To score American mahjong, start with the value printed beside the completed hand on the current card. That is the base hand value. The way the player wins then determines how much each opponent pays.
The simple version is this: a win on another player’s discard makes that player pay double. A self picked win makes everyone pay double. A qualifying Jokerless hand doubles the payment again.
Start with the value printed on the card
Every valid hand on the current card has an assigned value. Once a player declares Mah Jongg, first confirm that the 14 tiles match the chosen line exactly. Then read the printed value for that line.
For example, if the card lists the hand at 25 points, 25 is the base value. Do not double it yet. First identify how the winning tile was obtained.
If reading the card or matching the hand still feels unfamiliar, our American mahjong guide for beginners explains the basic equipment and setup.
Who pays what after Mah Jongg
When the winning tile was another player’s discard, the discarder pays twice the base value. The other two players each pay the base value.
Using the 25 point example, the discarder pays 50. Each other player pays 25.
When the winning tile was picked from the wall, all three opponents pay twice the base value. For a 25 point hand, each player pays 50.
A win completed through a Joker exchange is treated like a self picked win, so all three opponents pay double the base value.
When the Jokerless bonus applies
A completed hand with no Jokers receives another doubling. If a 25 point Jokerless hand wins on a discard, the discarder pays 100 and each other player pays 50. If that Jokerless hand is self picked, every opponent pays 100.
The Jokerless bonus does not apply to hands in the Singles and Pairs section because those hands already prohibit Jokers and their printed values account for that restriction.
A hand can still qualify for the bonus when an exposed Joker was exchanged before Mah Jongg, as long as the final exposed hand contains no Joker. For the underlying Joker rules, see our American mahjong Joker guide.
Keep casual scoring simple
Groups can use chips or keep a running total with paper and pencil. Start every player with the same point total, record payments after each win, and agree on the scoring method before the first deal.
Tournament organizers may use their own score sheets, round values, and procedures. Always follow the event packet when playing competitively. Our first tournament guide explains what else changes outside a casual game.
The American Mah Jongg Association hand value and payment guide provides the detailed payment rules summarized here.
A quick scoring check before the next deal
Confirm the exact hand, note the printed value, identify how the final tile arrived, and check whether the completed hand qualifies as Jokerless. Those four steps settle most casual scores.
The card determines the score, but clear, readable tiles make the winning hand easier to verify. The Beach Set keeps full size American mahjong faces easy to see while making the set much easier to bring to the next table.