American Mahjong Cards
- Missy Mahjong
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Unique to American mahjong gameplay is the card. These American mahjong cards have specific sequences of 14 tiles to win the game. These cards are essential to this American version of the game.
The history of American Mahjong cards
In the early 1920s, Joseph Babcock introduced American mahjong. His version was an adaptation of the Chinese mahjong game.
To win Chinese mahjong, a player must complete 4 sets and a pair.
In Babcock’s American version of mahjong, the game required specific rule books and game cards. These game cards had sequences of 14 tiles.
Today, the game rules still require a player must match one of the 14-tile sequences to win American mahjong.
The National Mah Jongg League
To standardize the game play and use a universal card, several women collaborated and started the National Mah Jongg League in 1937. This was essentially a way for these women to create their own branded version of the game card and game rules.
The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) used one of Babcock’s trademarked alternative spellings. Mahjong is to car, as Mah Jongg is to Buick.
The NMJL is known for issuing its yearly cards and donating to philanthropic causes. The yearly cards make the game fun and fresh every year for loyal players. Around late November and early December, the NMJL will start accepting payments for order of the next years card, which is released in April.
Why the wait for the yearly card to come in April? I have not spoken to the NMJL, but I suspect the card is issued at the end of the fiscal year. The NMJL collects the funds, earns money on the funds during these months and donates a portion of that income to certain philanthropic causes.
To me, it feels like when I'm asked at checkout if I want to round my total up to the next dollar. The company makes a charitable donation using my money, complete with a tax benefit for their "philanthropy."
Please note: I am not a financial professional, but I have reliable sources.
The NMJL changes the rules as the league sees fit. According to my sources, the jokers were introduced in the 1960s. The rules printed on the back of the game card are improved upon and reviewed every year. The NMJL is the strongest and most well-known brand in the American Mahjong card industry.
Alternative American mahjong cards
It is commonly known that the NMJL is the leader of the American mahjong card industry. Every other card is referred to as an alternative card in the American mahjong world.
Today, there are many alternative cards available on the market. The Mahjong Line, Queen of the Tiles, Marvelous Mah Jongg, Oh My Mahjong all have their own branded American mahjong cards. Each card contains sequences of 14 tiles to wind a game of American mahjong.
Some cards follow the same formula as NMJL. Other cards are a blend of Chinese mahjong and allow any set within the 14 tile sequence.
Examples:
NMJL style:
FFFF 11 22 333 444 (any 1 suit, any 4 consecutive numbers)
Chinese/ American cards:
LLL III KKKK E NOS (any 1 suit, L=7, I= 1, any kong)
How to use American Mahjong Cards
Like any game, players must establish which rules the game will be played with.
First, the players will establish if they are playing American mahjong, Chinese mahjong or another type of mahjong game.
Second, the players will establish which card to play with. Each player must agree to play with the identical mahjong card. Once the card is agreed on, this will dictate the set of American mahjong rules and rulebook to be used for game play.
Last, players must decide which table rules to play. Playing strict NMJL rules? That is a choice. Playing with only three players? Decide how Bob will be passed to. Playing with handicaps or mulligans? Decide if you will use extra jokers or blanks.
Where to buy American mahjong cards
To ensure you are buying authentic cards, Missy Mahjong teachers all suggest purchasing directly from the brand websites.
Amazon does offer authentic American mahjong cards, but this is hard to be sure. Sometimes, there are knockoff cards coming from China. I laugh at this situation; we knocked off the game of mahjong, and the Chinese are knocking off our American tiles and cards now. I’m not the mahjong police, so I will just have to use my own judgement on where I want to buy my cards.
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