Questions
About this sheet.
How do you keep score in casual mahjong?
Most groups skip the National Mah Jongg League card values and use flat points instead. A common starting point is 2 points for a mahjong and 1 point for each bonus the group agrees on. Write your numbers in at the top of the sheet so everyone plays the same game.
What bonuses do people usually use?
Winning without jokers and winning concealed are the two most common. After that it varies: two wins in a row, a singles and pairs hand, winning on a tile you drew yourself, winning on the last tile of the wall. Rare ones are the fun ones, since a bonus that fires every third hand stops feeling like an achievement. There's a longer guide to American mahjong house rules here, including what to settle before you deal.
Is this score sheet free to print?
Yes. Download it and print as many copies as you like, for your own game nights or for a group you host. If you'd rather let something else do the adding, that's what we're building.
How many hands does one sheet hold?
Six hands across up to ten players, with a running total column and a line for the night's winner. Six rather than twelve is deliberate: a two hour night runs about three hands, and twelve columns leaves each one too narrow to write in.
Is this an American mah jongg score card?
Yes. It is built for American mah jongg, the four player game usually played with the National Mah Jongg League card. This printable sheet does not reproduce the card or its point values, because it is for groups scoring by their own house rules. The Mahj Report app also has a separate official NMJL scoring mode, using the values from your own current card, for groups who want to play it that way instead.
Can you use it if you do not play for money?
Yes, and most groups using it do not. The sheet tracks points rather than payouts, so the only thing at stake is who wins the night.
What if we want a season, not just a night?
That's exactly where paper gives up. Keeping score for one evening works fine. Keeping a running season across months, with people missing weeks, is where it falls apart. That's what the app is for.
