Organizing Your Hand
After Tile Selection
- Once tile selection is complete and players have placed their tiles onto the sloped side of their racks, players should examine and organize their tiles.
- Tiles should be organized into groupingsA collection of tiles that consist of identical tiles in different quantities and/or tiles arranged in an aesthetic manner. A winning… More that align with one or more sections on the NMJL CardThe product published annually by the National Mah Jongg League which dictates the collection of groupings that will form the… More.
Tips for Organizing
- Players often identify multiple possible hands initially. It is recommended to keep several options in mind as play progresses, especially leading into the Charleston.
- Organizing tiles and deciding on specific hands from the NMJL CardThe product published annually by the National Mah Jongg League which dictates the collection of groupings that will form the… More is a common point of discussion among players. Developing proficiency in quickly arranging tiles and recognizing viable hand options improves with practice!
- Most players arrange their hand with flowers first, then the suits, followed by winds, dragons, and jokersThe Joker tiles are typically engraved with the word “Joker” and a symbol indicating that this tile is special.Joker tiles… More, before reorganizing to match the section on the card they are working on.
- See the Supplemental Guidance – Understanding the NMJL Card section for detailed explanations on card sections, tile groupingsA collection of tiles that consist of identical tiles in different quantities and/or tiles arranged in an aesthetic manner. A winning… More, and additional hand information.