Mahjong Card Categories Explained: How Winning Hands Work

In American mahjong you win by building one of the hands printed on the current year's card. The card changes every year, but the way it is organized stays the same. Here is how to read it.

Categories on the card

Hands are grouped into sections. Common sections include:

• The year: hands built from the digits of the current year, using the White Dragon as zero.
• 2468: hands using only even numbers.
• Any like numbers: the same number in different suits.
• Quints: five of a kind, which always need jokers.
• Consecutive runs: numbers in a row.
• 13579: hands using only odd numbers.
• Winds and dragons: hands built from honor tiles.
• 369: hands using 3s, 6s and 9s.
• Singles and pairs: hands where jokers can't be used.

Reading colors

Each group in a hand is printed in a color. Groups in the same color must be in the same suit; groups in different colors must be in different suits.

Exposed vs concealed

Hands marked X can be exposed: you may call discards to complete groups. Hands marked C are concealed: you may only call a discard for the final winning tile.

Hand values

The number next to each hand is its value. Harder hands pay more. Concealed hands usually pay more than exposed ones.

Beginner tips

• After the first Charleston, pick two or three hands that fit your tiles.
• Keep jokers for groups of three or more; they can't be used in pairs or singles.
• Watch what others discard so you know which tiles are still live.

Learn the full game in how to play mahjong and find your set in mahjong tile sets.