This tool helps you find all matching patterns from the 2025 National Mah Jongg League card based on the tiles in your hand. Simply select your tiles and discover which winning patterns you can complete!
You can browse the sections below to learn how everything works, or if you're ready to jump in, start using the Hand Analyzer right away!
A few suggestions to help you get the most value from Mahjong Hand Helper.
Use it between games. After a hand, quickly enter the tiles you had to see what other options were available.
Study categories one at a time. Use the Pattern Catalog to focus on one section of the card (e.g., Quints or Any Like Numbers).
Check suit variants carefully. The "View all variants" modal shows every legal suit combination for that pattern.
Start with fewer tiles. If you're overwhelmed, try entering just part of your hand to see which categories it leans toward.
Combine with real play. This tool is meant to support, not replace, your table instincts and experience.
1 Understanding the Interface ▼
The application has three main tabs for navigation:
Navigation Tabs
How ToHand AnalyzerPattern Catalog
How To - You are here! Learn how to use the application
Hand Analyzer - Enter your tiles and find matching patterns
Pattern Catalog - Browse all 2025 card patterns organized by category. Use the powerful Search feature to enter melds you have in your hand and discover which patterns you can go for!
The White Dragon (DW) can also be used as "0" (zero) in 2025 year patterns. It displays as "0" in the tile catalog.
3 Adding Tiles to Your Hand ▼
In the Hand Analyzer, you'll see the Tile Catalog at the bottom of the left panel. Click on any tile to add it to your hand.
Your Tiles Section
Concealed Hand
Click tiles in the catalog below to add them. Click a tile in your hand to remove it.
Click a tile in the catalog to add it to your hand
Click a tile in your hand to remove it
Maximum 14 regular tiles including Dragons, Winds, Flowers and Jokers
Use the Clear button to remove all tiles
4 Called/Exposed Tiles ▼
When you call a tile (take another player's discard), those tiles become "exposed" and visible to other players. This affects which patterns you can complete.
Called/Exposed Tiles Section
Called/Exposed Tiles(3 tiles)
These 3 Red Dragons were called from another player's discard
How to mark tiles as called:
First, add the tiles normally to your Concealed Hand
Then hover over the tile you wish to call and click the down arrow (↓) to move it to Called/Exposed Tiles
To move a called tile back to Concealed, hover over it and click the up arrow (↑)
Tile Controls
Concealed Tile
×
↓
×Remove tile
↓Move to Called
Called Tile
×
↑
×Remove tile
↑Move to Concealed
Hover over any tile in your hand to reveal these controls
Concealed patterns (marked with "C") are only available if you have NO called tiles. Once you call any tile, concealed patterns are hidden from results.
Called tiles must match EXACTLY in the final pattern. If you call a Pung (3 tiles), you can only complete patterns that use exactly 3 of that tile, not 4 (Kong).
5 Using Jokers ▼
Jokers are wild tiles that can substitute for other tiles, but with important restrictions:
✓
Jokers CAN Replace
Tiles in groups of 3 or more (Pungs, Kongs, Quints)
✗
Jokers CANNOT Replace
Singles or Pairs (groups of 1 or 2 tiles)
Joker Example
Two Jokers substitute for two 5-Bams to complete a Kong (group of 4)
Some patterns explicitly prohibit jokers:
No Jokers Pattern
Lavender background indicates tiles where jokers are NOT allowed (singles and pairs)
6 Finding Matching Patterns ▼
After adding your tiles, click the "Find Patterns" button to discover which 2025 card patterns you can complete.
Max tiles away - Only show patterns you can complete within X more tiles
7 Reading Pattern Results ▼
Each matching pattern displays as a card showing all the information you need:
FF111222233333
Quints #1
40 pts
4 tiles away
FF122333122333
Consecutive Run #8
C 30 pts
2 tiles away
Concealed
Pattern name - The tile combination needed (color-coded by suit)
Points - How many points this pattern is worth
Tiles away - How many more tiles you need to complete it
"C" or Concealed badge - Must keep all tiles hidden (no calls) for bonus points
Description - Additional details about the pattern
Each pattern card tells you which tiles you already have (highlighted) and which tiles you still need (grayed out). Hover over the card to show which tile groups allow jokers vs. which do not.
Example: Matching Tiles
Suppose you have this hand:
?
?
?
The pattern match card for FF 111 2222 33333 show the breakdown as:
FF111222233333
Tiles you have
Tiles you need (3 away)
8 Changing Tile Display Style ▼
You can switch between two tile display styles using the dropdown in the tile catalog:
Simple Style
375
Colored text - clean and easy to read
Classic Style
Traditional mahjong tile images
Your style preference is saved and will persist across sessions.
9 Browsing the Pattern Catalog ▼
The Pattern Catalog tab lets you browse all 2025 NMJL card patterns organized by category. It features a powerful Search engine that helps you find patterns based on the melds in your hand!
2025
Year-themed patterns
2468
Even number patterns
Any Like Numbers
Same number patterns
Quints
5-of-a-kind patterns
Consecutive Run
Sequential patterns
13579
Odd number patterns
Winds-Dragons
Honor tile patterns
369
Multiples of 3 patterns
Singles and Pairs
No jokers allowed!
Search Example
Here's an example of searching for patterns containing FFF and 3333:
Search
FFF 3333
Consecutive Run 3 patterns found
FFF333344445555
25 pts
FFF111122223333
25 pts
FFF222233334444
25 pts
The search finds all patterns containing your melds, regardless of order!
Try searching for melds you have in your hand to quickly discover which patterns you can aim for.
Toggle Options
Toggle Controls
Show Concealed
Show Suit Variants
Show Concealed - When enabled (default), displays concealed-only patterns. Turn this off if you have already called tiles and want to hide patterns you can no longer play.
Show Suit Variants - When enabled, expands each pattern to show all possible suit color combinations. For example, a "3 suits" pattern will display separate variants for Bams/Craks/Dots, Bams/Dots/Craks, etc. This helps you see exactly which suit arrangement matches your hand.
Suit Variants Example: 2468 #5
Here's how pattern 2468 #5 looks with the "Show Suit Variants" toggle off vs. on:
Toggle OFF
2468 #5
1 variant
FFF22446668888
Any 1 Suit
Toggle ON
2468 #5
3 variants
FFF22446668888
FFF22446668888
FFF22446668888
Any 1 Suit
With variants expanded, you can quickly find the exact suit color that matches your tiles.
! Quick Reference ▼
Tile Groups
Single - 1 tile
Pair - 2 identical tiles
Pung - 3 identical tiles
Kong - 4 identical tiles
Quint - 5 identical tiles
Joker Rules
Can replace tiles in Pungs, Kongs, Quints
Cannot replace Singles or Pairs
Some patterns prohibit jokers entirely
Up to 8 jokers in a standard set
Dragons
DR - Red Dragon
DG - Green Dragon
DW/0 - White Dragon (also "zero")
Keyboard Shortcuts
D/B/C then 1-9 - Add suit tile
N/E/W/S - Add wind
R/G/0 - Add dragon
F/J - Add flower/joker
Enter - Find patterns
Backspace - Remove last tile
? - Show all shortcuts
Ready to Play?
Head over to the Hand Analyzer to start finding your winning patterns!