How to Play Mahjong

Mahjong is a four-player tile game of skill, strategy and a little luck. This beginner's guide teaches you how to play mahjong the American way, the version played with jokers and a yearly card of winning hands. By the end you will know how to set up the table, pass tiles in the Charleston, call discards and declare Mahjong.

Quick answer: how do you play mahjong?

  1. Four players each build a wall of tiles and receive 13 tiles (the dealer, East, gets 14).
  2. Players pass unwanted tiles in the Charleston.
  3. On each turn you pick a tile and discard a tile, trying to build a hand from the card.
  4. The first player to complete a hand exactly as shown on the card calls "Mahjong" and wins.

What you need to play mahjong

  • A complete mahjong set. An American set has 152 tiles, including 8 jokers. Browse our American mahjong sets.
  • Four racks, ideally with pushers. See mahjong racks and pushers.
  • Two dice to break the wall.
  • The current year's card of winning hands from the National Mah Jongg League.
  • A mat to quiet the tiles and protect the table. Shop mahjong mats.

Step 1: Get to know the tiles

A standard American mahjong set contains:

  • Bams (bamboo), Craks (characters) and Dots (circles): numbered 1 to 9, four of each, for 108 suit tiles.
  • Winds: North, East, West and South, four of each (16 tiles).
  • Dragons: Red, Green and White, four of each (12 tiles). The White Dragon is called "Soap" and doubles as zero on the card.
  • Flowers: 8 tiles.
  • Jokers: 8 tiles.

Want the full breakdown? Read how many tiles are in a mahjong set and mahjong tile names and meanings.

Step 2: Understand the card

American mahjong hands come from a card published every year. Each line on the card is one possible winning hand, grouped by category (years, 2468, like numbers, consecutive runs, winds and dragons and more). Colors on the card show whether groups must be in one suit or different suits. The value next to each hand is what it pays. Beginners should pick two or three hands that fit their tiles and stay flexible.

Step 3: Set up the table and build the wall

  1. Seat four players, one on each side, each with a rack.
  2. Shuffle all tiles face down on the table.
  3. Each player builds a wall two tiles high and 19 tiles long in front of their rack, then pushes it forward to form a square.
  4. East rolls the dice and breaks the wall at that count.

Our American mahjong guide covers the set-up in more detail.

Step 4: Deal the tiles

Starting from the break, each player takes tiles in groups of four until everyone has 12. East then takes two more tiles and the others take one, so East holds 14 and everyone else holds 13. Stand your tiles on your rack so no one else can see them.

Step 5: The Charleston

The Charleston is a series of tile passes that happens before play. It is unique to American mahjong.

  • First Charleston (required): pass three tiles to the right, three across, then three to the left.
  • Second Charleston (optional): if every player agrees, pass three to the left, three across and three to the right.
  • Courtesy pass (optional): players across from each other may swap up to three tiles.

Jokers can never be passed in the Charleston.

Step 6: Play the game

East starts by discarding one tile. Play then moves to the right. On your turn, take the next tile from the wall, then discard one tile face up and name it out loud.

Calling a discard

You may call a discarded tile if it completes an exposed group in your hand (three, four or five of a kind) or if it completes your winning hand. After calling, you expose that group on top of your rack and then discard. Play continues to your right.

Step 7: How jokers work

  • Jokers can replace any tile in a group of three or more identical tiles.
  • Jokers cannot be used in a single tile or a pair.
  • If another player has an exposed group with a joker and you hold the real tile, you may swap it for the joker on your turn.
  • A discarded joker cannot be called.

Step 8: Winning (calling Mahjong)

When your 14 tiles match a hand on the card exactly, say "Mahjong" and expose your whole hand. Everyone checks it against the card. Common payment rules: the player who discarded the winning tile pays double, and a hand completed from the wall ("self-picked") earns double from everyone. Many groups also use house rules, so agree before you start.

If the wall runs out before anyone wins, the game is a "wall game" and no one scores. If your exposed groups can no longer make any hand on the card, your hand is "dead" and you stop playing that round.

Beginner strategy tips

  • Choose your target hand after the first Charleston, not before.
  • Keep jokers. They are the most flexible tiles in the game.
  • Watch discards so you know which tiles are still live.
  • Don't expose too early; it tells everyone which hand you are building.
  • Play with racks with pushers so your wall moves in one smooth push.

Mahjong FAQ

How many players do you need for mahjong?

Standard mahjong is played with four players. Three-player and two-player (siamese) versions exist; siamese mahjong uses siamese mahjong racks.

Is American mahjong different from Chinese mahjong?

Yes. American mahjong uses jokers, the Charleston and a yearly card. Chinese mahjong has no jokers and uses 144 tiles. Read American vs Chinese mahjong.

How long does a game take?

A single hand usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. A typical game night plays several rounds.

What is the best mahjong set for beginners?

Choose a complete American set with 8 jokers and easy-to-read tiles. See how to choose a mahjong set or shop all mahjong tile sets.

Ready to play?

Pick a set you love from our mahjong tiles collection, from green mahjong tiles to Christmas mahjong tiles. Free shipping to the USA, Canada, UK and EU.