Is the NMJL the official card and rulebook for American mahjong? No. Here's why.
The rules are different for the NFL and college football, but it is still the same basic game. Adapted from soccer and rugby, American football honors its roots with new twists for each variation of the game. Similarly, the rules for the NMJL and Siamese Mah Jongg are different, but the same basic game. Essentially, American mahjong is inspired by the Chinese game and has many variations of completing a 14 tile sequence listed on a playing card.
The NFL rules aren't the rules for all American football games
There are many different variations of American football, from flag football to junior league football to college football to the NFL. Essentially it is the same ball game trying to run the ball into the end zone.
According to UnderArmor.com, college football and the NFL have several core rule differences. Among these differences are the field dimensions, the football size, clock management, catching the football and kickoff rules.
Who publishes the official rulebook and card for American mahjong?
The popular belief that NMJL is the governing body and official rulebook publisher is inaccurate. The concept of matching a 14 tile sequence to a card is the base of all American variations of mahjong. NMJL is a publisher of a brand of card and rule book. Siamese Mah Jongg and Marvelous Mah Jongg are other companies that also publish American mahjong playing cards and rules.
Why do players think the NMJL is the only way to play American mahjong?
Word of mouth and popular facebook groups with inaccurate information spread information fast. Despite what your American mahjong teacher or Auntie may have told you, American mahjong can be played many ways, just like the Chinese tile game it evolved from in the 1920s. Since 1937, the NMJL has been the most popular way to play American mahjong, so players make the assumption it is the "right" way to play the game.
How did American mahjong start if it wasn't founded by the NMJL?
The original tile game with Chinese roots inspired an American mahjong version most of us play today. Joseph Babcock brought mahjong to America in the 1920s. Babcock trademarked his version and spelled it Mah-Jongg, with the extra letter g to mark the game genuine.
What are the universal rules of an American mahjong game?
American mahjong is won when the first player matches 14 tiles of a hand on the designated playing card. American mahjong is the same basic concept no matter which table rules you play.
As an experienced American mahjong instructor, player and a reader of game history, I also acknowledge many rule variations of the same tile game. American mahjong can be played with any brand of card published in any year, play for points or pennies (or not), include blanks in the game and play slightly different rules for less than four players.
In American mahjong, the spelling even has two accepted variations: mahjong and Mah-Jongg.
The significance of game rules
Every game can have multiple variations. American football rules are like American mahjong rules. Just like a chocolate chip cookie recipe can be slightly different in every kitchen, the game can have its own extra ingredients.
Your table can play any version you decide and be accepted as American mahjong. The focus should be to play… because the specific rules can vary.
The NFL is a game brand. The NMJL is a game brand. These may be the most common brands in their respective games, but they are just brands The NFL is not the official way to play the sport and the NMJL is not the official way to play the tile game.
What are other brands of American mahjong cards and rule books?
The NMJL is the most common American mahjong brand, but other popular American mahjong brands include Marvelous Mah-Jongg and Queen of the Tiles.
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