Frequently-Asked Questions about the 2026* National Mah Jongg League card
* At the bottom of this page, you can link to older cards going back to 2001.
2026
222
000
2222 6666
(Any 2 Suits)
2026 DDD
2222 DDD
(Any 2 Suits w Matching Dragons, Kong 2 or 6)
For a more detailed explanation, see FAQ 19-E2, here on Sloperama. Please bookmark
FAQ 19 for your future reference. And before you ask, you can't call "2026" for exposure, either. Because it's four singles. See "Did You Know?", below.
22
00
222 666
NEWS
(Any 3 Suits)
2468
FF
2222
44 66
8888
(Any 2 Suits)
EE 22 444 666 88 WW
(Any 1 Suit, East and West Only)
2222 DDD
8888 DDD
(Any 2 Suits w Matching Dragons, These Nos. Only)
2468
2222 D
2222 D
(Any 3 Suits, Like Kongs 2,4,6, or 8 w Matching Dragon)
For a more detailed explanation, see FAQ 19-E2, here on Sloperama. Please bookmark
FAQ 19 for your future reference.
FFF
2468
FFF
2222
(Any 2 Suits, Kong 2, 4, 6, or 8)
FF
246 888
246 888
(Any 2 Suits)
ANY LIKE NUMBERS
1111
FFFFFF
1111
(Any 2 Suits)
1111 D
111 D
1111 D
(Any 3 Suits w Matching Dragon)
The answer is B. The card shows a space between the same-number exposure and its associated dragon. Besides, there's no exposable grouping that includes number tiles and dragons ("2026" doesn't count because zero is a number).
FF
1111
11
1111
DD
(Any 3 Suits w Any Dragon)
QUINTS
11111 44444
DDDD
(Any 2 Nos. in Any 1 Suit w Opp. Dragon)
CONSECUTIVE RUN
QUESTION that gets asked a lot:
11 222 33 444 5555
-or-
55 666 77 888 9999 (Any 1 Suit, These Nos. Only)
FFF 1111 234 5555
-or-
FFF
1111
234
5555
(Any 1 or 2 Suits, Any 5 Consec. Nos.)
* A three-number run is a common feature of all mah-jongg variants except NMJL; it's often called a "chow." But you don't need to know this to play American (NMJL) mah-jongg, so don't read this.
11 22
111 222
3333
(Any 1 or 3 Suits, Any 3 Consec. Nos.)
111 222 3333 4444
-or-
111 222
3333 4444
(Any 1 or 3 Suits, Any 3 Consec. Nos.)
13579
NN 1111 33 5555 SS
-or-
NN 5555 77 9999 SS
(Any 1 Suit, North and South Only)
113579
1111
1111
(Any 3 Suits, Pair Any Odd No., Kongs Match Pair)
There's another floating pair hand on the 2026 card -
see 369 line 5.
FF
135 777 999
DDD
(Any 1 Suit w Opp. Dragon)
WINDS - DRAGONS
1234
DDD
DDD
DDDD
(Any 4 Consec. Nos. in Any 1 Suit, Any 3 Dragons)
NNN
1111
1111
SSS (Any Like Odd Nos. in Any 2 Suits)
EEE
2222
2222
WWW (Any Like Even Nos. in Any 2 Suits)
1N 2EE 3WWW 4SSSS (Any 1 Suit, These Nos. Only)
NN EEE 2026 WWW SS
(2026 Any 1 Suit)
369
FF
3369
3333
3333
(Any 3 Suits, Pair 3,6, or 9, Kongs Match Pair)
FF
333 666 999
369
(Any 2 Suits)
SINGLES & PAIRS
FF
3369
3669
3699
(Any 3 Suits)
11 357 99
11 357 99
(Any 2 Suits)
FF
2026
2026
2026
(Any 3 Suits)
DID YOU KNOW?
2026 and NEWS are not kongs!
(That means no jokers, and no exposure prior to mah-jongg.)
Didn't find what you were looking for in this FAQ? Check these links...
Copyright 2026 Tom Sloper. All rights reserved. The contents of this page and this website, including and not limited to text, graphics, and photos, may not be reproduced or published without written permission of the author. This site is not associated with the National Mah Jongg League.
(2026 #1)
It says "2 suits" but it's 3 colors?!?!
Zeroes (like flowers and winds) are suitless, and it's customary for suitless tiles to be blue. You need a pung of twos in any suit, a pung of white dragons (soap) and kongs of twos and sixes in either remaining suit.
Does the pung of twos have to be bams?
No. And the twos and sixes do not have to be craks. A color on the card does not dictate suit. See FAQ 19-BY for more about how the color-coding works on the NMJL card.
Since the zeroes are blue, do I have to use soaps for the zeroes - and not any other dragon?
That's not why, but yes, you do have to use soaps for zeroes. No matter what color the zero is on the card. See the red text atop the card.
(2026 #2)
Does the 2026 have to be made in bams?
No. The color-coding does not dictate suit. The 2026 can be any suit.
Does the zero have to be a green dragon, since it's printed green?
No. Soap (white dragon) is the only tile that is ever used as zero. See the red text at the top of the card.
I read the parenthetical...
Hallelujah!
Very funny.
What does "Matching Dragons" mean?
Like it shows on the back of the card, Craks match Red, Bams match Green, Dots match Soap/White.
What does it mean, "Kong 2 or 6"?
It means your kong can be either 2222 or 6666.
Can you use a joker in "2026"?
No. You can never use a joker to stand in for a single (unmatched) tile. See the back of the card.
Every player should read everything on the NMJL card. Turn it over and look at the back.
Center panel, Jokers rule 4.
Look for the word "NEVER" in bold capital letters.
(2026 #4)
So I need a pair of two bams, a pair of soaps, and pungs of twos and sixes in craks, is that right?
No. The color-coding does not dictate suit. Your pair of twos can be any suit, and then the pungs (the twos and sixes) can be any remaining suit.
Can I use a joker in a NEWS since the tiles are bunched together like a kong?
No. It's four singles, like "2026." No jokers. See "Did You Know?", below.
Can I claim a discarded tile to expose a NEWS?
No. The only legal exposures are identical tiles, more than two: pungs, kongs, quints, sextets. See "Did You Know?", below.
(2468 #2)
Do the pairs in the middle have to be craks?
No. It says "Any 2 Suits" in the parenthetical. That means the pairs can be any suit (just not the same suit as the kongs). The color-coding is never to be taken as standing for particular suits. Read
Frequently Asked Question 19-BY and
FAQ 19-J.
(2468 #3)
Can I make this hand with North and/or South?
No. The parenthetical says East and West only. According to tradition, East and West go with even numbers. Think "East equals Even."
(2468 #4)
Can I make a kong of fours and a kong of sixes?
No. Fours and sixes are not twos and eights.
Your kongs have to be twos and eights only, like the parenthetical says.
(2468 #6)
Can I use a joker in "2468"? Can I call one of the tiles to expose the group?
No, and no. You can never use a joker to stand in for a single (unmatched) tile, and you cannot call for a single except for mah-jongg. See the back of the card.
Every player should read everything on the NMJL card. Turn it over and look at the back.
Center panel, Jokers rule 4.
Look for the word "NEVER" in bold capital letters.
What does "Like Kongs 2,4,6, or 8" mean?
That means you don't have to make matching kongs of twos. You can make the kongs be any same even number. "Like" means "alike," in other words "same number."
What does "Matching Dragons" mean?
Like it says on the back of the card, Craks match Red, Bams match Green, Dots match Soap/White.
(2468 #7)
There are 6 flowers. Do you need to display as 2 separate groups of 3 or can you display all 6 together? (So opponents don't know your hand?)
It's two separate pungs, exposable at separate times. You can't expose a sextet to fool opponents and then split into two pungs when declaring mah-jongg.
What does "Kong 2, 4, 6, or 8" mean?
That means you don't have to make a kong of twos. You can make the kong be any even number.
(2468 #8)
Can I use a joker in a 246?
No. You can use jokers in pungs, kongs, quints, or sextets only. 246 is three different singles.
If I'm holding a 2 and a 6, can I call a 4 to expose a 246?
No. For one thing, you can only call to make a pung, kong, quint, or sextet. 246 is none of those. It's three singles. Besides, this is a Concealed hand, dig?
Can I pick up a discarded 2, 4 or 6 to make mahjongg?
Yes. For mah-jongg, the only discard you cannot call is a joker. See FAQ 19-E3.
(Any Like Numbers #1)
It says in parentheses that there are 2 suits, but the line is 3 colors?
Flowers are suitless. Suitless tiles are traditionally indicated in blue or black (Navy blue).
Is that really six flowers? Can I make the flowers in two pungs?
Yes it is, and no you may not. That's a sextet. It is unbreakable.
(Any Like Numbers #2)
So the pung has to be craks?
No. Colors on the card only tell you how many colors you have to use. Three colors means three suits must be used. The pung can be ANY suit. The kongs have to be the other two suits.
Should the dragons be displayed with like numbers or at the end as separate entities ?
I think you're asking which of these is the proper way this hand should be displayed when won:
(Any Like Numbers #3)
The DD should really be in blue since parentheses states any dragon , shouldn t it?
No. You're thinking of the suitless blue principle (winds and flowers and zeroes) - blue ink indicates "no suit," not "any suit."
(Quints #3)
Does this mean that the two numbers in the same suit have to be spaced three apart - for example, 1s and 4s; 2s and 5s; 3s and 7s etc.? Or does it mean literally "any 2 nos." as stated in parens?
Literally any two numbers.
Does the dragon have to be Reds?
No. The color-coding does not dictate suit. See
Frequently Asked Questions 19-BY and
FAQ 19-J.
Can I use zeroes in Consecutive Runs? Like
000 1111
222 3333
or
777 8888
999 0000?
No. The only place on the card where you are permitted to use zero is where the card shows a numeral "0".
Read FAQ 19-BH.
(Consecutive Run #1)
Can I make this hand with different numbers, like 4-5-6-7-8?
No. Read the parenthetical: "These Nos. Only."
Can I make this line with a different pattern, like pair-pung-kong-pung-pair (2-3-4-3-2)? A "pyramid" pattern like that would be cute.
No. You cannot mess with the structure of any hand on the card. As for the pyramid structure, just wait a year or two. It'll be back.
(Consecutive Run #2)
Can I call the 234 chow?* Do I have to call it only from the player at my left?
It's impressive that you know Asian mah-jongg, but this is American mah-jongg. There is no such thing as "chowing" in this game. You can call a tile to complete the "234" only if it's for mah-jongg.
Can I do FFF 2222 456 8888 (any 3 suits). In other words, can the groups just be in ascending order or do they have to be actually consecutive?
They have to be consecutive in ascending order, just as shown on the card. You don't have to use only 234, but you can't mess with the order of things. The two kongs must sandwich the three-number run* consecutively.
can it be FFF 4444 4444 567 (3 suits)?
No. The two kongs must sandwich the three-number run* consecutively, per the example on the card.
(Consecutive Run #3)
How is this "consecutive"? 1-2-1-2-3?? Shouldn't it be 1-2-3-4-5?
In a literal sense, I suppose, but the numerical pattern here is 1-2, 1-2, 3, while the structural pattern is 2-2-3-3-4. You need two consecutive pairs, then consecutive pungs of the same two numbers, followed by a kong of the third number of the run.
GAAA! I HATE THIS GAME!
You'll get over it. Just get out your tiles and follow along. The understanding will come.
(Consecutive Run #4)
So I was reading your column #815...
Cool!
You called this hand the "most powerful hand on the card." But I don't get it.
It's one of the easiest hands on the card, if not the easiest. Any part of the hand can include jokers, and because it uses only number tiles (the majority of tiles), it's easy to switch/pivot hands, and it can serve as a fallback when another hand goes dead, and when you put up two exposures, it can fool opponents into thinking you're making a different hand. That all goes together to make this the most powerful hand.
I still don't see it.
Try it. You can play an entire session just making this one hand over and over again.
But it's an easy hand, I prefer a challenge.
OK.
FFF 11 22 333 DDDD
-or-
FFF
11
22
333
DDDD
(1or2 Suits, Any Run, Ds Match Middle No.)
(Consecutive Run #5)
Line 5 Consecutive Run. I wonder why in the parenthesis it states Any Run there and on the other lines in this section it states Any X Consec. Nos? Limited spacing maybe?
Limited space, for sure. "Run" is a shortcut, just as "w" is a shortcut.
FF 1111 2222 3333
-or-
FF
1111
2222
3333 (Any 1 or 3 Suits, Any 3 Consec. Nos.)
(Consecutive Run #7)
Can I use any consecutive numbers, or does that have to be those numbers only?
Any 3 consecutive numbers (as it says in parentheses).
The only hand in Consecutive Runs that has to be specific numbers is the top one.
1 22 333
1 22 333
44 (Any 3 Suits, Any 4 Consec. Nos.)
(Consecutive Run #8)
Does each suit have to have matching numbers or could you do: 1 22 333 6 77 888 99?
The numbers have to match. The parenthetical says you can use only four consecutive numbers (not three and then another three not following consecutively from the first, and then a seventh number). Four numbers.
(13579 #3)
Can I make this hand with East and/or West?
No. The parenthetical says North and South only. According to tradition, East and West go with even numbers. Think "East equals Even." This is Odd numbers, so no East-West for you, young man. Or woman. Or not-young... Oh, skip it.
Can I make this with, say, 3-5-7? You know, 3333 55 7777?
No. The intent is clearly "low odds vs. high odds."
(13579 #4)
That "113579" confuses me. In fact, the whole line confuses me.
This formation is called a "floating pair" - the pair can float from one on up through the ranks.
113579
133579
135579
135779
135799
In each case, the opposite kongs must match the paired number.
113579 1111 1111
133579 3333 3333
135579 5555 5555
135779 7777 7777
135799 9999 9999
By the way, the run with the floating pair does not have to be bams. Any suit can be used. The color-coding on the card does not dictate suit. But you probably already knew that.
(13579 #9)
Can a number from the 135 group be picked up if it is not for a Mahjongg call?
No. The only groupings that can be exposed from a discard are groups of three or more IDENTICAL tiles. So you can't call it, and you can't use a joker in it. "135" is just like NEWS and 2026. All singles. See the back of the card, rule #1 under "CLAIMING A DISCARD."
BESIDES, this is a Concealed hand (see the C?). No exposures.
(Winds-Dragons #2)
Can I call the 1234 chow? Do I have to call it only from the player at my left?
It's not a chow. A chow is three consecutive numbers, but in American mah-jongg, a run of consecutive singles doesn't have a name.
You can call a tile to complete the "1234" only if it's for mah-jongg.
And before you ask, you can't use a joker in it, either!
See "Did You Know?"
Can I use a joker in the "1234"?
What did I just say? No! "1234" is four singles. See "Did You Know?", below.
Does the Kong at the end of the line need to be the same suit as the 1234 at the beginning? I'm assuming that it is because it s the same color but the parentheses information doesn't clarify that.
No. The parenthetical says the 1234 can be any suit, and you can use "Any 3 Dragons." That last phrase makes no literal sense (since there are only 3 dragons to choose your 3 dragons from) but the League has long used that phrase to mean "the dragons can be in any order." So this means that the "1234" can match ANY dragon.
(Winds-Dragons #3)
(Winds-Dragons #4)
Can I make this, like, EEE 1111 4444 SSS?
No.
East goes with West, North goes with South.
East and West go with Even numbers. Think "East = Even." North and South go with Odd numbers. That's the tradition on the NMJL card.
Oh. And "Like" means "Same."
Can I make this, like, EEEE 444 444 WWWW? Like, the pungs on the inside and the kongs on the outside?
No. Wind pungs and number kongs only, as shown. You can't mess with the structure of the hand.
(Winds-Dragons #6)
Can it be 1S 2WW 3EEE 4NNNN for example? Parentheses say any 1 suit (which I find weird) and these numbers only (which I get).
No. You have to obey the example on the card. Those nos. only, AND those winds only. Besides, your way, you were spelling SWEN, while the league prefers NEWS. (Good news, preferably.) What I've figured out is that nobody wants their winds to spell SEWN -- sounds too much like old-fashioned housework.
Can I use a joker in the 2EE pung?
No. That's not a pung. It's a single 2 and a pair of E. A pung is 3 identical tiles.
(Winds-Dragons #8)
The parenthetical says "2026 Any 1 Suit." What does that mean? Wouldn't it be one suit only if it was all dots and soap?
Since zero is suitless, 2026 in craks is one suit, and 2026 in bams is one suit.
(369 #5)
I don't get this one.
This is another "floating pair" hand. (See 13579, line 4.)
In each case, the opposite-suit kongs must match the paired number.
3369 3333 3333
3669 6666 6666
3699 9999 9999
By the way, the run with the floating pair does not have to be bams. Any suit can be used. The color-coding on the card does not dictate suit. But you probably already knew that.
(369 #6)
About that "369" pung, or is it a chow...
It is neither. It is three single tiles that don't have a mate/match in the grouping. So therefore you may not call a discard to expose "369" and you may not use a joker in it. Don't forget, when a hand's value is marked with a C, you mustn't expose part of the hand. Concealed hands have to be shown all at once at the moment of declaring mah-jongg.
(S&P #3)
The parens don't specify about the numbers. Sometimes a line says "these numbers only" but not here. Can it be:
FF 2258 2558 2588? Same for line 5.
No. It's a 369 hand. You have to use 3s and 6s and 9s. And note that it's got a floating pair.
(S&P #5)
Sometimes a line says "these numbers only" but here, it doesn’t.
So example for line 5 can it be: FF 13 55 79 13 55 79?
Same for line 3.
No. You can't mess with the pattern. You have playing-around room only when it says so in parentheses.
(S&P #6)
Can I use a joker in A "2026"?
NO! "2026" is four singles. (You can argue that the two twos make a pair, but that doesn't change things. You still can't use a joker.) See "Did You Know?", below.
If I make this hand without jokers, can I earn double?
No. It's clearly impossible to use jokers, so there's no bonus. The points are already built into the hand's score.
This principle also applies to "2468" in 2468 hand #6 (a grouping of four singles) and the two following that one, and the single-number runs in Consec. #2, Odds #4, Odds #9, and Winds-Dragons #2, and any other single-tile groupings I might have missed.
Jokers may only be used in groups of 3 or more Like tiles... and only groups of 3 or more Like tiles (pungs, kongs, quints, sextets) may be exposed prior to mah-jongg.
Can I use a joker in a 2026 since the tiles are bunched together like a kong?
No. 2026 is not a kong. A kong is four like tiles. 2026 is not four like tiles, so you are not allowed to use jokers.
Read FAQ 19E (click here) and read the back of your NMJL card. Look for the word "NEVER" (in ALL CAPS, bold).
If a 2026 is not a kong, why aren't there spaces between the digits?
Don't you think it looks more natural without the spaces? Accept that a 2026 is not a kong, and move on.
Can I claim a discarded tile to expose a 2026?
Not unless it's for mah-jongg. Read FAQ 19-E (click here).
Can I use a joker in a NEWS since the tiles are bunched together like a kong?
No. NEWS is not a kong, same as a 2026 is not a kong (as explained
below). NEWS is four single tiles. Not a kong.
If a NEWS is not a kong, why aren't there spaces between the digits?
Don't you think it looks more natural without the spaces? Accept that a NEWS is not a kong, and move on.
Can I claim a discarded tile to expose a NEWS?
Not unless it's for mah-jongg. Read FAQ 19-E (click here).
What about 234 (as in Consec. #2)?
That's not a pung. A pung is 3 like tiles. Read FAQ 19-E (click here).
234 is three single unmatched tiles; jokers cannot be used (and this grouping can only be exposed at the time of mah-jongg declaration).
The official rulebook, and a newsletter. Every table should have the official 2023 revised rulebook.
Every year, the League issues rule clarifications in its newsletter. Every person who buys the card
directly from the League receives a subscription to the newsletter, which is mailed every January.