Flowers, Jokers, Winds, Dragons
In American Mah Jongg, not all tiles belong to the three numbered suits.
Flowers, Jokers, Winds, and Dragons are special tiles that follow their own rules and appear frequently across the NMJL card.
Understanding how these tiles work is essential for reading the card correctly and building legal hands.
Flowers
Flowers are special tiles that appear in many NMJL hands.
How Flowers Work:
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Flowers are not part of any suit.
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The NMJL card specifies exactly how many flowers are required in a hand.
Flowers are common in many hands across the card, and they appear in sets of all different sizes.
Jokers
American Mah Jongg is based on 8 Jokers. Jokers are a defining feature of American Mah Jongg and add flexibility to hand building.
Where Jokers May Be Used:
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Pungs (three of a kind)
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Kongs (four of a kind)
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Quints (five of a kind)
Where Jokers May NOT Be Used:
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Singles
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Pairs
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Groupings such as NEWS or 2025
Jokers act as substitutes for missing tiles in permitted groupings, but they must follow all NMJL rules regarding exposure and swapping.
Joker Swapping
A player may exchange a natural tile for a joker from another player’s exposed grouping under specific conditions.
Rules for swapping:
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The swap must be made during the swapping player’s turn.
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The swapping player must have the natural tile that replaces the joker.
Once a joker is swapped out, it returns to the swapping player’s rack.
Winds
There are four wind tiles in American Mah Jongg:
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North
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South
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East
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West
How Winds Work:
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Winds are not part of any suit.
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Winds often appear as pungs, kongs, or pairs.
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Winds are commonly used in the Winds and Dragons section of the NMJL card.
Winds may not substitute for suited tiles, and suited tiles may not substitute for winds.
Dragons
There are three dragon tiles:
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Red Dragon
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Green Dragon
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White Dragon
How Dragons Relate to Suits:
Dragons must match the suit of the grouping they accompany.
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Red Dragons match Craks
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Green Dragons match Bams
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White Dragons match Dots
This suit matching is an important detail when reading the NMJL card.
White Dragons and Zero Hands
In some year-based hands, the White Dragon may represent zero, but only when the NMJL card explicitly shows this.
Outside of those specific hands:
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White Dragons are treated as dragons
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They must follow normal dragon rules for suit matching
Always rely on the current card for guidance.
Why These Tiles Matter
Flowers, Jokers, Winds, and Dragons appear throughout the NMJL card and are often the source of confusion for players.
Understanding how they function helps players:
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Build legal hands
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Avoid dead hands
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Use jokers correctly
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Read the card more accurately
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Play consistently across different tables
Common Mistakes With Special Tiles
Some frequent errors include:
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Using jokers in pairs or as part of groupings like NEWS or 2025
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Treating winds as suited tiles
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Forgetting dragon–suit relationships
Clear understanding prevents these mistakes.
What to Read Next
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Understanding Sets: Pair, Pung, Kong, Quint
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American Mah Jongg Rules
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How to Read the NMJL Card
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FAQ
Published by the American Mah Jongg Association — the trusted home for American Mah Jongg players.