Last updated: October 2026
Most mahjong arguments start the same way: someone is sure a Joker can go in a pair, someone else is sure you can call a tile for a pair. This page settles those questions. It is a quick reference to the rules of American Mahjong, from building the wall to paying the winner, written so you can keep it open on a phone at the table. If you have never played before, start with how to play American Mahjong, which walks through a first game step by step, and come back here when you need to check a rule.
Quick answer
American Mahjong is played by 4 people with 152 tiles and a scorecard that changes every year. Each player builds part of the wall, East is dealt 14 tiles and everyone else 13, and the group passes tiles in the Charleston. Players then take turns drawing and discarding, calling discards to make exposures of 3 or more, until someone completes one of the hands on the card and calls Mahjong. Jokers can stand in for any tile in a group of 3 or more, never in a single or a pair.
| Rule | The short version |
|---|---|
| Players | 4 (variations exist for 2 and 3 players) |
| Tiles in play | 152: three suits, Winds, Dragons, 8 Flowers, 8 Jokers |
| Starting hand | East 14 tiles, everyone else 13 |
| Direction of play | To the right (counterclockwise) |
| Charleston | Required first pass of 3 tiles right, across, left; optional second; optional courtesy pass |
| Calling a discard | Only for an exposure of 3 or more, or for Mahjong |
| Jokers | In groups of 3 or more only; can be swapped from exposures on your turn |
| Winning | Complete one hand from this year’s card exactly and call Mahjong |
The tiles and the card
A game uses 152 tiles: three suits (Dots, Bams and Craks) numbered 1 to 9 with four of each tile, four of each Wind, four of each Dragon, 8 Flowers and 8 Jokers. Many sets, including ours, come with 160 tiles, adding spare Jokers and blank tiles, but only 152 go into the wall. For what each tile means, see mahjong tile names and meanings.
The other essential is the card. The National Mah Jongg League publishes a new card each year listing every hand you can win with, grouped by category, with a point value next to each. Every player needs the current card; last year’s hands no longer count. Learn to read the colors, the X and C marks and the values in how to read a mahjong card.
Seats, the wall and the deal
- Pick East. Players roll the dice; the highest roll is East, the dealer. The other seats are South, West and North, going to the right.
- Build the wall. Each player builds a wall 19 tiles long and 2 tiles high in front of their rack (38 tiles each, 152 in all), then pushes the four walls together into a square.
- Break the wall. East rolls two dice and counts that many stacks along their own wall to choose where the deal starts.
- Deal. Moving to the right, each player takes 4 tiles at a time until everyone has 12. East then takes 2 more and everyone else takes 1, so East holds 14 and the others 13.
Racks keep this tidy: tiles stand upright facing you, and the pusher arm slides your section of wall to the center of the table when it is your turn to deal from it.
The Charleston
Before play begins, everyone trades tiles to improve their hand. Jokers can never be passed.
- First Charleston (required): pass 3 tiles to the right, 3 across, then 3 to the left.
- Second Charleston (optional): pass 3 to the left, 3 across, then 3 to the right. Any player can stop it before it starts.
- Courtesy pass (optional): players sitting across from each other may agree to swap 0 to 3 tiles.
On the last pass of each Charleston, a player may “steal” or blind pass: pass along 1, 2 or 3 of the tiles just received without looking at them. The full step by step, with strategy, is in our mahjong Charleston guide.
Playing a turn
East starts by discarding one tile without drawing, since East already holds 14. After that, each turn is the same: draw a tile from the wall, then discard one, naming it aloud. Play moves to the right. You always end your turn with 13 tiles in your hand and exposures combined.
Calling a discard
- You may call the most recent discard only if it completes an exposure of 3 or more identical tiles (a pung, kong, quint or sextet) that fits a hand on the card, or if it gives you Mahjong.
- You can never call a discard for a single tile or a pair, unless that tile completes your hand for Mahjong.
- When you call, place the exposure face up on top of your rack, then discard. Play continues to your right, so any players between the discarder and you lose their turn.
- If two players call the same tile, a call for Mahjong wins. Otherwise the player next in turn gets it.
- Hands marked C (concealed) on the card cannot use called tiles, except the final tile for Mahjong.
Joker rules
- A Joker can replace any tile in a group of 3 or more identical tiles.
- A Joker can never be used as a single tile or in a pair, and never in hands made only of singles and pairs.
- Joker exchange: on your turn, if you hold the real tile a Joker represents in any player’s exposure, you can swap it in and take the Joker. You can do this after you draw or after you call a tile, before you discard.
- A discarded Joker cannot be called by anyone.
More examples and edge cases are in mahjong Jokers explained.
Dead hands and mistakes
A hand is declared dead when it can no longer make any hand on the card, for example when a player’s exposures do not match a single hand, or when they hold the wrong number of tiles. A player with a dead hand stops drawing and discarding but stays at the table, and still pays the winner at the end.
Mahjong in error: if a player calls Mahjong and the hand turns out to be wrong, the game can usually continue as long as no other player has exposed or thrown in their tiles. If others have already revealed their hands because of the false call, the official rules apply a penalty to the player in error. Groups handle this differently, so agree on it before you start.
Other common table rules: once a discard is named and put down it cannot be taken back, and a tile drawn from the wall should not be looked at by anyone else. When the wall runs out without a winner, the hand is a wall game and nobody pays.
Winning and scoring
You win by completing one hand from the current card exactly as written, then calling “Mahjong” and laying your tiles face up so everyone can check it. Each hand has a value printed on the card, usually 25 to 50 or more.
| How you won | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Off a discard | The discarder pays double the hand value; the other two pay the value |
| Drew the winning tile yourself (self-pick) | All three players pay double |
| Jokerless hand | Payments are doubled again (does not apply to singles and pairs hands) |
| Wall game | No one pays |
Most groups play for small coins or chips. For worked examples, read American Mahjong scoring.
What you need at the table
To follow every rule above you need a full American set with Jokers, a rack with a pusher for each player, two dice and this year’s card. The rules are the same whichever set you choose; only the artwork changes. These are the sets and racks players are choosing most this season:
Crimson Christmas Collection
Cream tiles with a deep red back, decorated for the holidays: ornaments and evergreen trees on the suits, a red cardinal, and a nutcracker on the Joker. A festive set for a December game night.
Best for: holiday mahjong parties and gifting.
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Crimson Christmas Collection Mahjong Set $289.99 |
Classic Santa Christmas Mahjong Set (MJ80)
White tiles with green backs and a gold poinsettia. Ornaments fill the Dots, Christmas trees fill the Bams, wreaths decorate the Craks, reindeer mark the Winds, Santa appears on the Dragons, stockings on the Flowers, and two elf Jokers hold wrapped gifts.
Best for: a traditional red-and-green holiday table.
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Classic Santa Christmas Mahjong Set $289.99 |
Peace, Love & Mahjong Retro 70s Set
A year-round set with a groovy streak: vinyl records on the Dots, potted cactus on the Bams, rainbows on the Craks, flower power on the Flowers and a white peace sign on the sky-blue tile backs.
Best for: a weekly game where you want something fun to look at all year.
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Peace, Love & Mahjong Retro 70s Mahjong Set $289.99 |
Racks with pushers
Each set of four racks holds your tiles upright and pushes the wall forward during the deal. Choose glitter acrylic with a wavy edge for a bit of sparkle, or crystal clear to let the tiles take center stage.
Best for: completing a set for four players, or as a gift for someone who already owns tiles.
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Glitter Acrylic Mahjong Racks with Pushers, Set of 4 $149.99 |
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Crystal Clear Mahjong Racks with Pushers, Set of 4 $149.99 |
Set prices shown are for Tiles Only; a mat and racks are available as bundle options on each set or separately. Browse all American Mahjong sets or racks and pushers.
When to order
Ready-to-ship items leave our workshop in 5 to 7 business days, engraved sets and racks in 15 to 20 business days, and made-to-order sets in 30 to 35 business days. Shipping is free on all U.S. orders and takes another 7 to 10 business days. For Christmas delivery, order engraved items by November 6 and ready-to-ship items by November 25.
FAQ
How many tiles do you start with in American Mahjong?
East starts with 14 tiles and the other three players with 13. East discards first without drawing.
Can you use a Joker in a pair?
No. Jokers can only be used in groups of 3 or more identical tiles. They cannot be a single tile or part of a pair.
Can you call a discard to make a pair?
Only if that tile completes your hand for Mahjong. Otherwise you can call a discard only to make an exposure of 3 or more.
Is the Charleston required?
The first Charleston is required. The second Charleston and the courtesy pass are optional, and any player can stop the second Charleston.
Which way does play go in American Mahjong?
To the right, which is counterclockwise around the table. The deal and the first Charleston pass also start to the right.
Do I need a new card every year?
Yes. The hands change each year, and only hands on the current card count. New players can learn the terms in our mahjong glossary.