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how to keep score in american mahjong

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how to keep score in american mahjong
To score American Mahjong, use the official scoring card to identify a valid winning hand and its point value. The winner collects points from the other players, with values doubling if the player self-picked the winning tile or if no jokers were used. For hands with Singles & Pairs, the jokerless requirement does not apply for doubling the score. You can keep score using chips, coins, or a paper score sheet, with the total score of the winner usually measured in cents or points. 
1. Use the Official NMJL Card 
    • Find a Valid Hand: 
      Instead of calculating points based on tile combinations, you must match your final 14 tiles to a pre-set, valid hand from the official 
  • Note the Hand Value: 
    Each hand on the card has a specific point or monetary value. The card is updated annually, so you must use the current year's card. 
2. Determine the Payout
  • Winner Collects: 
    Only the player who declares Mahjong (the winner) collects points from the other players. 
  • Base Value: 
    The non-winning players pay the winner the base value of the hand. 
  • Doubling for Self-Pick: 
    The winner doubles the payout if they picked the winning tile themselves from the wall. 
  • Doubling for Jokerless: 
    The winner also doubles the payout if their winning hand contains no jokers. 
  • Jokerless Doesn't Apply to Singles & Pairs: 
    The jokerless doubling rule does not apply to hands in the Singles & Pairs section of the card. 
  • Modified Payout for Discard: 
    If the winner takes a discard, they collect single value from the non-discarding players and double the value from the player who discarded the tile. 
3. Track the Score
  • Chips or Coins: 
    For social play, distribute scoring sticks or coins before the game starts. 
  • Score Sheet: 
    For tournaments, a score sheet is often used to tally points, with non-winners assessed penalties or points deducted. 
4. Example Scenario
  • A player wins with a 25-cent hand. 
  • If they took the winning discard, the discards pays 50 cents, and the other two players pay 25 cents each. 
  • If they self-picked the winning tile, all other players pay 50 cents. 
  • If the hand was jokerless, the payout doubles (not applicable for singles & pairs hands), meaning the payout is still 50 cents from each player.