How to Play American Mahjong

American Mahjong tiles arranged on wooden racks with dice on a light tabletop

American Mahjong is a four-player tile game in which players draw and discard tiles to complete a winning hand listed on the current National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card.

To play, you need an American Mahjong tile set, the current annual hand card, and an understanding of the basic turn sequence. Players begin by setting up the tiles and completing the Charleston, then take turns drawing and discarding tiles while working toward a valid hand.

If you are new to the game, this guide walks you through the flow of a typical American Mahjong game, from the initial setup to declaring Mahjong.

The Basic Flow of American Mahjong

A typical game follows this sequence:

Prepare and deal: Set up the tiles and distribute the starting hands according to the applicable rules.
Complete the Charleston: Exchange selected tiles with other players.
Choose a hand: Study the current NMJL card and decide which winning pattern to pursue.
Draw and discard: Take turns drawing tiles and discarding tiles that do not fit your developing hand.
Watch for opportunities: Consider eligible discards, claims, and changes to your hand as the game progresses.
Declare Mahjong: Announce a win when your hand satisfies all the requirements of a valid hand on the card.

Each stage affects the next. The Charleston shapes your starting hand, your choice of hand guides your decisions, and every draw or discard can change your options.

Step 1: Set Up the Game

American Mahjong is normally played by four players, with each player seated at one side of the table.

Before starting, make sure you have:

An American Mahjong tile set
The current NMJL annual hand card for the applicable playing year
A suitable playing surface
Any racks, pushers, dice, or other accessories used by your group

Mix the tiles, build the walls, and complete the initial setup and deal according to the applicable rules.

Each player receives a starting hand. Once the deal is complete, players organize their tiles on their racks so they can read them clearly and begin considering possible winning patterns.

Get Familiar with the Tiles

American Mahjong uses three numbered suits—Craks, Dots, and Bams—along with Winds, Dragons, Flowers, and Jokers.

Knowing the tile types makes it easier to read the annual card and recognize which tiles may contribute to a potential winning hand.

If you need a visual introduction to the different tiles, see our American Mahjong Tiles guide.

Step 2: Complete the Charleston

The Charleston is a distinctive part of American Mahjong. Before regular play begins, players exchange selected tiles with other players according to a defined passing sequence.

The purpose is to improve your starting hand by passing tiles that are unlikely to help and receiving tiles that may fit a promising combination.

How to Approach the Charleston

As you review your tiles, look for possible patterns on the annual card. Consider which tiles appear useful and which ones are less likely to contribute to a hand you can realistically complete.

During the exchange:

Look for tiles that support similar patterns or combinations.
Avoid holding on to tiles simply because they match one another if they do not fit a plausible hand.
Consider the value of flexibility when you have not yet settled on a particular hand.
Follow the required passing sequence and any applicable restrictions.

The Charleston is not a guarantee that you will receive the tiles you need. It is an opportunity to improve your starting position and begin making decisions about your hand.

For a closer explanation of the exchange, read What Is the Charleston in American Mahjong?.

Step 3: Choose a Hand From the Annual Card

The current NMJL card lists the winning hands available for the applicable playing year. Your objective is to complete one of those hands exactly as specified.

After the Charleston, study your tiles and compare them with the patterns on the card. Look for a hand that fits the tiles you already have while leaving room for useful future draws.

What to Look for on the Card

When evaluating a possible hand, check:

Numbers: Are the required numbers present or realistically obtainable?
Suits: Does the hand require particular suits or combinations of suits?
Tile groupings: Do your tiles fit the exact structure shown?
Special requirements: Are there restrictions involving Flowers, Winds, Dragons, or Jokers?
Flexibility: How many additional tiles would you need, and how difficult might they be to obtain?

Do not rely on a hand’s general appearance alone. The numbers, suits, groupings, and other requirements must match the card.

Be Willing to Reconsider

Your first choice is not always the best choice for the entire game. As you draw tiles and see which tiles become available, you may need to reconsider your plan.

A useful habit is to keep checking whether your current tiles still support your chosen hand. If they do not, evaluate whether another valid hand offers a more realistic path to Mahjong.

The annual card changes, so always use the card for the current playing year. For more detail on rule requirements and restrictions, see our American Mahjong Rules guide.

Step 4: Draw and Discard Tiles

Once the Charleston and initial setup are complete, regular play begins.

Players take turns following the applicable draw, discard, and claim procedures. Each turn gives you an opportunity to improve your hand, but it also requires you to decide which tile you can afford to let go.

What Happens on a Turn?

At a basic level, a player’s turn involves these decisions:

Receive a tile: Draw according to the game’s turn procedure, or proceed through a permitted claim when the rules allow it.
Review your hand: Decide whether the new tile helps your selected hand or suggests a better option.
Discard a tile: Discard according to the applicable procedure when required.
Reassess your plan: Consider how the remaining tiles fit your intended hand and what your next useful draw might be.

The exact order and procedure depend on the situation and the applicable rules. Claims can affect how play proceeds, so learn the relevant procedures before playing independently.

Choosing What to Discard

Discarding is one of the most important decisions in American Mahjong. A tile may be useful in one possible hand but unnecessary in another.

Before discarding, consider:

Does this tile contribute to my chosen hand?
Could it be useful if I change to another realistic hand?
Am I holding too many tiles that do not fit my current plan?
What information might my discard reveal to the other players?

You do not need to predict every future draw. The goal is to make decisions that keep your hand moving toward a valid pattern on the card.

Pay Attention to Discards

The discarded tiles provide information about the game. They may help you understand which tiles are becoming harder to obtain and which options may be less promising.

At the same time, a tile that another player discards may be relevant to your hand. Whether you can claim it depends on the applicable rules and the situation.

Learn the difference between simply drawing a tile and making a legal claim before relying on a discard to complete a combination.

Step 5: Understand Claims, Exposures, and Jokers

As the game progresses, you may have opportunities to claim a discard or expose a combination. These actions can help develop a hand, but they must be permitted by the rules and compatible with the hand you are pursuing.

Claims and Exposures

Before claiming a tile, consider whether the claim is allowed and whether the resulting combination fits your intended hand.

Exposing tiles makes part of your hand visible to the other players. This can provide useful information to you and your opponents, but it may also affect your future options.

Do not assume that every hand permits the same exposures. Check the requirements of your selected hand and the applicable claim procedure before acting.

Using Jokers

Jokers can substitute for tiles in eligible combinations, making them valuable when completing certain hands. However, Joker use is restricted and is not permitted in every combination or situation.

Before relying on a Joker, check whether the combination allows it and whether any restrictions apply.

If you are unsure whether a particular claim, exposure, or Joker use is legal, consult our American Mahjong Rules guide and the relevant official rule reference.

Step 6: Recognize a Winning Hand

The objective is to complete a hand that matches one of the winning patterns on the current NMJL card.

A hand is not automatically valid because it contains what appears to be the right number of tiles or because the combinations look complete. It must satisfy the requirements of the selected hand.

Before declaring Mahjong, confirm that:

Your tiles match a valid hand on the current card.
The required numbers, suits, and groupings are correct.
Any special conditions are satisfied.
Jokers and exposures have been handled according to the applicable rules.
You have followed the required procedure for declaring a win.

When you are confident that your hand is valid, declare Mahjong according to the applicable procedure.

If a hand is challenged or a mistake is discovered, the situation must be handled under the governing rules. Do not assume that every group uses the same penalty or correction procedure.

Step 7: End the Round and Learn From the Game

A round ends when a player wins or when the applicable rules determine that play ends without a winning hand.

The result is handled according to the governing rules and scoring procedures. Players should understand the procedures their group follows before beginning, especially when learning with people who may have different playing experience.

After a round, take a moment to review your decisions:

Did your chosen hand fit your starting tiles?
Did the Charleston help you improve your hand?
Were your discards consistent with your plan?
Did you recognize useful opportunities without making unnecessary exposures?
Was there a point when another hand became a more realistic option?

Reviewing these decisions is one way to improve. Over time, you will become more comfortable reading the card, recognizing patterns, and deciding when to change direction.

Tips for Learning American Mahjong

You do not need to memorize every possible hand before playing. Focus on understanding the basic sequence and learning how to use the annual card.

Keep the current card nearby. Check the exact requirements instead of relying on memory.
Learn the tile types first. Recognizing suits, Winds, Dragons, Flowers, and Jokers makes the card easier to read.
Follow the flow of the game. Concentrate on the current stage instead of trying to plan every future move.
Ask before making an uncertain claim. It is better to confirm a rule than to assume a move is permitted.
Review your hand regularly. Your original plan may need to change as new tiles appear.
Practice consistently. Familiarity with the card and the turn sequence develops through repeated play.

For more help getting started, visit our American Mahjong for Beginners guide. For ways to improve your decisions during a game, see American Mahjong Strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

American Mahjong is normally played by four players, with each player seated at one side of the table.

You win by completing a valid hand listed on the current NMJL card and declaring Mahjong according to the applicable rules. Your tiles must satisfy the requirements of the selected hand.

The Charleston is a tile-exchange procedure that takes place before regular play. Players pass selected tiles according to a defined sequence to improve their starting hands.

The annual NMJL card is central to standard American Mahjong because it lists the winning hands for the applicable playing year. Players use it to choose a hand and check whether their tiles meet its requirements.

Some discards can be claimed when the applicable requirements are met. The permitted claim, declaration, and exposure procedures depend on the situation and the governing rules.

No. Jokers can be used only where permitted under the applicable rules. Check the selected hand and the relevant restrictions before relying on a Joker.

The game can feel complicated at first because players must learn the tiles, the annual card, the Charleston, and the turn sequence. Learning these elements one at a time and practicing with an experienced group can make the game easier to follow.

Continue Learning American Mahjong

Continue exploring the game with these EASTA guides:

The best way to learn American Mahjong is to understand the flow of the game, keep the current card available, and practice making decisions one turn at a time. As you become more familiar with the tiles and winning patterns, the process becomes easier to follow.