How to Play American Mahjong

What You Need

A standard American Mahjong set contains 152 tiles divided into four groups:

• Suited tiles (108) — Three suits: Dots, Bams (Bamboos), and Craks (Characters), numbered 1–9, four of each
• Honor tiles (28) — Four Wind tiles (N/E/S/W) and three Dragon tiles (Red, Green, White/Soap), four of each
• Flowers (8) — Special tiles that appear in many winning hands
• Jokers (8) — Wild tiles unique to American Mahjong; can substitute in groups of 3 or more

You also need the Mini Mahj Card — the annual list of every valid winning hand. You cannot win without a hand that matches a pattern on the card.

Step-by-Step: How a Game Works

1. 1

   Build the Wall

   Shuffle all 152 tiles face-down. Each player builds a row of 19 tiles, two tiles high, in front of them — forming a hollow square called "the wall." This is the draw pile for the entire game.

2. 2

   Deal the Starting Hands

   Players take turns drawing tiles from the wall. East (the starting player) receives 14 tiles; all other players receive 13. East goes first every round.

3. 3

   Do the Charleston

   Before anyone draws from the wall, all players participate in the Charleston — a tile-passing exchange unique to American Mahjong. Each player simultaneously passes 3 unwanted tiles to the right, then 3 across, then 3 to the left. An optional Second Charleston reverses the direction. This is your best chance to shape your hand.

   Pro Tip

   Pick a target hand before the Charleston begins. Pass tiles that don't help your hand and keep tiles that do.

4. 4

   Choose a Winning Hand from the Card

   After the Charleston, look at your 13 tiles and scan the Mini Mahj Card for a hand you're closest to completing. Commit to that hand — changing hands mid-game is costly. A good rule: pick the hand that needs the fewest tiles you don't already have.

5. 5

   Take Your Turn: Draw, Then Discard

   Gameplay moves clockwise starting with East. On your turn:

   Draw one tile from the wall. If it helps your hand, keep it. Either way — discard one tile face-up into the center. You must always end your turn with 13 tiles (14 if you win).

6. 6

   Call a Discarded Tile (Optional)

   When another player discards a tile you need to complete a group, you can "call" it — even if it's not your turn. Say "call" or "take," claim the tile, and place the completed group face-up on the table (this is called an exposure). Then discard a different tile from your hand. Note: you can only call a tile immediately after it's discarded — once the next player draws, it's too late.

   Important

   You can only call a tile if it completes a group required by your chosen hand. Calling a tile locks you into that group — you can't take it back.

7. 7

   Use Jokers Strategically

   Jokers are wild tiles that can substitute for any tile in a group of 3 or more (a pung, kong, quint, or sextet). They cannot be used in pairs or singles. If you spot a Joker in an opponent's exposed group, you can swap it during your turn — give them the natural tile it represents, and take the Joker for yourself.

8. 8

   Declare Mahjong and Win

   When your hand exactly matches a valid pattern on the Mini Mahj Card — all 14 tiles accounted for — declare "Mahjong!" to win the round. You can win by drawing your final tile from the wall (self-draw) or by calling another player's discard. Self-draw is more valuable: all three opponents pay you instead of just one.

The Mini Mahj Card — Your Roadmap to Winning

The Mini Mahj Card is the backbone of American Mahjong. It lists every valid winning hand organized by category — from pairs and pungs to quints and concealed hands. You can only win with a hand that exactly matches one of these patterns.

Each hand on the card shows:

• The tiles required — shown with abbreviations (F = Flower, D = Dragon, N/E/S/W = Wind)
• The point value — typically 25–75 points depending on difficulty
• Exposed (X) or Concealed (C) — whether you can call discards or must draw everything yourself
• Color coding — different colors indicate which tiles must come from different suits

Next Step

How to Read the Mini Mahj Card →

Decode abbreviations, color coding, and how to pick the right hand from your tiles

Scoring Basics

When someone wins, points are settled immediately:

• Win by discard — the player who discarded your winning tile pays you the hand's full point value. The other two players pay nothing.
• Win by self-draw — all three opponents each pay you the full point value. Triple the payout.
• Wall game — if the wall runs out before anyone wins, the round ends with no points exchanged.

Tips for Your First Game

• Pick a simple hand to start. Look for hands with pungs (groups of 3) using tiles you already have multiples of.
• Stay flexible through the Charleston. Don't commit fully until after the tile-passing phase — the Charleston can transform your hand.
• Watch what others discard. If a tile you need keeps appearing in discards, others aren't building that pattern — it's a good sign you can still get it.
• Don't be afraid of Jokers. If you draw one, save it for a group where a natural tile would be hard to get. They're extremely powerful.
• Discard defensively late in the game. In the final 15–20 tiles of the wall, avoid discarding tiles others are clearly collecting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players do you need for American Mahjong?

American Mahjong is played with exactly 4 players. In Mini Mahj, you play against 3 AI opponents so you can practice anytime without needing other people.

How long does a game take?

A single round takes 10–20 minutes at a real table. Mini Mahj's daily challenge is designed to play in around 5 minutes — one hand, one shot, same tiles as everyone else.

Do I need to buy a physical Mahjong set?

No. Mini Mahj is completely free in your browser at minimahjdaily.com — tiles, card, opponents, and scoring are all built in.

What is the Mini Mahj Card?

The Mini Mahj Card lists every valid winning hand for the current year. You can only win by completing a hand that exactly matches one of these patterns. It's updated annually, so strategy evolves each season. Learn how to read it →

Can jokers be used in any hand?

Jokers can substitute for tiles in any group of 3 or more identical tiles — pungs, kongs, quints, and sextets. They cannot be used in pairs or singles. See the Mahjong Glossary for full definitions.

What happens if nobody wins?

If the wall runs out before anyone declares Mahjong, the round ends as a wall game — no winner and no points exchanged. Learn more about wall games →