What Is American Mah Jongg?

​American Mah Jongg is a version of the traditional tile game that is played primarily in the United States. It follows a standardized structure based on the annual card published by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) and is played with 14 tiles, racks, jokers, and a formal sequence of play.
 

Unlike other forms of Mah Jongg played around the world, American Mah Jongg is defined by a shared card that changes each year. All valid hands for the year are listed on that card, and players across the country use the same reference when they play.
 

This shared structure is what allows American Mah Jongg to be played consistently in homes, clubs, tournaments, and social groups nationwide.

​

Key Characteristics of American Mah Jongg

American Mah Jongg has several defining features that distinguish it from other versions of the game.
 

The Annual NMJL Card

Each year, the National Mah Jongg League releases a new card that lists every legal winning hand for that year. Players must create one of these hands with their tiles in order to declare Mah Jongg.
 

The card introduces new patterns and variations annually, which keeps the game fresh and gives all players a shared starting point each season.
 

Four Players and 14 Tiles

American Mah Jongg is played with four players. Each player builds a hand of 14 tiles using a combination of the different suits, winds, dragons, and jokers, depending on the hand they are pursuing.
 

Use of Jokers

Jokers are a standard part of American Mah Jongg. They may be used to complete certain groupings of identical tiles, such as pungs, kongs, and quints, but are not allowed in singles or pairs.
 

The Charleston

Before regular play begins, players participate in the Charleston, a structured tile-passing phase. The Charleston allows players to exchange tiles and shape their hands before drawing and discarding begins.
 

Racks and Exposures

Players use racks to organize their tiles. When a player calls a tile to complete a grouping, that grouping is exposed on the rack and remains visible for the rest of the game.
 

How American Mah Jongg Differs From Other Styles

American Mah Jongg is distinct from other popular forms of the game, including Chinese Mah Jongg, Hong Kong Mah Jongg, and Japanese Riichi.

Key differences include:

• The use of an annual standardized card

• The inclusion of jokers

• The Charleston tile-passing phase

• Required exact hand matching rather than point-based scoring

• Greater emphasis on pattern recognition and card structure

Because of these differences, strategies and rules from other styles do not translate directly to American Mah Jongg.
 

Why the Card Changes Every Year

The annual card reset is a defining feature of American Mah Jongg. Each new card introduces new hand combinations and removes others, ensuring that no single strategy dominates year after year.

This annual change:

• Keeps the game engaging over time

• Gives new and experienced players the same reset point

• Encourages continued learning and adaptation

• Supports nationwide consistency in play

Understanding the structure of the card is central to understanding the game itself.
 

American Mah Jongg Today

Today, American Mah Jongg is played by hundreds of thousands of players across the United States. It is taught by instructors, played in organized clubs, and featured in regional and national tournaments.
 

Despite its social nature, American Mah Jongg is a structured game with clear rules, shared standards, and a common reference point — the NMJL card.
 

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