American mahjong scoring and payment, with examples
American mahjong scoring is simpler than it looks: the card tells you what a hand is worth, and three rules decide who pays how much.
Checked and updated October 31, 2026
Where the numbers come from
Every hand on the card has a value printed on the right, typically 25 or more. Harder hands, and concealed hands, are worth more. That value is the starting point for every payment.
The three payment rules
- Win on a discard: the player who discarded the winning tile pays double the value. The other two pay the value.
- Self-drawn win (you picked the winning tile from the wall): all three players pay double.
- No jokers in the winning hand: double again. Singles-and-pairs hands, which never contain jokers, are commonly excluded from this bonus.
A wall game, where nobody wins, pays nothing.
Worked examples with a 25-point hand
| How it was won | Discarder | Each other player | Winner collects |
|---|---|---|---|
| On a discard, with jokers | 50 | 25 | 100 |
| Self-drawn, with jokers | n/a | 50 | 150 |
| On a discard, no jokers | 100 | 50 | 200 |
| Self-drawn, no jokers | n/a | 100 | 300 |
Many groups treat points as cents, so a 25-point hand won on a discard costs the discarder 50 cents.
Payment calculator
House rules you may meet
- Exposure penalties: some groups make a player who discards the tile that lets someone win with three exposures pay for everyone.
- Penalties for errors: some groups charge a player who declares Mah Jongg wrongly.
- Points instead of money: track a running total on paper across an afternoon.
- Other cards, other bonuses: alternative cards like The Big Card add their own bonuses.
Agree on money and penalties before the first hand.
Common questions
How do you keep score in American mahjong?
Each hand on the card has a value, usually 25 to 75 or more. When someone wins, the other players pay them based on that value and how the hand was won. Groups pay in coins, chips or points on a score sheet.
Who pays double in American mahjong?
The player whose discard gave the winner Mah Jongg pays double; the other two pay the hand value. If the winner drew the tile themselves, all three pay double.
Do jokerless hands pay more?
Yes. A winning hand with no jokers doubles the payment. Hands from the singles-and-pairs section, which can never use jokers, are commonly excluded.
Does East pay or receive double?
Not under current standard rules. East plays like everyone else for payment.
What happens in a wall game?
If the wall runs out with no winner, nobody pays and the next hand is dealt.
Sources: Tom Sloper on NMJL payment rules (quoting the card's own rules); Wikipedia: American mahjong; The Mahjong Line on scoring and money.