How to Play American Mahjong
Your Complete Learning Path
American Mahjong is a tile-based game for four players that combines strategy, skill, and social connection. Developed in the 1920s from Chinese Mahjong, the American version has its own unique rules, including the use of Jokers and an annual card that defines valid winning hands.
Whether you're completely new to mahjong or transitioning from another variant, our comprehensive guides will take you from beginner to confident player. Start with the basics below, or jump to the specific topic you need.
Quick Facts
Watch & Learn
Video tutorials from trusted mahjong educators to get you started.
Captions available via YouTube player controls.
Captions available via YouTube player controls.
Your Learning Path
Understand the Basics
Learn what American Mahjong is and what makes it unique
20 min readKnow Your Tiles
Learn to recognize all 152 tiles and what they mean
10 min readLearn the Rules
Setup, gameplay, calling tiles, and winning
15 min readMaster the NMJL Card
Understand the card that defines valid winning hands
15 min readWhat You Need to Play
Explore Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Get Started?
Begin with our complete beginner's guide and learn the fundamentals.
Start Learning