If you've ever heard the satisfying click of tiles and wondered what all the excitement is about, you're in the right place. American Mahjong is one of the most social, strategic, and downright fun tabletop games you can play — and it's easier to learn than you might think.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to sit down at a table and start playing. No experience required.

What Makes American Mahjong Different?

Mahjong has been played in China for centuries, but the American version has its own distinct identity. In the 1920s, a businessman named Joseph Park Babcock brought the game to the United States, trademarking the name "Mah-Jongg." What followed was one of the biggest game fads in American history — mahjong sets flew off shelves, clubs formed overnight, and the game became a fixture in homes across the country.

Over the decades, American Mahjong evolved its own rules and traditions. The biggest differences from the Chinese game? American Mahjong uses Joker tiles, follows an annually updated card of valid hands, and includes a unique tile-passing ritual called the Charleston. These changes make the American version its own game — familiar in spirit to its Chinese ancestor, but with a personality all its own.

The Tiles

An American Mahjong set contains 152 tiles — eight more than the 144 tiles in a standard Chinese set. Those extra eight tiles are the Jokers, and they play a huge role in the American game.

Here's what you'll find in a set:

Suit Tiles

There are three suits, each numbered 1 through 9, with four of each tile:

Craks (Characters) — Marked with Chinese characters and a number
Bams (Bamboos) — Decorated with bamboo stick designs (the 1 Bam is traditionally a bird)
Dots (Circles) — Featuring circular patterns

That's 108 suit tiles total.

Honor Tiles

Winds — East, West, North, and South (four of each, 16 total)
Dragons — Red, Green, and White (sometimes called "Soap" for the blank white tile). Four of each, 12 total.

Flowers

There are 8 Flower tiles in an American set. Unlike in some other versions of Mahjong, Flowers in the American game are used as part of regular hands — they're not just bonus tiles set aside for extra points.

Jokers

The 8 Joker tiles are unique to American Mahjong. A Joker can substitute for any tile in a group of three or more identical tiles (called a Pung, Kong, or Quint). Jokers cannot be used in pairs or singles. They add a layer of flexibility and strategy that makes the American game feel different from any other version.

The NMJL Card

Here's where American Mahjong gets really interesting. Unlike most card and tile games where the winning combinations never change, American Mahjong reinvents itself every single year.

The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL), founded in 1937, publishes a new card of valid hands annually. This card lists every combination of tiles that counts as a winning hand for that year. Some hands are easy, some are devilishly hard, and they all change when the next year's card comes out.

How to Read the Card

The card organizes hands into categories — things like "2468" (hands using only even numbers), "Winds–Dragons," "Singles and Pairs," and more. Each hand shows:

The specific tiles you need
Whether groups are concealed (kept hidden in your rack) or exposed (revealed to the table)
The point value of the hand

When you're just starting out, the card can look overwhelming. That's completely normal. Most experienced players recommend picking two or three hands that appeal to you and focusing on those during your first few games. As you play more, reading the card becomes second nature.

The annual card creates a unique strategic challenge: every year, players must learn new hands. Strategies that worked last year might not exist this year. It keeps the game perpetually fresh, even for players who have been at it for decades.

How a Round Plays

Now for the good part — actually playing. Here's how a typical round of American Mahjong unfolds.

Setup

Players build a wall of tiles — stacking them face-down in rows in front of each player. The wall is then "broken," and each player draws 13 tiles (the dealer, known as East, draws 14). You arrange your tiles on a rack so only you can see them.

The Charleston

Before regular play begins, American Mahjong has a unique tradition: the Charleston. This is a series of tile passes where you exchange tiles you don't want with the other players.

The Charleston has three rounds of passing:

First Charleston — Pass three tiles to the right, then three across, then three to the left. This round is mandatory.
Second Charleston — Pass three tiles to the left, then three across, then three to the right. Any player can stop the second Charleston before it begins.
Optional Courtesy Pass — After the Charleston, the player across from you may agree to swap one, two, or three tiles with you.

The Charleston is one of the most fun parts of the game. It's your first chance to shape your hand and start working toward a winning combination on the card.

Drawing and Discarding

After the Charleston, the game moves into a familiar rhythm:

Draw a tile from the wall (or claim a discard — more on that in a moment)
Discard one tile face-up to the center of the table, announcing its name so everyone can hear

Play moves counterclockwise around the table. You're trying to complete one of the hands on the NMJL card by collecting the right combination of tiles.

Calling Tiles and Exposures

You don't have to wait for your turn to get tiles. When another player discards a tile you need, you can call it — but only for specific purposes:

For an exposure — You can claim a discarded tile to complete a Pung (three of a kind), Kong (four of a kind), or Quint (five of a kind, possible only with Jokers). When you do this, you must reveal that group of tiles face-up on top of your rack. This is called an exposure.
For Mahjong — You can claim any discard if it completes your winning hand.

You generally cannot call a tile just to make a pair (unless it completes your Mahjong). And remember — once tiles are exposed, everyone at the table can see what you're working on, so there's a trade-off between grabbing tiles you need and keeping your strategy hidden.

Declaring Mahjong

When you complete a hand that matches one on the NMJL card, you call "Mahjong!" and reveal your tiles. The other players verify your hand against the card, and if it checks out, you win the round.

A few important details:

You can declare Mahjong on a tile you draw from the wall (a "self-pick") or on another player's discard
If your hand doesn't actually match a valid hand on the card, that's a dead hand — you're out for the rest of the round
If no one declares Mahjong and the wall runs out of tiles, the round is a wall game (a draw), and no one wins

Etiquette Tips for New Players

Mahjong is a social game, and good table manners go a long way:

Name your discards clearly so everyone can hear
Don't rush other players — everyone learns at their own pace
Keep your rack organized so you can make decisions efficiently
Ask questions — experienced players are almost always happy to help a newcomer

Where to Play

The best way to learn American Mahjong is to play it. Reading about the rules is a great start, but nothing beats sitting down at a table with real tiles and real people.

Here are a few ways to find your first game:

Find a local club — Mahjong clubs are thriving across the country, and many welcome beginners. Browse clubs in your area to find a group near you.
Ask around — You might be surprised how many people in your community already play. Libraries, community centers, and senior centers often host games.
Start your own group — All you need is a set, a card, and a few willing friends. If you want to organize games for others, check out what Bam Good Time offers for club organizers — we built it for people like you.

If you're looking for a set and card to get started, take a look at our shop for recommendations on beginner-friendly sets.

And if you have more questions about the game or about finding a group, our FAQ page covers the most common ones.

Ready to Play?

American Mahjong rewards patience, strategy, and — most importantly — showing up. The rules might feel like a lot at first, but after a few rounds, the rhythm of draw, discard, and call becomes second nature. And once you experience the thrill of calling Mahjong for the first time, you'll understand why this game has captivated players for over a hundred years.

Welcome to the table. We're glad you're here.

American Mahjong Rules: A Beginner's Guide to the Game