What Does “These Numbers Only” Mean on the NMJL Card?
September 21, 2026 · Bird Bam
“These numbers only” on the NMJL card means you must use the numbered tile values printed in that hand; you cannot shift the pattern to different numbers. The phrase restricts the numbers, not automatically the suits: you must still follow the card’s colors, group sizes, and other instructions.
Which part of the hand is fixed?
Think of an American Mah Jongg card hand as several instructions working together. The digits identify numbers, repeated digits show group sizes, colors show suit relationships, and the accompanying text can expand or limit your choices.
“These numbers only” locks the number choices. A hand that looks like a movable pattern may not actually be movable once you read its note.
For a simplified illustration, suppose a pattern uses the number values 1, 2, and 3 and is marked “these numbers only.” You cannot substitute 5, 6, and 7 just because they have the same spacing. Those are different numbers, so the substitution fails the instruction.
These examples describe number choices, not complete winning hands. Always compare all 14 tiles with an actual hand on your current NMJL card.
How does “these numbers only” on the NMJL card differ from “any run”?
The important distinction is whether the card permits the numbers to move while preserving their relationship.
| Card wording | What it permits or requires | Number-choice example |
|---|---|---|
| These numbers only | Use the printed number values | Printed 1, 2, 3 cannot become 5, 6, 7 |
| Any three consecutive numbers | Choose three adjacent numbers within 1–9 | 4, 5, 6 qualifies; 4, 6, 8 does not |
| Any like numbers | Use the same chosen number wherever the instruction applies | Choose 7s throughout the specified groups, not a mixture of 3s and 7s |
| Any like odd numbers | Choose one odd number for the specified groups | 5 qualifies; 6 does not |
A flexible instruction does not erase the rest of the hand. If you shift an allowed run, the required group sizes and suit relationships stay intact.
The I Love Mahj explanation of number substitutions describes this distinction and the importance of parenthetical notes. Its specific line examples refer to an older card, so use it for the principle—not as a list of this year’s hands.
Can you still change suits?
Yes, when the hand’s color pattern and written instructions permit it. Number restrictions and suit restrictions answer different questions.
For example, if a numbered portion is shown in one color and the instructions allow any one suit, choosing dots rather than bams does not change the number values. A required 2 remains a 2 in either suit.
But you cannot turn a same-color portion into a mixture of dots and bams merely because every number is correct. Nor can you ignore a matching-dragon requirement elsewhere in the hand.
For a separate explanation of suit relationships, see how NMJL card colors work.
What should you check before committing to a hand?
Use this four-step check before passing away useful tiles or making an exposure:
- Read the entire line, including its note. Do not decide from the section name or the first few digits alone.
- Name the permitted numbers. Say them silently: “This option needs the printed numbers,” or “This option permits three consecutive numbers.”
- Map the suits separately. Assign the card’s colors to your intended suits, then check any dragon instructions.
- Match the group sizes and every remaining tile. Correct number choices are only one part of a legal hand.
Here is a practical comparison. Your rack has several 6s, 7s, and 8s. Candidate A uses lower numbers and says “these numbers only.” Candidate B explicitly permits a three-number consecutive pattern.
Candidate A is not a match just because your tiles form a similar shape. Candidate B is worth checking because 6, 7, and 8 satisfy its number relationship. You still need to verify Candidate B’s exact quantities, suits, and remaining requirements before choosing it.
This check prevents a costly learning mistake: collecting tiles for a pattern that looks right but is not an allowed version of the printed hand.
What if you notice the restriction late?
If your tiles are still concealed in your rack, reassess your options against the card. Holding an unfinished or mismatched collection is not itself a declaration of Mah Jongg.
If you have already exposed tiles, the situation is more constrained. Any new target must legally accommodate those exact exposures. Do not change an exposed group simply to make your mistaken interpretation work; instead, check whether a valid alternative exists. Bird Bam’s guide to changing hands after an exposure explains that decision.
Where Bird Bam fits in
Learning card wording deserves your attention; managing a messy record of completed games should not compete with it. Bird Bam is an iOS American Mah Jongg scoring and community/group-play app that helps your group keep score and track hands and games while you focus on playing together.
Players still need the current NMJL card to interpret and verify hands. If your group wants cleaner scorekeeping while everyone builds card-reading confidence, bring Bird Bam to your table.
FAQ
Does a section name override “these numbers only”?
No. Read the specific hand and its accompanying instructions. A broad section label does not cancel a restriction attached to a particular pattern.
Does “these numbers only” mean “this suit only”?
No. It fixes number values. Suit choices still follow the colors and written requirements of the hand.
Can I use last year’s interpretation for the same line number?
Do not assume so. Annual cards change, and the same position may contain a different hand or instruction. Read the wording on the card your table is using.