← Glossary

What is 13579 in American Mahjong?

Definition

13579 is the section of the card built from the odd numbers one, three, five, seven and nine, arranged in patterns of pungs, kongs and pairs.

13579
Only the odd numbers, here in Dot.

Five numbers qualify, so this section is a little roomier than 2468. Hands here often use two or three suits, so the count is by number first and suit second.

At the table

Five qualifying numbers make odds roomier than evens, and hands here often span two or three suits. That is why counting by number first and suit second matters. Sort by suit alone and an odds hand can look like three unrelated fragments when it is actually one direction.

Also called odds.

Read the full guide: How to Read the Mahjong Card: The Notation, Decoded.

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Related: The card, Direction, Consecutive Run, 2468, 369, Winds and Dragons. All 52 terms.