It’s every Mah Jongg player’s favorite time of the year! The NMJL’s 2025 cards are arriving in mailboxes all over the country, and just when we were all getting comfortable and feeling as though we’d finally mastered the 2024 card, it’s time to learn a new one.
No matter your level of experience, learning the new card each year can be tough and somewhat intimidating. But we’re here to help.
According to the deep-dive by our friends and annual contributors, Julie and Philippe at “I Love Mahj,” the new card features 1,002 playable hands, revamped math tricks and a few “gotchas” that might trip up even experienced players. If you’re ready to level up your game (or just don’t want to be left behind), this year’s Mah Jongg card deserves a closer look. You can read their full breakdown here.
What’s fresh, what’s familiar
The 2025 card carries over just five hands from 2024, meaning most players are essentially starting from scratch. But that doesn’t mean there’s no logic to the layout. According to the experts at I Love Mahj, players will notice subtle—but important—changes in patterns, point structures, and flexibility.
CR/7 is the “headline act”
If you’re going to remember one hand this year, make it CR/7. This one throws together a five-number run with a wild “pick-your-own pair,” plus matching kongs based on that pair. Think of it like a Mah Jongg choose-your-own-adventure. It’s the kind of creative twist you usually see on Gladys Grad’s Siamese card, not the National Mah Jongg League’s.
Consecutive Run is king
With 291 playable hands, the Consecutive Run section dominates the card this year. If you’re new to the game—or just overwhelmed—start there. It’s your fastest route to finding something playable and flexible.
Math hands are hiding in plain sight
No dedicated Addition/Multiplication section this year, but don’t be fooled. Math-style hands still exist—they’ve just snuck into other areas like 2468 and 13579. You won’t need a calculator, but you might need to slow down and study the patterns.
More hands, fewer quick wins
Sure, 1,002 playable combinations sounds generous. But this year’s card is tougher overall. There are more single tiles, fewer gimme hands, and less wiggle room with jokers in some key pair-heavy hands. Expect a few more wall games and a lot more thinking.
Printing errors? Yep, they happened
If something looks off, you’re not imagining it. Some early print runs included color issues and notation mistakes—especially in the 2468 and CR sections. Reprints are underway, but it’s worth double-checking your card so you’re not confused mid-game.
Watch the Winds
In 2024, Winds were everywhere. This year? Not so much. Tile demand data shows Winds are used far less in 2025, but they still appear in unexpected places—including Quints and the 13579 section. Consider this a friendly warning: don’t sleep on your Easts and Wests.
Eight hands that score 30 points
If you’re a tournament player—or just like to keep score—pay attention to the eight open hands that score 30 points. They’re trickier than the 25-point options but could be your ticket to bragging rights or victory snacks.
Want to learn the fastest way to memorize the new card—and which hands give you the best bang for your Mahj buck? You’ll want to read the full analysis from Julie and Philippe at I Love Mahj.
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