Scoring
Once someone calls "Mahjong," the hand isn't quite over — you still need to work out the score. Here's how it works.
Where points come from
Every hand listed on the NMJL card has a point value printed right next to it — that's what you're playing for. Harder or rarer hands are generally worth more. Most hands also have a minimum point value — you need to reach it before you can go out (call Mahjong) with that hand. Check your current card for the exact number, since it can change year to year.
Concealed vs. exposed hands
A concealed hand — one where you haven't called any tiles or exposed any groups the whole game — is usually worth more than the same hand played with exposures, and the card will often show a separate, higher value for playing it concealed. It's a nice bonus if you can pull it off, but it's harder, since you can't call tiles to speed things along.
Who pays whom
When a hand ends, the losing players pay the winner directly — there's no shared pot. If you discarded the tile that completed the winning hand, you typically pay double what the other losing players pay. That's because your discard is what let the winner go out.
Getting comfortable with it
Scoring feels like a lot at first, but most tables are happy to walk you through it the first few times you win or lose a hand. It gets natural fast once you've seen it happen a few times.