The Ink vs. The Math: How to Really Read the 2026 NMJL Card | Mockingbird & Magnolia

Mockingbird & Magnolia

Free Printout  ·  2026 NMJL Card

72 lines on the card. 1,077 true playable combinations.

A simple one-page breakdown that shows the difference between what is printed on the card and how many ways those hands can actually be played.

When most players look at the NMJL card, they see the printed lines. We call that the ink.

But those printed lines are only part of the story. The 72 printed hands on the 2026 card create 1,077 total playable combinations once you account for the different ways those hands can be built.

This free printout breaks the card down by section so you can compare the number of printed lines with the number of true playable combinations. It helps you see which sections carry more mathematical weight than they may appear to at first glance.

What's inside

  • A clear explanation of “the ink” versus “the math”
  • The total number of printed hands on the 2026 NMJL card
  • The total number of true playable combinations on the 2026 card
  • A section-by-section comparison of printed lines and playable combinations
  • The percentage of playable hands represented by each card section
A peek at the breakdown
Card Section Printed Lines True Combinations
Consecutive Run 13 lines 315 options
Quints 3 lines 264 options
Any Like Numbers 3 lines 135 options
Winds & Dragons 10 lines 107 options

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