At first glance, the 2025 American Mahjong card may seem straightforward—but there are subtle details that can completely change how you play (and win!). One of the most overlooked tools on the card? The parentheses.
In this post, we're breaking down one of the trickiest hands in the Consecutive Run section—a hand that trips up even seasoned players. Let’s walk through how to read it, how to interpret the flexible rules, and how to set yourself up for a satisfying win.
📺 Watch the Breakdown
👆 Prefer to watch and learn? Jessica from Southern Sparrow walks through this exact hand with tiles, visuals, and helpful tips.
We're focusing on a specific line in the Consecutive Run section. On the card, it appears like this:
112345 1111 1111
(Any 5 consecutive numbers. Pair any number in run. Kongs match pair.)
It might seem like a fixed pattern that starts with a pair of 1s, but read those parentheses closely—they unlock way more flexibility than you’d expect.
🧠 What the Parentheses Actually Mean
Let’s break down the guidance in the parentheses:
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“Any 5 consecutive numbers” – Your run doesn’t need to be 1-2-3-4-5. It could be 2-3-4-5-6, or 4-5-6-7-8, etc.
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“Pair any number in run” – That pair doesn’t have to come first. You can place it anywhere in the run.
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“Kongs match pair” – Your two Kongs (sets of four identical tiles) must match the tile you've selected as the pair.
👉 This flexibility opens up the hand to different strategies—but only if you’re reading the parentheses carefully!
🧮 An Example Using Tiles 5 Through 9
Let’s walk through a practical example:
- Run: 5-6-7-8-9
- Pair: 9s
- Kongs: Both Kongs are also 9s
So your hand would be: 5-6-7-8-9, Pair of 9s, Kong of 9s, Kong of 9s, racked as 567899 9999 9999
You’re playing the same structure shown on the card, but you’ve moved the pair to the end of the run—totally valid according to the parentheses.
❗ Why This Hand Trips Up Players
Many players instinctively think the pair must be the first tile in the run—especially if they come from games like Gin Rummy. But that’s just how the hand is shown for illustration. The parentheses tell the real story.
✅ By reading closely, you unlock:
- Easier hand construction
- More tile options
- More frequent wins
✨ Tips from Jessica at Southern Sparrow
“I love showing players how a single line in parentheses can change the game. Once you understand that flexibility, this hand becomes not just playable—but powerful.”
💬 Join the Conversation
Have you played this hand with a different run? Do you have questions about other lines on the card? We’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below or send us a message on Instagram.
🛒 Featured in This Post:
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🕊️ Happy Mahj-ing!
From your friends at Southern Sparrow