American Mahjong is a four-player game with its own traditions, terminology, rules, and style of play. While it shares its historical roots with other forms of Mahjong, American Mahjong has developed a distinctive identity in the United States.
This guide introduces the game, its tiles, basic structure, and the terminology every new player should know.
Important: American Mahjong rules and standard hands can change with the annual card. For play, always refer to the current official card and rules applicable to your game.
What Is American Mahjong?
American Mahjong, also commonly written as American Mah Jongg, is a version of Mahjong played primarily in the United States.
The game uses a specialized tile set and a yearly card of standardized hands. Compared with many other Mahjong variants, American Mahjong is particularly recognizable for the Charleston, the use of Jokers, and its annual hand card.
For new players, the easiest way to understand American Mahjong is to think of it as a game built around three connected systems:
- The tiles
- The annual card
- The sequence of play
The American Mahjong Tile Set
American Mahjong sets contain several groups of tiles.
Suits
The three primary suits are:
- Craks
- Dots
- Bams
Each suit contains numbered tiles.
Winds
The four Winds are:
- East
- South
- West
- North
Dragons
American Mahjong uses three Dragon categories:
- Red Dragon
- Green Dragon
- White Dragon
Flowers
Flower tiles are also part of the American Mahjong tile vocabulary.
Jokers
Jokers are a distinctive feature of American Mahjong. Their use depends on the rules and the hand being played.
For a deeper look at the tiles, visit the American Mahjong Tiles guide.
The Annual Card
One of the defining characteristics of American Mahjong is the annual card.
Players use the card to identify standardized hands and their associated patterns. Because the card changes, players typically purchase or obtain the current year’s card before playing.
This annual system gives American Mahjong a continually changing strategic landscape.
The Charleston
The Charleston is a sequence in which players exchange tiles before settling into the main part of the hand.
Its purpose is to give players an opportunity to improve their tiles and shape a potential hand.
The exact procedure should always follow the current rules used by the players or organization hosting the game.
How a Game of American Mahjong Works
At a high level, a game involves:
- Setting up the tiles.
- Determining the initial hands.
- Completing the Charleston.
- Drawing and discarding tiles.
- Building toward a hand represented on the annual card.
- Calling Mahjong when the winning conditions are satisfied.
The details of turns, calls, exposures, Jokers, and winning conditions should be learned from the current rules and the card being used.
American Mahjong for Beginners
If you are new to the game, start with the vocabulary before trying to memorize every possible hand.
Learn:
- The three suits
- The four Winds
- The three Dragons
- Flowers
- Jokers
- The Charleston
- The annual card
- Basic drawing and discarding
Then play with experienced players. American Mahjong becomes much easier to understand once the terminology and rhythm of the game become familiar.
American Mahjong vs. Other Mahjong Variants
American Mahjong is one of several Mahjong traditions.
It should not be assumed that rules from Chinese, Japanese, Hong Kong, or other Mahjong variants automatically apply to American Mahjong.
The differences can include:
- Tile sets
- Jokers
- Charleston
- Scoring
- Winning conditions
- Hand structures
- Reference cards
Read our guide to American Mahjong vs. Chinese Mahjong for a focused comparison.
Choosing an American Mahjong Set
If you are looking for a set, consider:
- Tile material
- Tile proportions
- Legibility
- Design consistency
- Accessories
- Storage
- Overall construction
- How the set fits your playing environment
A good set should be easy to read during play while also feeling natural on the table.
Explore the American Mahjong Set guide or discover EASTA 001.