The best hands on the NMJL 2025 card

It’s no secret that I am a little annoyed with the NMJL after the misprint on the 2025 card. As I write this in late May, I still haven’t received my corrected card (if you have no idea what I’m talking about, read this first).

This is American mahjong and, for the past 88 years, NMJL has been the authority. I am still using their cards primarily. I have never been an exclusive NMJL card player, but for now, it is my primary card despite the erroneous cards.

So what lines are my favorite right now? After playing the 2025 NMJL card for over two months in person and online, these are the best hands on the NMJL 2025 card:

FFFF 2025 222 222 (Any 3 suits, like pungs 2s or 5s in Opp suits)

If I happen to have 2s, 5s, one soap and flowers, I like to keep this as a flexible hand. Jokers can be used in every sequence besides the 2025, and the pungs make it easier to complete than a kong. I also like that this hand can use 2s or 5s for the like pungs. Remember, “like” in American mahjong means “alike” so the pungs must both be 2s or 5s.

A winning hand on the NMJL 2025 mahjong card.

222 4444 6666 8888

-or-

222 4444 666 8888 (any 1 or two suits)

This hand is one of my instant classics. As soon as I reveal even number tiles without any flowers or dragons, I land here. The Charleston is a breeze because I am looking only for 2468 with one or two suits. Jokers can be used in any section, which also makes this an easier hand to win on the 2025 NMJL card.

FFFF 2468 222 222 (any 3 suits, like pungs any even no)

If I have flowers and even numbers, I am drawn to this hand. It reminds me a lot of the FF 1111 NEWS 1111 from the 2024 NMJL card under any like numbers, which was also a favorite. If I can get the 2468 complete in the first Charleston, the 2 sets of like pungs can be any even number. This hand is similar to hands under any like numbers. I think 8s aren’t well represented in this card, so I find it east to collect 8s in my like pungs without any others looking for those tiles.

FFFF 1111 22 3333

-or-

FFFF 1111 22 3333 (any 1 or three suits, any 3 consec. nos)

Ironically, this hand is the error on the NJML card. The only double I need to complete the middle number, but it is easy to pivot because it is any run. All the other melds can have jokers. I have won many hands using the infamous sequence that was misprinted. I love a flexible hand!

This is the line error on the NMJL card in 2025

112345 1111 1111 (any 5 consecutive nos, pair any no in run, kongs match pair)

Admittedly, this is a confusing hand to read… but I LOVE IT! I think is most like a Chinese chow (email me and correct me if I’m wrong), which is unusual on an American mahjong card. I find that I often get a long run that doesn’t fit anywhere. With this hand I finally have a way to use it. And finding those kongs is easier than you think. They must be alike, but it seems to work out!

NNNN 1 11 111 SSSS (like odd nos in 3 suits)

I’m originally from the Windy City so maybe that is why I am drawn to these sequences! The like odd numbers can be ANY odd numbers (but alike). The kongs of N and S can use jokers, so players can be flexible. This one is my favorite under the section, but if I need to pivot, I move to the line directly beneath it with E, W and evens. If I don’t want to think very hard, this is a great sequence!

These are my favorites from the 2025 NMJL card. Email me if you have any other solid hands that you think I should keep in my arsenal this year at missymahjong@gmail.com.