Learn American Mahjong
American mahjong is a game for four players. It uses a set of 152 tiles and a card of winning hands that the National Mah Jongg League puts out new each year.
New players start with three things: knowing the tiles, naming them on sight, and passing tiles in the Charleston before play begins. This page lets you practice all three. It is free, and you do not need an account.
Meet the tiles
An American mahjong set has 152 tiles. Most of them belong to three suits: Craks, Bams and Dots. The rest are Winds, Dragons, Flowers and Jokers. Each Dragon goes with one suit: Red with Craks, Green with Bams, and White, also called Soap, with Dots.
Tap any tile below to see its name, how many are in the set, and what it is for.
| Tiles | What they are | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Craks1 to 9, four of each | 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Bams1 to 9, four of each | 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Dots1 to 9, four of each | 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| WindsNorth, East, West, South, four of each | North, East, West, South, four of each | 16 |
| DragonsRed, Green, White, four of each | Red, Green, White, four of each | 12 |
| FlowersUsed in hands like any other tile | Used in hands like any other tile | 8 |
| JokersWild tiles, only in American sets | Wild tiles, only in American sets | 8 |
| In all | 152 |
Craks
36 tiles
One of three suits. 1 to 9, four of each.
1 Crak
4 in the set. 36 Craks in all.
Craks are one of the three suits, numbered 1 to 9. Each one shows its number with a Chinese character. The Red Dragon goes with the Craks.
When you discard it, say "1 Crak."
Bams
36 tiles
One of three suits. 1 to 9, four of each.
1 Bam
4 in the set. 36 Bams in all.
Bams are one of the three suits, numbered 1 to 9, drawn as bamboo sticks. The Green Dragon goes with the Bams.
The 1 Bam is usually drawn as a bird, not a stick.
When you discard it, say "1 Bam."
Dots
36 tiles
One of three suits. 1 to 9, four of each.
1 Dot
4 in the set. 36 Dots in all.
Dots are one of the three suits, numbered 1 to 9, drawn as circles that stand for coins. The White Dragon goes with the Dots.
When you discard it, say "1 Dot."
Winds
16 tiles
North, East, West and South, four of each.
North Wind
4 in the set. 16 Winds in all.
One of the four Winds: North, East, West and South.
When you discard it, say "North."
Dragons
12 tiles
Red, Green and White, four of each. Each Dragon goes with a suit.
Red Dragon
4 in the set. 12 Dragons in all.
One of the three Dragons. The Red Dragon goes with the Craks.
When you discard it, say "Red Dragon."
Flowers and Jokers
16 tiles
8 Flowers and 8 Jokers.
Flower
8 in the set.
In American mahjong, Flowers are regular tiles that go into hands on the card. They are not bonus tiles you set aside.
The pictures can differ from tile to tile, but each one is simply a Flower. When you discard one, say "Flower."
Name that tile
Ten tiles, four names each. Pick the right name for each tile and see your score at the end. Try it as many times as you like. Each round brings new tiles.
The Charleston, step by step
Before play begins, every player trades tiles in the Charleston. You pass tiles you do not want and get new ones back. Everyone passes at the same time, with the tiles face down.
First Charleston
Everyone plays it
Pass 3 tiles to the right, then 3 across, then 3 to the left.
Second Charleston
Optional
Pass 3 to the left, then 3 across, then 3 to the right. Any player may stop it before it starts. Once it starts, all three passes are played.
Courtesy pass
Optional
You and the player across from you may trade 0 to 3 tiles, as many as you both agree on.
Two rules that surprise new players
- Jokers are never passed. In the practice below, your Jokers are locked.
- You may blind pass on the last pass. On the first left and the second right, you may hand on some or all of the tiles you just got without looking at them, and make up the rest from your own rack.
Practice the moves with 13 random tiles. This is about how the passing works, not about building a winning hand, so there is no card here. To play a real game you need the current year’s card.
Every player plays the first Charleston
First Charleston, pass 1 of 3: Right
Choose 3 tiles you do not want and pass them to the player on your right.
Your rack (13 tiles)
Jokers are locked. They can never be passed.
0 of 3 chosen
Ready for a real table?
The quickest way to learn is to sit down with people who already play. A beginner class teaches you the card and your first games. A club gives you people to play with.
Want the full rules? Read our American mahjong rules guide or look up a word in the mahjong glossary.