American Mahjong: The Complete Guide

American Mahjong is a tile game commonly played by four people. In NMJL-style play, players work toward one of the hands listed on an annual card; a round commonly includes the Charleston, followed by turns of drawing and discarding. Its card, tile use, and procedures distinguish it from other Mahjong variants.

This page is EASTA’s starting point for learning the game. Follow the links below to explore individual topics, and use the current card and rules for the version your group plays. “Mahjong” describes many games, so advice for American Mahjong does not automatically apply to Chinese Classical, Riichi, Hong Kong, or other variants.

What is American Mahjong?

American Mahjong is a regional form of Mahjong with its own conventions and equipment. A well-known form of play follows the National Mah Jongg League’s annual card, which lists valid hands for that year. The card-based patterns and the opening Charleston are characteristic of NMJL-style American Mahjong.

For a concise introduction to the game’s background and defining features, read What Is American Mahjong?.

How the game works

Players arrange tiles, receive a starting hand, and—under NMJL-style play—take part in the Charleston, an organized tile-passing phase. During regular play, players draw and discard under the applicable rules while building toward a hand on the current card. A player declares mahjong when they believe the hand is complete; the hand must meet the card’s requirements.

The exact procedure, permitted claims, joker use, and scoring depend on the rules in use. Read American Mahjong rules for rule-focused guidance and How to Play American Mahjong for a round overview.

Explore the essentials

Learn the tiles

American Mahjong sets include tile families used by the rules being played. Tile counts and accessories can vary by product and table. Our American Mahjong tiles guide explains how to identify the pieces and what to check when selecting a set.

Understand the Charleston

The Charleston is an organized exchange at the start of NMJL-style play. Its sequence is rules-specific; follow the current instructions for your table.

Build confidence as a beginner

You do not need to memorize an entire annual card before learning. Start with American Mahjong for beginners, then use the terminology glossary as questions come up.

Develop your decisions

Once the basic flow feels familiar, American Mahjong strategy offers a framework for reading the card, evaluating options, and adapting to visible information.

American Mahjong and other Mahjong games

Mahjong has many regional forms, not one universal rulebook. American Mahjong differs from other variants in its card-based hands and conventions such as the Charleston in NMJL-style play. Tile sets, calls, scoring, and winning patterns can also differ. Read American Mahjong vs. Chinese Mahjong for a careful comparison; “Chinese Mahjong” itself can refer to multiple regional rulesets.

Choosing a set

When you are ready to choose equipment, first confirm that the set matches the rules you plan to play. Check included tiles and accessories, readability, size, storage, and verified product details. Our guide to choosing an American Mahjong set walks through those considerations.

EASTA approaches American Mahjong through contemporary design. The EASTA 001 page shares information about the brand’s set project; refer there for current specifications and availability.

Frequently asked questions

Continue exploring

Use this guide as your entry point, then follow the dedicated pages on what American Mahjong is, rules, tiles, and how to play.