In our last Mahjong Made Simple lesson, we learned how to read the card. Now comes the question I hear from so many beginners: How do I know which line to play?
When you’re looking at a rack full of tiles and a card full of possibilities, it’s easy to feel like you need to read every single line. I like to give beginners a shortcut. Start by looking for what some players call Super Hands.
Watch the lesson on Instagram: How to Choose a Line on the Mahjong Card
What is a Super Hand in American mahjong?
“Super Hand” is an unofficial nickname for a hand where every group can use a joker. These hands are made entirely of groups of three or more matching tiles:
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Pung: three matching tiles
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Kong: four matching tiles
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Quint: five matching tiles
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Sextet: six matching tiles
Here’s the quick way to spot one on the card: Look for a line with no singles and no pairs.
Why I like Super Hands for beginners:
Jokers can help complete a pung, kong, quint, or sextet. Singles and pairs have to be made with the actual tiles. So if a line calls for a pair of 5 Dots and you have one 5 Dot and a joker, you still need another 5 Dot to make that pair.
With a Super Hand, every group gives your jokers somewhere to go. That gives you more flexibility as you draw tiles and build your hand.
An example from the 2026 card:
Take a look at the fourth line under Consecutive Run. It has two pungs and two kongs using four consecutive numbers. The line gives you options for one or two suits.
Before you even decide which numbers or suits to play, look at the group sizes: three, three, four, four. That’s how you can tell at a glance that every group can use a joker. Then read the notes beside the line and see which version fits the tiles you already have.
How to choose a Super Hand that fits your tiles:
The next time you’re deciding what to play, start with your rack. Do you have several matching tiles? Are there numbers close together that could work in a consecutive run? Use those clues to narrow down which lines you look at first.
When you find a possible line, ask yourself:
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Which groups have I already started?
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Do my numbers and suits fit the instructions beside the line?
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Where could my jokers help?
If a Super Hand fits what you’ve already started, give it a closer look. If you’re already well on your way to another hand, keep that option open too. The shortcut is there to help you narrow your choices when the card feels overwhelming.
Get the free 2026 Super Hands Cheat Sheet
I went through the 2026 card and pulled together the Super Hands for you, including hands with pungs and kongs, qualifying quint hands, and even six-flower sextet hands.
This is a Super Hands Cheat Sheet for the 2026 NMJL Card. Keep it handy for your next game so you know where to look when you’re deciding which line to play.