American Mahjong Card Sections Explained
The annual American mahjong card groups winning hands into named sections. Those section names are not separate rule systems; they are pattern families that help players scan for hands built around similar numbers, honors, or group sizes.
Common card sections
- Year
- Hands that use the digits of the current year, often mixed with flowers, dragons, or grouped numbers.
- 2468
- Even-number patterns built from 2, 4, 6, and 8 in one or more suits.
- Any Like Numbers
- Hands that repeat the same chosen number across different suits.
- Quints
- Hands containing groups of five identical tiles, which generally require at least one joker.
- Consecutive Run
- Hands based on neighboring numbers such as 3-4-5 or 6-7-8.
- 13579
- Odd-number patterns using 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9.
- Winds and Dragons
- Honor-heavy hands centered on compass winds and dragon tiles.
- Singles and Pairs
- Concealed hands composed only of single tiles and pairs, with no joker substitution.
How to scan the card efficiently
- Inventory pairs, repeated numbers, flowers, winds, and dragons first.
- Compare two or three sections that match those strengths.
- Read suit requirements and color changes exactly.
- Check whether the hand is exposed or concealed.
- Count hard-to-find pairs and singles before committing.
Section name versus exact hand
The section gives a direction
It narrows the kind of structure you are considering, such as even numbers or consecutive values.
The line gives the legal hand
Only the exact printed line determines suits, group sizes, tile count, exposure status, and whether the hand can win.
Card-section questions
Do the sections stay the same every year?
Many familiar section families return, but the exact hands and arrangements change. Always use the current card.
Should beginners study one section at a time?
That can help during practice, but live play still requires comparing several sections before choosing a hand.
Which section is easiest?
No section is always easiest. The best choice is the one that matches the rack with the fewest difficult gaps.