Can you use Jokers in a NEWS grouping?

No. Under NMJL rules, NEWS consists of four single distinct tiles (North, East, West, South). Jokers can NEVER be used for single tiles or pairs; they are only permitted in combinations of 3 or more (Pungs, Kongs, Quints).

What dragon pairs with what suit on the NMJL card?

Red Dragon pairs with Craks, Green Dragon pairs with Bams, and White Dragon (Soap) pairs with Dots.

How many total Wind tiles are in an American Mahjong set?

There are 16 total Wind tiles: 4 North, 4 East, 4 West, and 4 South tiles.

2026 NMJL Winds & Dragons Section: NEWS Patterns & Suit Formulas

Complete tactical guide to mastering the honor tile patterns on the 2026 National Mah Jongg League card.

Anatomy of the Winds & Dragons Section

The Winds and Dragons section leverages the 16 compass tiles (North, East, West, South) and the 12 dragon tiles (Red, Green, White/Soap). Recognizing early Wind pairs during the deal enables decisive Charleston commitments and high-frequency defensive discards.

The NEWS Pattern Rules

When the card calls for N-E-W-S, each wind represents an individual single tile. Because singles can never contain Jokers, you must accumulate all four natural tiles without wild card assistance. Never pass North, East, West, or South tiles blindly if your hand exhibits honor tile density.

Dragon Suit Correspondence Matrix

Dragon tiles correspond strictly to their respective suit families: Red Dragon aligns with Craks, Green Dragon with Bams, and White Dragon (Soap) with Dots. When a card line shows dragons in matching colors, substitutions across suit families are completely illegal.

Tactical Decision Matrix: Honor Tile Playbook

Honor Combination Dealt	Recommended Strategic Action	Key Legal Requirement
3+ Mixed Wind Singles	Target NEWS Consecutive or Wind Pung hands.	Must draw 4th wind naturally (no Jokers).
Matching Dragon Pair + Suit	Align with matching suit family (Red/Crak, Green/Bam, White/Dot).	Ensure suit matching formula is strictly preserved.
Multiple Wind Pungs Dealt	Target Exposed Wind/Dragon Lines.	Call discards aggressively for Pungs/Kongs.

Defensive Strategy & Passing Protocol

Honor tiles are frequently passed in the opening Charleston pass. If an opponent calls an early Wind exposure, immediately halt passing remaining tiles of that specific direction. Preserve safe honor discards for late-game defensive maneuvers.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Winds & Dragons

Q: Can you use Jokers in a NEWS grouping?: A: No. Under NMJL rules, NEWS consists of four single distinct tiles. Jokers can NEVER be used for single tiles or pairs.
Q: What dragon pairs with what suit on the NMJL card?: A: Red Dragon pairs with Craks, Green Dragon pairs with Bams, and White Dragon (Soap) pairs with Dots.