How to Play Mahjong: Complete Beginner Guide

To play American Mahjong, you need: a mahjong set with 152 tiles (including 8 jokers), the current year's NMJL card, 4 racks with pushers, dice, and betting chips or coins (optional).

The NMJL card is essential - it shows all the valid winning hands for the current year and costs $14 ($15 for large print) from the National Mah Jongg League. The card changes every year, so you need a new one annually.

You also need four players. While 2-3 player variants exist, mahjong is designed for exactly four people seated at a square table.

An American Mahjong set has 152 playing tiles divided into several categories. Learning to recognize them quickly is your first step.

SUITS (108 tiles): Three suits numbered 1-9, with four of each tile. Dots show circles (representing coins), Bams show bamboo sticks, and Craks show Chinese characters. Think of them like three different colored decks in a card game.

WINDS (16 tiles): East, South, West, and North - four of each. These are 'honor' tiles that can only form sets of identical tiles, never sequences.

DRAGONS (12 tiles): Red Dragon, Green Dragon, and White Dragon (sometimes called 'Soap') - four of each. Also honor tiles.

FLOWERS (8 tiles): Decorative tiles that appear in many winning hands. Unlike Asian versions, American Mahjong treats flowers as regular tiles.

JOKERS (8 tiles): Wild cards unique to American Mahjong! A joker can replace any tile in a set of three or more. But remember: jokers cannot be used in pairs.

STEP 1 - BUILD THE WALLS: Place all tiles face-down in the center and shuffle thoroughly. Each player takes tiles to build a wall in front of their rack: two tiles high, 19 stacks across (38 tiles per wall).

STEP 2 - DETERMINE EAST: Roll dice or draw tiles to choose East (the dealer). East is the starting player and has special significance throughout the game. Seating goes East, South, West, North around the table.

STEP 3 - DEAL THE TILES: East rolls the dice and counts that many stacks from the right end of their wall. Starting there, players take turns drawing 4 tiles at a time until everyone has 12 tiles. Then each player takes 1 more for 13 total. East takes one extra tile for 14.

STEP 4 - RACK YOUR TILES: Arrange your tiles on your rack so only you can see them. Group similar tiles together to spot patterns more easily.

Before gameplay begins, American Mahjong has a unique tradition called the Charleston - a series of tile passes that helps everyone improve their starting hands.

FIRST CHARLESTON (Required): Pass 3 tiles right, then 3 across, then 3 left. On the third pass, you can do a 'blind pass' - passing tiles you just received without looking at them.

SECOND CHARLESTON (Optional): If all four players agree, repeat in reverse: 3 left, 3 across, 3 right. Any player can stop the second Charleston.

COURTESY PASS (Optional): After the Charleston, you may exchange 1-3 tiles with the player across from you, if you both agree on the number.

The Charleston is strategic - pass tiles that don't fit your developing hand while keeping tiles that could work in multiple hands.

After the Charleston, East (who has 14 tiles) starts by discarding one tile. Then play proceeds counter-clockwise.

ON YOUR TURN: Draw one tile from the wall (the 'live' end, opposite from where dealing started). Look at it, add it to your hand if useful, then discard one tile face-up to the center.

ANNOUNCING DISCARDS: Always say the tile name clearly when you discard. Example: '3 Dot' or 'Red Dragon'. This helps all players track what's been played.

CALLING A DISCARD: If another player discards a tile you need, you can 'call' it by announcing the type of set (Pung, Kong, etc.). The called tile completes your set, which you expose on top of your rack.

IMPORTANT: You can only call a discard if it completes a set of 3+ tiles OR if it completes your winning hand. You cannot call just to make a pair (unless it wins the game).

PUNG: Three identical tiles. Example: three 5 Dots, or three West winds.

KONG: Four identical tiles. Example: four Red Dragons.

QUINT: Five identical tiles - only possible with jokers since there are only four of each tile.

CHOW (Run): Three consecutive tiles in the same suit. Example: 4-5-6 Bam. NOTE: In American Mahjong, you cannot call a discard to expose a run mid-game. Runs can only be formed from your own draws, or called if the discard completes your Mahjong.

PAIR: Two identical tiles. Jokers CANNOT be used in pairs.

When you call a tile and expose a set, you're giving information to other players. This is a strategic trade-off between getting tiles you need and keeping your hand hidden.

The NMJL card is your guide to winning. It lists every valid winning hand, organized into categories like '2468' (even numbers), 'Like Numbers,' 'Quints,' and more.

HOW TO READ IT: Numbers (1-9) represent tiles in any suit. 'D' means Dragon, 'F' means Flower. Colors show suit relationships — same color means same suit, different colors mean different suits. Point values are shown at the end of each hand.

PICK YOUR HAND: At the start of each game, look at your tiles and find a hand on the card that matches. You may need to adjust as the game progresses if tiles you need get discarded.

EXPOSED vs CONCEALED: Most hands can be played with exposures (called tiles) or concealed (no called tiles). A 'C' after the point value means that hand MUST be concealed to count.

You win by completing a hand that exactly matches one on the NMJL card. When you complete your hand, call 'Mahjong!' and reveal your tiles.

SELF-PICK: Drawing your winning tile from the wall. Often scores bonus points.

CALLING MAHJONG: When someone discards the tile that completes your hand, you call it to win.

VERIFICATION: All players check that your hand matches the card exactly. Tile positions don't matter - just the correct tiles and quantities.

WALL GAME: If all tiles are drawn with no winner, it's a draw. Deal again.

PLAY WITH EXPERIENCED PLAYERS: The best way to learn is watching others. Many mahjong clubs welcome beginners.

STUDY THE CARD: Spend time with the NMJL card before playing. Familiarity speeds up the game tremendously.

START SIMPLE: Aim for easier hands (25 points) while learning. Complex hands require more skill.

WATCH DISCARDS: Pay attention to what others throw away. It reveals what they're NOT collecting.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK: Mahjong culture is welcoming. Players are usually happy to explain rules and strategy.