The Complete Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg

American Mah Jongg is a social tile game played throughout the United States using a shared set of rules and an annual card. While the game may look complex at first, it follows a consistent structure that makes it approachable once the basics are understood.
 

This guide provides a clear, beginner-friendly overview of how American Mah Jongg works, what makes it different from other versions, and how players learn the game.
 

What Is American Mah Jongg?

American Mah Jongg is a version of the traditional tile game that developed in the United States after Mahjong was introduced from China in the early 20th century. While it shares historical roots with the original game, American Mah Jongg follows its own rules, structure, and terminology.
 

The defining feature of American Mah Jongg is the use of an annual card published by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL). All valid winning hands for the year are listed on this card, and players nationwide use the same reference.
 

What You Need to Play

To play American Mah Jongg, players use:

• a standard 152 Mah Jongg tile set

• four racks to hold tiles

• two dice

• the current year’s NMJL card
   

The game is played by four players seated around a table.
 

Standard American Mah Jongg play is based on 8 Jokers. Extra tiles that come with a set may be converted into Jokers using official Joker decals.
 

The Tiles

American Mah Jongg uses several types of tiles:
 

Suits

There are three suits, each numbered 1 through 9:

• Bams

• Craks

• Dots
   

Flowers

Flowers are suitless tiles used in many hands as shown on the NMJL card.
 

Winds

Winds include North, South, East, and West. They are suitless and used only where specified on the card.
 

Dragons

There are three Dragons:

• Red

• Green

• White (Sometimes called 'Soap')
   

Dragons are used according to the instructions on the NMJL card and may be grouped with suited tiles in specific ways.

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Jokers

Jokers are wild tiles that may replace missing tiles only in a Pung, Kong, Quint, or Sextet. Jokers may not be used in Singles or Pairs.
 

The Goal of the Game

The goal of American Mah Jongg is to build a hand of 14 tiles that matches one complete line on the current NMJL card.
 

Players do not combine parts of different lines. A hand must match one full line to be valid.
 

How a Game Begins

At the start of each game:

• Each player builds a wall nineteen tiles long and two tiles high.

• The walls are arranged into a square.

• Dice are rolled to determine the dealer and where the wall is broken.
   

Each player is dealt 13 tiles.
The dealer begins with 14 tiles and takes the first discard.
 

The Charleston

Before regular play begins, players participate in the Charleston, a structured tile-passing phase.

The standard Charleston consists of three passes:

1. Right

2. Across

3. Left
    

During each pass, players pass three tiles. In some situations, an optional second Charleston may occur.
 

The Charleston helps players shape their hands before drawing and discarding begins.
 

Drawing, Discarding, and Calling Tiles

After the Charleston:

• Play proceeds counterclockwise.

• On each turn, a player draws one tile from the wall.

• The player then discards one tile face-up into the center.
   

Players may call a discarded tile only to complete a legal grouping shown on the NMJL card, such as a Pung, Kong, Quint, or Sextet. Tiles may not be called to complete Singles or Pairs.
 

When a tile is called, the completed grouping is exposed on the rack.
 

Exposed and Concealed Hands

Some hands on the NMJL card allow exposures, while others are marked Concealed.

• Exposed hands may call tiles and display groupings on the rack.

• Concealed hands must be completed entirely by drawing from the wall and may not call tiles.
   

If a concealed hand is exposed at any point, the hand becomes dead.
 

Dead Hands

A hand becomes dead when it can no longer legally match any complete line on the NMJL card. This can happen if tiles are exposed incorrectly, a tile is called illegally, or Jokers are used where they are not permitted.
 

A dead hand remains at the table, but it may not declare Mah Jongg.
 

Declaring Mah Jongg

A player declares Mah Jongg when:

• the hand contains exactly 14 tiles

• the tiles match one complete line on the NMJL card

• Jokers are used legally

• exposures, if any, are correct
   

Once Mah Jongg is declared, the hand is verified and the game ends.
 

How Players Learn American Mah Jongg

Most players learn American Mah Jongg gradually:

• first by recognizing tile types

• then by learning how to read the NMJL card

• and finally by understanding how rules apply during play
   

Because everyone uses the same card each year, players can move between groups and locations while playing the same game.
 

Quick Summary

American Mah Jongg is a structured, card-based tile game played by four players using standardized rules and an annual NMJL card. While the hands change each year, the rules of play remain consistent. A winning hand must always match one complete line on the current card exactly.
 

Published by the American Mah Jongg Association — the trusted home for American Mah Jongg players.

Related resources: Glossary • Rules • How to Read the NMJL Card • FAQ • Questions