THE CARD

Why Everyone Needs the Identical Card? I

In American Mahjong, the card is not just a personal reference sheet; it is the official rulebook and the foundation of the game. For a fair and functional game, every single player at the table must use the exact same edition:

• Standardized Winning Hands: The card defines the only valid combinations allowed for the game. Everyone must chase the same goals.
• Defensive Strategy: A huge part of Mahjong is guessing what your opponents are building. If players used different cards, you couldn't predict or block their moves.
• The "Charleston" Exchange: The tile-swapping phase at the start relies on a shared logic. It only works if all players are operating under the same set of rules and symbol combinations.
• Fair Group Play: To run smooth games across multiple tables, everyone must compete using identical hands and point values.