In American Mah Jongg, winning hands are built using specific groupingsA collection of tiles that consist of identical tiles in different quantities and/or tiles arranged in an aesthetic manner. A winning… More of identical tiles. Here’s what you need to know:

• SingleA grouping that consists of one individual tile. A Joker tile can not be used to represent this individual tile. More – One tile (Jokers NEVER allowed)
• PairA grouping that consists of two identical tiles. A Joker tile can not be used to represent either one or both… More – Two identical tiles (Jokers NEVER allowed)
• PungA grouping that consists of three identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to three Joker tiles can be used… More – Three identical tiles (Jokers allowed)
• KongA grouping that consists of four identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to four Joker tiles can be used… More – Four identical tiles (Jokers allowed)
• QuintA grouping that consists of five identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to five Joker tiles can be used… More – Five identical tiles (Jokers allowed)
• SextetA grouping that consists of six identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to six Joker tiles can be used… More – Six identical tiles (Jokers allowed)

Visual Appeal Groupings on the NMJL Cards

The NMJL CardThe product published annually by the National Mah Jongg League which dictates the collection of groupings that will form the… More sometimes groups Singles and Pairs together for visual appeal, but these do not function as Pungs, Kongs, Quints, or Sextets. They still follow the rules for Singles and Pairs, meaning Jokers are NEVER allowed.

Here are some examples of these visual appeal groupingsA collection of tiles that consist of identical tiles in different quantities and/or tiles arranged in an aesthetic manner. A winning… More:

• Two SinglesA grouping that consists of two different tiles (two Single groupings) that are shown grouped together on the NMJL Card… More – Two different tiles of the same suit displayed together for appearance only. This does not count as a PairA grouping that consists of two identical tiles. A Joker tile can not be used to represent either one or both… More.
• Three SinglesA grouping that consists of three different tiles (three Single groupings) that are shown grouped together on the NMJL Card… More – Three different tiles of the same suit displayed together for appearance only. This does not count as a PungA grouping that consists of three identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to three Joker tiles can be used… More.
• Four SinglesA grouping that consists of four different tiles (four Single groupings) that are shown grouped together on the NMJL Card… More – Four different tiles of the same suit displayed together for appearance only. This does not count as a KongA grouping that consists of four identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to four Joker tiles can be used… More.
• Pair and SingleA grouping that consists of a Pair and a Single grouping, of the same suit, that are shown grouped together… More – A Pair and a Single tile, all from the same suit, grouped together for appearance only. This does not count as a PungA grouping that consists of three identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to three Joker tiles can be used… More.
• Two Pair and SingleA grouping that consists of Two Pair and a Single grouping, of the same suit, that are shown grouped together… More – Two Pair and a Single tile from the same suit, grouped together for appearance only. This does not count as a QuintA grouping that consists of five identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to five Joker tiles can be used… More.
• Three PairA grouping that consists of Three Pair groupings, of the same suit, that are shown grouped together on the NMJL… More – Three Pair from the same suit, grouped together for appearance only. This does not count as a SextetA grouping that consists of six identical tiles. Joker tiles are allowed and up to six Joker tiles can be used… More.

While these visual appeal groupingsA collection of tiles that consist of identical tiles in different quantities and/or tiles arranged in an aesthetic manner. A winning… More may look like standard combinations, they still follow the SingleA grouping that consists of one individual tile. A Joker tile can not be used to represent this individual tile. More and PairA grouping that consists of two identical tiles. A Joker tile can not be used to represent either one or both… More rules—so no Jokers allowed! So, you may not use a JokerThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More in NEWS, 2025, a pairA grouping that consists of two identical tiles. A Joker tile can not be used to represent either one or both… More, a singleA grouping that consists of one individual tile. A Joker tile can not be used to represent this individual tile. More, or a run of three tiles.