NMJL 2025 Card Snafu

Yikes! There's been quite a kerfuffle about the 2025 card and the printing error! Deep breath everyone. How about doing what I suggest to students when their hand isn't coming together? "Fall back, regroup and move forward. Or just play defensively- it's one game of many."

Let's remember all of the great things the NMJL has been doing for American Mahjong for the past 80+ years!  Their dedicated team of volunteers have successfully, year-after-year created amazing, well thought out, challenging, balanced cards so that roughly a bazillion people of every skill level can enjoy this great game. 

And this year's card is amazing- regardless of the two relatively minor typos. Remember, the words in the parentheses are the actual instructions, and there are no typos there. This year there are dozens of new hands, twenty-eight unique patterned hands, and even a zero in a non-year hand! 

Keep in mind that the League is also a nonprofit sending substantial amounts to charities every year. That means collectively we are supporting and helping people in need, to the tune of over a million dollars! Well done NMJL (and us!)!

All this said, is the NMJL perfect? Nope. Anyone who's visited their website can attest to that. Nobody would mind if they edged into the 21st century, added an email address for questions, or upped the volunteer staffing during the time the card is being mailed. Or just added more people to answer the phones during crunch time.

Mahjong players are proud of our sense of community and rather than freak outs and fussing, how about we pitch in to make the League better? We can help to make the changes without blame. You can send a thoughtfully worded letter, making real suggestions. Maybe even volunteer yourself!

And in the meantime- grab a sharpie and fix your card!  Ta-da!  All better.

Just one more thing, the League is correcting the card and will be reprinting and resending. When you get your corrected card please DO NOT throw away your current card. The great folks at Modern Mahjong are compiling lists of groups, charities, and non profits who will put them to good use. So in the continued spirit of community please watch this website or Modern Mahjong for further info. No sharpies needed.