Solo American Mah Jongg: Picking Your Card Before You Play the Computer

Which Mah Jongg card do you use when playing against the computer?

When you start a single-player game at Friends at Mahjong, you choose between two cards before the first tile is dealt: Friends at Mahjong's own card, or the National Mah Jongg League's 2026 card if you already own a copy.

Two options, side by side

Friends at Mahjong's own card lists 51 hands, written specifically for this table. It's there by default so you can start playing immediately without needing your own NMJL card.

Your own NMJL card — if you have the National Mah Jongg League's 2026 card in front of you — lists 57 hands, and you can select it instead. Friends at Mahjong doesn't sell the NMJL card itself; the option is simply there for players who already purchased one and want to use it as their reference while playing here.

Friends at Mahjong is an independent teaching and gaming resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Mah Jongg League.

Why this matters if you already play with a group

If your regular game uses the 2026 NMJL card and you have it in front of you, you can bring that same card to your solo practice sessions here rather than learning a second set of hands. If you're newer to the game, or you want a reference while you get the hang of calling tiles and the Charleston, Friends at Mahjong's own card is there by default.

Setting hand length to match your time

Card choice isn't the only thing you set before a single-player game. You also choose how long the game runs:

• A free game is one hand — about a quarter of an hour, no account required for your very first one.
• Members can choose four-, eight-, or sixteen-hand games, for a longer practice session.

You can also set time-to-call and opponent pace, and your choices are remembered on your device for next time.

Starting a game

Your first game needs no account. After that, creating a free account unlocks four more free games — five in total, no card on file, no expiration. When you're ready for ongoing play, a membership is what keeps the table open; current plans and what each includes are on the membership page.

The bottom line

Whether you're practicing between sessions with your regular group or learning the game from scratch, Friends at Mahjong's single-player table lets you choose between its own card and your own 2026 NMJL card and set a game length that fits the time you have — against computer opponents, whenever you're free to play.