How to Play American Mahjong
The complete beginner’s orientation in five short sections — written by the factory that makes the sets, for players meeting the game for the first time.
What You Need on the Table
American mahjong is a four-player game, and the right equipment sets the tone.
- The SetA full American set carries 166 tiles, including the 8 jokers that define the American game.
- The CardThe National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) publishes a new card of winning patterns every April — you cannot play standard rules without the current card.
- Racks and PushersFour racks hold your tiles upright; pushers extend your wall for smooth draws and discards.
Reading the Tiles
American sets are designed for clarity at a glance, with a few tiles other versions never use.
- The SuitsDots, Bams (bamboos) and Craks (characters) — numbered one to nine, four of each.
- The HonorsFour Winds (N, E, S, W) and three Dragons (Red, Green, and White, often called Soap).
- JokersThe American wild card: it can substitute in any combination of three or more tiles. Eight per set.
- FlowersEight Flower tiles that complete specific hands and add a little luck to the table.
The Charleston
Before regular play begins, players pass tiles in a ritual unique to the American game.
- First PassRight, then across, then left — three tiles each time.
- Second PassLeft, across, then right; the across step is optional and agreed by the table.
- Courtesy PassA final optional trade with the player sitting opposite. Watch what neighbors keep and pass — the strategy starts here.
Turns, Draws and Calls
The game then settles into its rhythm: draw, discard, and occasionally pounce.
- DrawOn your turn, take the next tile from the wall into your rack.
- DiscardPlace an unwanted tile in the center and announce it clearly ("Five Crak!").
- CallingIf a discard completes your Pung, Kong or Quint, you may claim it — but you must expose that combination face-up.
Calling Mahjong
The goal: be first to complete one of the hands on the current NMJL card.
- The Winning HandFourteen tiles matching a card pattern exactly — combinations plus a pair.
- The CallShout "Mahjong!", reveal the hand against the card, and let the scoring begin.
