Small Table Mahj

Small Table Mahj / Rules for beginners

How to play American mahjong

Four players build a wall, take 13 tiles each (14 for East), trade tiles in the Charleston, then draw and discard in turn until someone's 14 tiles match a hand on this year's card. Here is each step, and a card to print.

Questions

American mahjong in seven steps

The rules, start to finish

  1. Pick East. Roll the dice; the high roll is East.
  2. Build the walls. Each player builds a wall 19 tiles long and 2 high.
  3. Deal. 13 tiles each, 14 for East.
  4. Charleston. Pass 3 tiles right, across, left; maybe a second round and a courtesy pass.
  5. Play. East discards first. Then each player draws one and discards one, moving to the right.
  6. Call. Take a discard to finish an exposed group of three or more, or to win.
  7. Mahjong. Your 14 tiles match a line on the card. If the wall runs out first, it's a wall game: no one wins.
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What you need

An American set (152 tiles, jokers included), four racks, two dice, and this year's card from the National Mah Jongg League, one for each player. Each line on the card is a hand you can build; you pick one as your tiles come in and can switch along the way.

The numbers in a deal

Four walls of 19 stacks, two tiles high, hold all 152 tiles (4 x 19 x 2 = 152). The deal takes 13 tiles for each of the four players plus one more for East: 53 tiles. That leaves 99 in the wall to draw from.

How a beginner picks a hand

After the deal, look for the section of the card your tiles lean to: lots of even numbers, a run, many winds. Keep two or three lines in mind through the Charleston, pass what fits none of them, and settle on one by the middle of the game.

Questions

How many players does American mahjong need?

Four is standard. You can play with three or two, and with five one player sits out each game.

Do I need the card to play American mahjong?

Yes. The hands you can win with are on the National Mah Jongg League's card, and they change every year.

How long does a game take?

A single game, from the deal to Mahjong or a wall game, often takes 15 to 30 minutes once everyone knows the steps. Beginners take longer.

What is a wall game?

When the last tile is drawn and no one has Mahjong, the game ends with no winner and no one pays. Deal again.

Related cards

Small Table Mahj is an independent guide written in our own words. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Mah Jongg League, and it shows no hands from the League's card. Buy this year's card from the League.