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 Mini Mahj Card is updated with fresh winning hand patterns, making the game feel new every season.

The Tiles

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

Suited Tiles (3 suits × 4 copies × 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

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 in a structured exchange: right, across, left. This is unique to American Mahjong. Learn more about the Charleston →
3. Drawing and Discarding — On your turn, draw one tile from the wall, then discard one tile face-up. 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 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. The Mini Mahj Card is updated every year and lists all valid winning hand patterns organized by category. Each hand specifies the exact tile pattern needed, the point value, and whether tiles must be concealed or can be exposed.

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

Next Step

How to Read a Mahjong Card →

Decode abbreviations, color coding, and hand categories

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 that substitute for tiles in groups of 3+
• 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)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tiles are used in American Mahjong?

American Mahjong uses 152 tiles: 36 dots, 36 bams, 36 cracks, 16 winds, 12 dragons, 8 flowers, and 8 jokers. That's eight more than Chinese Mahjong, which has 144.

What is the Mini Mahj Card and why does it matter?

The Mini Mahj Card is updated every year with a fresh set of valid winning hand patterns. You can only win with a hand that matches one of those patterns, so the card defines the strategy for the entire year.

How do jokers work in American Mahjong?

Jokers can substitute for any tile in a pung, kong, quint, or sextet (groups of 3 or more identical tiles), but never in a pair and never in singles. See the Mahjong Glossary for full definitions.

Can I play American Mahjong online for free?

Yes. Mini Mahj is a free daily American Mahjong challenge that runs in your browser at minimahjdaily.com — no download required.

Where can I learn more about American Mahjong terms?

Our free Mahjong Glossary covers every term from pung and kong to wall game and joker swap. The full guides library covers rules, strategy, scoring, and more.