(by Julie & Philippe, ilovemahj.com)

The notes on the 2026 NMJL card are, for the most part, nice and clear - and we’re happy to report there are no printing errors this year.

That said… there are a few hands that can make you pause mid-game and think, “Wait… how exactly does this work?” 

So we’ve rounded up the key clarifications and decoding tips to save you that head-scratching moment at the table:

2026

LINE 2 (2026 DDD 2222 DDD)

• The “0” is neutral, so the four single tiles can be in any suit, with matching dragons

• The kong can be either 2s or 6s, with matching dragons

2468

LINE 6 (2 4 6 8 2222 D 2222 D)

• Kongs can be 2s, 4s, 6s, or 8s

• Both kongs must be the same number

• Single dragons must match the suit used for each set of kongs

LINE 7 (FFF 2 4 6 8 FFF 2222)

• Kong can be 2s, 4s, 6s, or 8s

• Two flower pungs must be called separately (not as a sextet)

ANY LIKE NUMBERS

LINE 1 (1111 FFFFFF 1111)

• Includes a sextet of flowers (6 of a kind)

• You must have 6 flowers (or equivalent including jokers)

• You may call a discarded flower to complete your grouping of 6

• The sextet cannot be split into two pungs of flowers

LINE 3 (FF 1111 11 1111 DD)

• Even though dragons are shown in green, the note says “any dragon”

• Dragons do not have to match the kong

QUNITS

LINE 3 (11111 44444 DDDD)

• A very flexible hand:
   - Allows any two numbers in the same suit

CONSECUTIVE RUN

LINE 2(b) (FFF 1111 234 5555)

• First and last numbers in the run must be in the same suit

LINE 3 (11 22 111 222 3333)

• The first two numbers repeat

LINE 6 (1111 FFFFFF 2222)

• Another flower sextet (6 of a kind)

• Must have 6 flowers (or equivalent with jokers), or complete with a discard

• The sextet cannot be split into two pungs of flowers

LINE 8 (1 22 333 1 22 333 44)

• The first three numbers repeat in a second suit

13579

LINE 4 (11 3 5 7 9 1111 1111)

• Starts with all five odd numbers

• Any one of these numbers can become the pair

• The two kongs must match the pair

         Example: 1 3 55 7 9 5555 5555

WINDS & DRAGONS

LINE 2 (1 2 3 4 DDD DDD DDDD)

• Note says “any 3 dragons”

• Dragon groupings are independent of the suit used for the run

• The kong of dragons does not need to match the suit used for the run 

LINE 5 (FFF NNNN FFF DDDD)

• Any wind (not just North)

• Any dragon

• Flower pungs must be called separately (do not call and expose 6 flowers)

LINE 6 (1 N 2 EE 3 WWW 4 SSSS)

• Only the exact numbers shown can be used

369

LINE 3 (FFF 33 666 99 DDDD or FFF 33 666 99 DDDD)

• Could have been written once with note stating “any dragon”

• Same hand, just shown twice on the card

LINE 5 (33 6 9 3333 3333)

• Starts with 3, 6, 9

• Any one of these numbers can become the pair

• Kongs must match the number used for the pair

        Example: 3 66 9 6666 6666 and 3 6 99 9999 9999

If you would like us to clarify any other hands on the NMJL 2026 card, please send a message to info@ilovemahj.com and we’ll add it to this list.

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