American mahjong, often spelled mah jongg, is a four-player game played with 152 tiles. You try to be first to build a 14-tile hand that matches one on the card published each year by the National Mah Jongg League. Three things set it apart from other styles: the yearly card, tile passing in the Charleston, and jokers. Many US social groups play this style.
What makes it different
A card of hands
Other styles let you build any four sets and a pair. In American mahjong, you must match a hand from that year’s card. Our guide to the card explains what it is, and where to buy it.
The Charleston
Before play, everyone passes tiles. You pass three right, three across, and three left. A second round is optional, and a courtesy pass may follow. Learn the Charleston step by step, and then practice it.
Jokers
Eight jokers stand in for any tile in a set of three or more. They cannot fill a pair or a single tile. Learn how jokers work.
Bigger sets
Sets can reach five or six of a kind, which American players call quints and sextets. Since a set has only four copies of each tile, those need jokers.
The tile set
American sets have 152 tiles:
| Group | Tiles | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Bams, Craks, Dots | Numbers 1 to 9, four of each | 108 |
| Winds | East, South, West, North, four of each | 16 |
| Dragons | Red, Green, White (Soap), four of each | 12 |
| Flowers | Eight tiles that all act alike | 8 |
| Jokers | Wild tiles | 8 |
Our tile guide shows each one.
How a game runs
- Build the walls. Each player makes a wall 19 tiles long and 2 tiles high.
- Deal. East takes 14 tiles, and the others take 13.
- Pass tiles. Do the Charleston. A first round is required.
- Play. East discards first. Then each player draws and discards, moving counterclockwise.
- Call when it helps. You may claim a discard to expose a set, or to win.
- Win. Finish a hand from the card, and say “Mah jongg.”
If the wall runs out and nobody has won, the hand is a wall game, and you deal again. Our beginner’s guide walks through each step.
The lesson path
- Beginner's guide to American mah jonggYour first game, from setup to the last tile.
- What the card isHow to read a card in general terms, and where to buy one.
- The Charleston explainedWhat to pass, and in what order.
- How jokers workWhere they fit, and how to swap for one.
- Calling tiles and exposuresWhen to claim a discard.
- Table etiquetteHabits that make you welcome at any table.
- Common beginner mistakesLearn from other people's dead hands.
Ready for your first mahj night
If you have a game coming up, this short track covers what you need:
- Learn the tile names, and use the Tile Trainer.
- Read the beginner’s guide.
- Practice the Charleston a few times.
- Build a few original hands in the Hand Builder.
- Skim table etiquette and what to bring.
- Print a quick reference card for the evening.
A note on the League
We are not affiliated with the National Mah Jongg League. We never reproduce or describe the hands on its card. To play the standard game, buy the card from the League, which also supports its charitable giving.
Questions people ask
Is American mahjong the same as Chinese mahjong?
No. American mahjong grew from the Chinese game, but it adds jokers, tile passing, and a yearly card of hands. A Chinese-style player would need to learn these before joining an American game.
Do I need the card to play?
To play standard American mahjong, yes. Each player needs that year's card, which you buy from the National Mah Jongg League. Practice hands on this site are original and do not replace it.
Why does American mahjong use a card?
The card sets the list of winning hands for the year. The League changes it annually, so players learn new hands each year.