Beginner’s Guide to American Mahjong
A quick note before you begin: This guide provides a beginner-friendly overview of American Mah Jongg. Rules, scoring details, card interpretation, and unusual game situations should always be confirmed using the current National Mah Jongg League card and official instructions.
If you have ever walked past a Mahjong game and felt drawn in by the clicking tiles, quiet concentration, and bursts of laughter between hands, you already understand part of the appeal.
American Mah Jongg is equal parts strategy game and social ritual. It is the kind of afternoon that turns into evening, then into “same time next week?”
This beginner’s guide walks you through the basic equipment, tiles, setup, and flow of the game so you can sit down at your first table with more confidence.
What Is American Mah Jongg?
American Mah Jongg is a variation of the traditional Chinese tile game that developed in the United States during the early twentieth century.
The National Mah Jongg League, commonly called the NMJL, was founded in 1937 and helped standardize the version played by many American players today. The League publishes a new card each year featuring the official winning hand combinations for that season.
Players use the current NMJL card, which is updated annually with new hands and instructions. At the time of publication, the 2026 card is current.
American Mah Jongg differs from other versions of Mahjong in several ways. It typically uses a 152-tile set, includes jokers, relies on an annual card of winning hands, and begins with a tile-passing sequence known as the Charleston.
A friend may describe Mahjong differently because there are many legitimate regional and cultural variations. This guide focuses specifically on American Mah Jongg.
What You’ll Need to Play
A typical American Mah Jongg table includes:
- Four players
- One 152-tile American Mah Jongg set
- Four racks, preferably with pushers
- One current NMJL card for each player
- Two dice
- A flat playing surface
- A Mahjong mat, if desired
A Mahjong mat is optional, but it can make play more comfortable. It softens tile noise, helps prevent slipping, protects the table, and creates a defined playing area.
Preparing your game space?
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Meet the Tiles
A complete American Mah Jongg set contains 152 tiles. At first, the symbols may feel unfamiliar, but the tiles are divided into a few basic families.
Suits: 108 Tiles
There are three numbered suits:
- Craks, sometimes called Characters
- Bams, sometimes called Bamboos
- Dots, sometimes called Circles
Each suit is numbered from one through nine, with four identical copies of every tile.
Dragons: 12 Tiles
There are three dragons:
- Red Dragon
- Green Dragon
- White Dragon
There are four copies of each dragon.
The White Dragon is commonly called Soap. Depending on the tile set, it may appear blank or display a simple blue rectangular frame.
Winds: 16 Tiles
There are four wind tiles:
- North
- South
- East
- West
There are four copies of each wind.
Flowers: 8 Tiles
American Mah Jongg sets include eight flower tiles.
In standard NMJL play, the eight flower tiles are interchangeable. A flower shown on the card may be represented by any flower tile from the set.
Jokers: 8 Tiles
Jokers may substitute for matching tiles in eligible groups of three or more, such as pungs, kongs, quints, and sextets.
They may not be used in singles or pairs, and players must still follow the requirements printed on the current card.
You do not need to memorize every tile before your first game. Most beginners become more comfortable with tile recognition over the course of several hands.
Setting Up the Game
With a standard 152-tile American set, each player builds a wall containing 38 tiles. The wall is arranged 19 tiles long and two tiles high.
The four walls are pushed together to form a square in the center of the table.
Dice are used to determine East, the starting dealer, and where the wall will be broken.
Each player receives 13 tiles. East receives 14 because East begins the hand by making the first discard rather than drawing.
Players arrange their tiles on their racks so the faces remain hidden from the rest of the table.
Understanding the Charleston
Before regular play begins, players take part in a tile-passing sequence unique to American Mah Jongg called the Charleston.
During the first Charleston, each player passes:
- Three tiles to the player on the right
- Three tiles to the player across the table
- Three tiles to the player on the left
If all four players agree, a second Charleston is completed in reverse order:
- Three tiles to the left
- Three tiles across
- Three tiles to the right
After the Charleston, opposite players may agree to a courtesy pass of zero, one, two, or three tiles.
Some groups also use permitted blind-pass options during portions of the Charleston. Because the exact procedure can feel complicated at first, beginners should follow the current card, official instructions, or the guidance of an experienced player at the table.
Jokers may not be passed during the Charleston.
The Charleston gives players an opportunity to remove tiles they do not want and begin shaping a possible hand before regular play starts.
It can feel fast and confusing during the first few games. That is completely normal. With practice, the passing pattern becomes much easier to follow.
Choosing a Hand
The goal of American Mah Jongg is to complete one of the winning combinations printed on the current NMJL card.
The card is divided into sections that organize hands by number patterns, suits, winds, dragons, special groupings, and other structures. The exact sections and hands change each year.
Depending on the card, sections may include patterns involving:
- Numbered years
- Even or odd numbers
- Consecutive runs
- Winds and dragons
- Quints
- Singles and pairs
Each line on the card shows the exact tiles required to complete that hand.
The card also indicates whether a hand may be exposed or must remain concealed.
Beginners often start by identifying two or three possible hands that work with their opening tiles. As tiles are passed, drawn, and discarded, they gradually narrow their choices.
It is normal to change direction during a hand. Experienced players regularly adjust their plans based on the tiles they receive.
Playing a Hand
Once the Charleston is complete, East begins by discarding one tile and announcing its name aloud.
Play moves counterclockwise around the table.
On a regular turn, a player:
- Draws one tile from the wall
- Reviews their hand
- Discards one tile faceup in the center
- Announces the discarded tile clearly
Players continue drawing and discarding while trying to complete one of the exact hands shown on the current card.
Calling a Discard
A player may call a discard when it completes an eligible exposed grouping required by the hand they are playing.
These groups may include:
- A pung, made of three identical tiles
- A kong, made of four identical tiles
- A quint, made of five identical tiles
- A larger matching group shown on the card
When a player calls a discard, they place the completed group faceup on their rack. This is known as making an exposure.
A discard generally cannot be called solely to form a pair unless that tile completes the player’s entire winning hand.
After taking the discard and displaying the completed grouping, the player discards a tile. Play continues from that player’s position, so one or more players may be skipped.
This can cause the normal order of play to change.
How Jokers Work
Jokers may be used to replace missing tiles in eligible matching groups of three or more.
For example, a kong may contain three natural matching tiles and one joker.
Once a joker is visible in an exposed set, another player who holds the matching natural tile may exchange it for the joker during their turn.
The natural tile must come from that player’s own hand. A player cannot claim a discarded tile solely to make a joker exchange.
Jokers cannot be used in singles or pairs, including singles-and-pairs hands.
Declaring Mahjong
When a player completes one of the exact winning combinations shown on the current NMJL card, they call:
“Mahjong!”
The hand ends immediately, and the winning tiles are displayed so the other players can verify the hand against the card.
A completed hand represents one of the exact 14-tile combinations printed on the card. Because kongs, quints, and sextets contain more physical tiles than the number of symbols they represent on the card, a player may have more than 14 physical tiles displayed when Mahjong is declared.
If no one completes a valid hand before the wall is exhausted, the game ends in a draw, sometimes called a wall game.
A Few Etiquette Basics
American Mah Jongg has official rules as well as table customs. Expectations can vary slightly between groups, but a few courtesies are widely followed.
Announce Discards Clearly
Say the tile’s name as you place it in the discard area. This gives every player a fair opportunity to call it.
Call a Tile Promptly
A player who wants a discarded tile should call it before the next player completes their draw.
Do Not Touch Another Player’s Tiles
Allow each player to manage their own rack, exposures, and discards.
Respect Call Priority
A call for Mahjong takes priority over a call made only to complete an exposure.
If two players make equivalent calls for the same discard, the tile generally goes to the player closest to the discarder in the normal counterclockwise order of play.
Keep the Game Moving
Take enough time to review your options, but try not to delay the table unnecessarily.
Be Patient With Beginners
Everyone makes mistakes while learning. A welcoming table is far more memorable than a perfectly played hand.
Above all, American Mah Jongg is meant to be social. The strategy matters, but so do the conversations, laughter, and friendships built around the table.
Hosting Your First Mahjong Game
A thoughtful setup can make a beginner game feel more relaxed and organized.
Make sure each player has:
- Their own rack and pusher
- A current NMJL card
- Enough room to arrange and review their tiles
- A clear view of the discard area
Choose a table large enough to hold the four walls, racks, cards, and drinks without feeling crowded.
A dedicated Mahjong mat can make setup easier by creating a smooth playing surface, reducing tile noise, and helping keep the walls and discards in place.
Racks, tile bags, and storage accessories make it easier to organize the set and pack everything away when the game is over.
Discover the best Mahjong accessories for game night →
Ready to Set Your First Mahjong Table?
The rules may feel like a lot at first, but you do not need to master everything before you begin.
Start with the tiles, learn the rhythm of drawing and discarding, and let more experienced players guide you through the Charleston and the card. After a few games, the language and flow of American Mah Jongg begin to feel much more natural.
A beautiful, well-organized setup makes the experience even more inviting.
Browse Mahjong mats in coastal, preppy, seasonal, and classic styles to find the perfect design for your table.