Here's one of our own original practice hands to try, so you can learn the system without touching official content:
Even numbers
Even Steven
X25¢
FF224446668888
Two suits: the 2s and 4s share one suit, the 6s and 8s share a different suit.
One way to complete it:
Read it left to right. Each cluster of numbers is a group of identical tiles, and the colors tell you which groups share a suit. The X means you may expose groups by calling discards, and the number is its practice value. Our practice hand finder lets you try this with a real 13-tile deal.
4. Play, play, play
Reading helps, but playing is what makes the card click. Keep your card face up next to your rack and look at it as often as you like. Everyone does.
How firstmahj tools help with any year's card
Our free tools never use official hands. Instead, they help you build the skills that work with every card, year after year:
- Tile quiz: recognize all 152 tiles quickly, so you can focus on your hand instead of squinting at a Crak.
- Charleston simulator: practice deciding which tiles to keep and which to pass.
- Practice game: play a full game with our original practice card against friendly computer players.
- Payout calculator: settle who pays whom after a win.
New to the whole game? Start with how to play American mahjong, then look up any unfamiliar word in our mahjong glossary. You'll find more beginner guides on our guides page.
You've got this. Every player at your table once stared at a brand-new card and felt lost. Get your official card from the League, pick a few favorite hands, and let the rest come with time. For a printable cheat sheet and practice hands to study, see our First Game Night Kit.
