American Mahjong Scoring, Values, and Playing for Pie

American Mahjong scoring is simpler than it sounds: the winning line has a number on the NMJL card. That number is the value. Everything else is house — whether you play for points on paper, chips, or pie.

What the card already decided

Concealed and rarer lines pay more. Common exposed lines pay less. You do not invent fan. You do not double because you “felt lucky.” Read the number next to the line you completed.

Pie and other house purses

• Pie: players ante a set amount into a pot. The winner takes it, or the table splits leftovers at the end of the night.
• Some clubs pay the printed value in chips. Agree the chip-to-dollar rate once.
• A social table can play for nothing. Say that out loud so nobody brings an envelope.

Write the purse on the same slip as the Charleston rules. Money arguments ruin better tiles than a bad Charleston does.

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