Learn American Mahjong
New to American Mahjong? Read the beginner's guide first. It explains the whole game in plain English and links to every detail when you need it.
- How to Play American MahjongThe whole game from the first wash to calling Mahjong, in plain English, with links to every detail.
- Mahjong GlossarySoap, pung, kong, blind pass, courtesy pass and the other words you will hear at the table, explained plainly.
- Table SetupWashing the tiles, building 19-stack walls, choosing East, breaking the wall and dealing 13 tiles each.
- American Mahjong Tiles ExplainedAll 152 tiles: the three suits, Winds, Dragons, Flowers and Jokers, and how each shows up on the card.
New here? Take the free course
Four short lessons, from your first tile to a full game. Course overview.
The tiles, the card, the wall and your first turns.
Start lesson 1 Lesson 2The CharlestonSort your rack, choose a hand, and pass tiles.
Start lesson 2 Lesson 3Calling and JokersCalling discards, exposures and every Joker rule.
Start lesson 3 Lesson 4Winning and scoringMahjong, dead hands, payouts and table manners.
Start lesson 4A sensible order
You do not need all of this before your first game. Read in this order and stop whenever you want to go play.
Beyond the basics
- What You Need to StartThe set, the card and a table: what to check before you buy, and what to skip.
- Beginner StrategySix principles that make your first games go better.
- Defense and the EndgameWhen to stop chasing your hand, and which discards are safest late in the game.
- Find a GameLibraries, community centers, clubs and teachers: where games actually happen.
- Solo Practice HandBuild a real hand on your own, with the Joker rules checked for you.
- Free PrintablesA table companion, Charleston card, scoring card and more.
What do I do now? The table companion
Two letter-size pages to keep beside your rack: every tile with its name, and a top-to-bottom guide to what to do at each moment of a hand.
Playing with a friend who already knows?
Send them how to teach a beginner. It asks them to play open-hand and skip scoring for the first night, which makes your first game far less stressful.