American Mahjong Rules for Beginners

What is American Mahjong?

American Mahjong is a tile-based game played by four players. It evolved from traditional Chinese Mahjong in the 1920s when the game arrived in the United States and quickly became a social staple. While it shares DNA with other Mahjong variants, American Mahjong has its own distinct rules, scoring system, and most importantly — the annual card.

The game uses 152 tiles (compared to 144 in Chinese Mahjong) and includes Joker tiles, which can substitute for certain tiles in your hand. Each year, the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) publishes a new card with valid winning hand patterns, making the game fresh every year.

The Tiles

An American Mahjong set contains 152 tiles divided into several categories:

Suited Tiles (3 suits × 4 each × 9 ranks = 108 tiles)

• Craks (Characters) — Numbered 1-9, with Chinese characters and red markings
• Bams (Bamboos) — Numbered 1-9, featuring bamboo stick designs (the 1 Bam traditionally shows a bird)
• Dots (Circles) — Numbered 1-9, showing circular patterns

Honor Tiles

• Winds — North, South, East, West (4 of each = 16 tiles)
• Dragons — Red, Green, White/Soap (4 of each = 12 tiles)

Special Tiles

• Flowers — 8 flower tiles
• Jokers — 8 joker tiles (unique to American Mahjong!)

How a Round Works

A standard round of American Mahjong follows these steps:

1. The Deal — Each player receives 13 tiles (East gets 14). Tiles come from the "wall," a row of face-down tiles built at the start.
2. The Charleston — Before gameplay begins, players pass tiles to each other in a structured exchange. The first Charleston has three passes (right, across, left), and players may agree to a second Charleston. This is unique to American Mahjong.
3. Drawing and Discarding — On your turn, draw one tile from the wall, then discard one tile face-up. Your goal is to build your hand toward a winning pattern on the card.
4. Calling Tiles — When another player discards a tile you need, you can "call" it. You must expose the group (pung, kong, quint) that includes the called tile.
5. Declaring Mahjong — When your hand matches a valid pattern on the card, declare "Mahjong!" to win the round.

Understanding the Card

The card is the heart of American Mahjong. Published annually by the NMJL, it lists all valid winning hand patterns organized by category (like 2468, Quints, Consecutive Run, etc.).

Each hand on the card specifies:

• The exact tile pattern needed (using abbreviations like F for Flower, D for Dragon, etc.)
• The point value of the hand
• Whether tiles must be concealed (hidden in your hand) or can be exposed (called from other players)

Learning to read the card is one of the first skills new players develop. In Mini Mahj, we use a simplified version of the card that captures the spirit of American Mahjong hands while being accessible to new players.

Key Differences from Other Mahjong Variants

• The Card — No other variant uses an annually changing card of valid hands
• Jokers — Only American Mahjong uses Joker tiles
• The Charleston — The pre-game tile exchange is unique to American Mahjong
• 152 Tiles — The set is larger than traditional Chinese Mahjong (144 tiles)
• No Chow — Unlike Chinese Mahjong, you cannot call a discarded tile to form a sequence (run)

Tips for New Players

• Start by studying the card. Pick 2-3 hands that appeal to you and focus on building toward them.
• Stay flexible. Your initial strategy may change as you receive tiles from the Charleston or draw from the wall.
• Pay attention to what other players discard. This gives you clues about what hands they might be building.
• Use Jokers wisely. They can substitute for any tile in a group of 3 or more identical tiles.
• Practice with Mini Mahj! Our daily puzzle gives you a new challenge every day with the same tiles and opponents as every other player.