Small Table Mahj / Tiles
An American mahjong set has 152 tiles: 108 suit tiles (Bams, Craks, Dots, 1 to 9, four of each), 16 winds, 12 dragons, 8 flowers and 8 jokers. The card lists each, with its nickname.
An American mahjong set
| Tiles | Each | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Bams (bamboo), 1 to 9 | 4 | 36 |
| Craks (characters), 1 to 9 | 4 | 36 |
| Dots (circles), 1 to 9 | 4 | 36 |
| Winds: North, East, West, South | 4 | 16 |
| Dragons: Red, Green, White (Soap) | 4 | 12 |
| Flowers | 8 | 8 |
| Jokers | 8 | 8 |
| All tiles | 152 |
Dragons go with a suit: Red with Craks, Green with Bams, White with Dots.
Bams show bamboo sticks (the 1 Bam is usually a bird), Craks show a Chinese character with a number, and Dots show circles. Each runs 1 to 9, with four copies of every tile: 9 x 4 = 36 per suit, 108 in all.
The four winds are North, East, West and South, written NEWS on the card. Each dragon belongs to a suit when a hand asks for a "matching" dragon. The White Dragon is nicknamed Soap, and in hands built from the year's digits it also stands for zero.
The eight flowers are all one kind: any flower fills an F on the card, whatever picture it shows. Jokers are wild in groups of three or more and are what makes an American set: a Chinese set has none. See the joker rules.
152: 108 suit tiles, 16 winds, 12 dragons, 8 flowers and 8 jokers.
It is often a plain white tile, or one with a blue frame, that looks like a bar of soap. In year hands it also stands for zero.
Not in play. Any flower fills an F on the card, so the eight are interchangeable.
Only by adding jokers. A Chinese set usually has 144 tiles and no jokers, and American hands need them.
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.