How to Play American Mahjong: A Beginner's Guide

By Mikado Editorial Team · Updated October 7, 2026

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American Mahjong (often spelled Mah Jongg) is a vibrant, social tile game that combines strategy, luck, and lively table conversation. Unlike its Chinese counterpart, the American version is defined by its use of jokers, a unique tile-passing ritual called the Charleston, and, most importantly, an annual card of approved winning hands. If you’re new to the satisfying clatter of tiles and want to join a game, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know for your first hand.

What You Need to Play

To play American Mahjong, you need a few specific components. The game is designed for four players, and the right equipment is essential.

• A 152-Tile American Set: A standard American set contains 152 tiles. This includes three numbered suits—Bams (sticks), Craks (characters), and Dots (circles)—with four of each number 1 through 9. You also need four sets of Winds (North, East, West, South), three Dragons (Red, Green, and White), eight Flowers, and eight Jokers. Quality sets often include a few spare blank tiles, so a box may list a count of 160. amjsociety.com
• The Current Hands Card: This is the heart of American Mahjong. The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) releases a new card every year with a fresh set of valid winning hands. You must use the current card, as last year’s hands are obsolete. The card organizes hands into categories like “2026” (the year hand), “Evens,” “Odds,” and “Singles & Pairs,” each with a point value. averillmahjong.com
• Optional Accessories: While not strictly necessary, racks to hold your tiles and dice are very helpful for a smooth game.

Understanding the Tiles and the Card

Before you start playing, familiarize yourself with the tiles and how they relate to the hands card.

The Dragons have special associations: the Red Dragon pairs with the Craks suit, the Green Dragon with the Bams, and the White Dragon (often called “Soap”) with the Dots. The White Dragon can also act as a zero, which is essential for building the annual “year” hand (e.g., 2026). averillmahjong.com

The hands on the card are built from specific combinations:

• Pung: Three identical tiles.
• Kong: Four identical tiles.
• Quint: Five identical tiles (made possible with Jokers).
• Sextet: Six identical tiles (requires Jokers).
• Pair: Two identical tiles.
• Run: Consecutive numbers in the same suit.

Hands will also specify if they require 1, 2, or 3 different suits (colors) and whether they must be kept concealed (C) or can be played exposed (X) on your rack. averillmahjong.com

Setting Up the Game

The game begins with a ritualistic setup that is part of the fun.

1. Wash the Tiles: All players turn the tiles face-down on the table and mix them thoroughly with their hands.
2. Build the Wall: Each player builds a wall in front of their rack, 19 tiles long and 2 tiles high. The four walls are then pushed together to form a square in the center of the table. amjsociety.com
3. Break the Wall and Deal: One player is designated as East. East rolls the dice, and the total determines where to “break” the wall to start dealing. Tiles are dealt around the table in a specific pattern: each player takes four tiles at a time for three rounds (totaling 12 tiles each). East then takes two more tiles (the first and third from the top of the wall), while the other players each take one final tile. This means East starts with 14 tiles, and everyone else has 13. averillmahjong.com

The Charleston: The Signature Tile Pass

Before any tiles are discarded, players engage in the Charleston, a series of tile passes unique to American Mahjong. This is your first chance to shape your hand.

1. First Charleston (Required): Pass three unwanted tiles to the player on your right. Then, pass three tiles to the player across from you. Finally, pass three tiles to the player on your left.
2. Second Charleston (Optional): The same pattern is repeated in reverse: left, across, right. Any player can decline this second Charleston, but only after the first is complete.
3. Courtesy Pass: Finally, you and the player directly opposite may agree to exchange between zero and three tiles.

Crucial rules for the Charleston: you may never pass Jokers. Also, on the first pass to the left or the last pass to the right, you may pass “blind,” meaning you send 1-3 of the tiles you just received to the next player without looking at them, topping off the pass with tiles from your own hand. averillmahjong.com

Gameplay: Drawing, Discarding, and Calling

After the Charleston, the game proper begins. The goal is to be the first player to assemble 14 tiles that exactly match one of the hands on the card.

• Starting Play: East begins by discarding their 14th tile, announcing it clearly (e.g., “Three Bam”). Clearly naming every discard is a key rule and part of the game’s rhythm.
• On Your Turn: You have two options: draw the next tile from the wall, or “call” the most recent discard from another player. After drawing or calling, you must discard one tile face-up.
• Calling Discards: You can call a discarded tile under two conditions:
  1. For an Exposure: If the tile completes a Pung, Kong, Quint, or Sextet, you can claim it. You must then place that entire group of tiles face-up (exposed) on your rack. You can generally only call for an exposure from the player who just discarded.
  2. For Mahjong: If the tile completes your entire winning hand, you can call “Mahjong!” and claim it from any player.
• Timing is Critical: A discard is only available for claiming until the next player draws a tile from the wall and places it on their rack. If two players want the same tile, the player calling Mahjong always takes priority over a player calling for an exposure. averillmahjong.com

The Role of Jokers

Jokers are wild tiles that add a layer of strategy and chaos.

• A Joker can substitute for any tile within a Pung, Kong, Quint, or Sextet.
• A Joker cannot be used as a single tile or as part of a Pair. This means they are not allowed in any hand from the “Singles & Pairs” category or in the “NEWS” (Winds) section of a hand. averillmahjong.com

Winning and Scoring

You win the game by calling “Mahjong!” when your 14 tiles perfectly match a hand on the card. Before celebrating, it’s essential etiquette to show your hand to the table for verification. An incorrect declaration can void your hand.

Scoring is based on the point value listed next to the hand on the card, which can range from 25 points for simpler hands to 75 points for the most difficult ones. The score may be adjusted based on whether you drew the winning tile yourself (“self-picked”) or claimed it from a discard. Many playgroups use chips or coins to settle scores after each hand. amjsociety.com, averillmahjong.com

Beginner Tips for Your First Game

1. Study the Card First: Before game night, spend time looking at the hands card. The categories and patterns will start to make sense.
2. Sort Your Tiles: After the deal, sort your tiles by suit and number. This makes it easier to see potential hands.
3. Start Simple: Aim for hands marked with a lower point value or those that can be played exposed (X). They are typically easier to complete.
4. Stay Flexible: Don’t commit to a hand until after the Charleston. Let the tiles you receive guide your strategy.
5. Watch the Table: Pay attention to tiles being discarded and exposures on other players’ racks. This tells you what’s available and what your opponents are collecting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between American Mahjong and other versions? American Mahjong is distinct because it uses Jokers, includes the Charleston tile-passing ritual, and relies on an annual card of predetermined winning hands issued by the National Mah Jongg League. Other versions, like Chinese or Hong Kong Mahjong, have different tile sets, scoring systems, and winning hand combinations.

Do I need a new hands card every year? Yes. The National Mah Jongg League releases a new card annually, and the hands from previous years are not valid in official play. Using the current card is a fundamental rule of the game. You can purchase the new card each year from the NMJL or retailers that carry Mahjong supplies.

Can I use a Joker for any tile? No. Jokers can only be used as substitutes within a set of three or more identical tiles (a Pung, Kong, etc.). They cannot be used as a single tile or as one half of a Pair.

What happens if two players call for the same discarded tile? The player who is calling “Mahjong” (winning the game) always has priority over a player who is calling for an exposure (to complete a Pung or Kong). If two players both call for an exposure, the player whose turn is next generally has priority.