Right vs. wrong at a glance
We use real vector tile faces so they stay sharp when enlarged. Below we show how point value is computed — each line’s value is printed on your current year’s official NMJL card (these are official points, not cash).
On a self-draw each of the three opponents pays the line value (25 × 2 = 50) for a total of 150 points; on a discard the winner collects 100 points — the discarder pays 50 (double) and the other two pay 25 each.
The number on the line is the value per opponent, not the self-draw total. A self-draw is paid by all three — don’t undercount.
Scoring: you read it, you do not compute it
There is no han, no fu, no fan table. Every legal hand has its value printed on the card next to it. Scoring is a lookup, which is exactly why a beginner can play a competent game on day one.
The value ladder
| Value | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 25 | The simplest hands. Exposed play is allowed. Most lines on the card sit here. |
| 30 | Exposed with at least three pairs, or concealed with singles and pungs. |
| 35 | Concealed, with multiple pairs and pungs. |
| 40–50 | Harder hands, frequently concealed, often spanning two or three suits. |
| 60–75 | The hardest patterns — mostly concealed-only, and much of Singles & Pairs. |
Concealment is already priced in. A hand printed at 50 is already a concealed hand — there is no separate concealed bonus to add on top of it.
Who pays, and how much
| Situation | Payment |
|---|---|
| Won off a discard | The player who threw the winning tile pays double. The other two each pay single. |
| Won off the wall self-pick |
All three opponents pay double. |
| Wall game no winner |
Nobody pays. Shuffle and redeal. |
| Incorrect call | The hand is dead. Penalties vary by table — confirm house rules first. |
Self-picking pays 50% more than winning the same value off a discard. That is why a careful player sometimes declines a claim and waits for the draw.
Two worked examples
| Hand value | Won off a discard | Won off the wall | You collect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 points | Thrower pays 50 · two others pay 25 each | All three pay 50 each | 100 / 150 |
| 30 points | Thrower pays 60 · two others pay 30 each | All three pay 60 each | 120 / 180 |
| 50 points | Thrower pays 100 · two others pay 50 each | All three pay 100 each | 200 / 300 |
The jokerless double
One rule printed on the card changes the arithmetic directly. If you declare Mah Jongg with zero jokers in your hand, the hand's value is doubled and paid by all. Singles & Pairs is the one listed exception, where the double does not apply. A 25-point line played jokerless is treated as a 50-point hand, and on a self-draw all three opponents pay the doubled value.
On a discard the doubled value is paid by every player who pays. A few tables read that case narrowly, so confirm it at your table before the game starts.
House rules to confirm before the first hand
Clubs and home tables sometimes add rules that are not on the NMJL card: penalty pots for incorrect calls, agreed minimum-exposure rules, and side bets. The jokerless double is different; it is printed on the card, so treat it as standard unless your table says otherwise.
These numbers are a restatement of the card — verify before you play
The value ladder, the payment rules and the jokerless double above are this site’s plain-language summary of what the current NMJL card prints for every hand. They stand on their own even if an external file moves. For the full codified tournament standard — card on display, score verification, the tightened Charleston — see the Standardized Tournament Rules (R8) in our sources list.