The NMJL card, explained

What it is

American mahjong does not have a fixed list of winning hands. The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) designs a fresh card of hands every year — the categories, the joker rules in play, the whole puzzle resets. Every player needs the current card at the table; a set without one is a game without a target.

Why tiles don't include it

First-time buyers are often surprised that even a $475 tile set omits the card. The card is the League's own product, sold by the NMJL and authorised retailers (standard and large-print editions), and it changes annually — a card bundled last year is this year's souvenir. Brands like Oh My Mahjong also publish their own alternative cards for their tile variants; those complement the NMJL card rather than replacing it in League play.

Large print is a real option

The League sells a large-print edition of the same card. For players who squint at standard cards under dining-room light, it is the cheapest quality-of-life upgrade in the game — cheaper than larger tiles, and it stacks with them.

Counterfeits exist

The annual card is widely counterfeited online, often with printing errors in the hands themselves — an error you will discover mid-game, arguing about a hand that doesn't exist. Buy from the League or a known mahjong retailer.