Tiles you can read
Full-size tiles with a number in every corner, so you never squint at a Crak or a Dragon again.
Try a game →Play American Mahjong Online, Free
Big, clear tiles. Friendly computer players. Hints that teach you as you go. No download and no sign-up.
Play vs Computer
Play with Friends Coming soon
Works on phones, iPads and computers.
Hints that teach
See the three hands you are closest to and the tile we would discard. Turn hints off when you are ready.
See the hints →A free practice card
32 hands in 8 sections, from easy pungs to concealed pairs. Open it any time while you play.
See the card →Free American Mahjong Online: No Download, No Sign-Up
- Start a game in one tap. Your three opponents are ready when you are.
- Play the full game: the Charleston, calling tiles, joker swaps and Mahjong.
- Computer players adjust to you, so games stay close and fun.
- Your running total is kept on your device. No account needed.
What is American mahjong?
American mahjong is a four-player tile game that grew out of Chinese mahjong in the 1920s and 1930s. Players race to build one of the hands printed on a card. Each hand has exactly 14 tiles, made of groups such as pairs, pungs (three alike), kongs (four alike) and quints (five alike). The set has 152 tiles: three suits called Bams, Craks and Dots numbered 1 to 9, four Winds, three Dragons, eight Flowers and eight Jokers.
Two things make the American game special. Before play starts, everyone passes tiles in the Charleston, which lets you trade away tiles you do not need. And jokers can stand in for any tile in a group of three or more, but never in a pair or a single tile.
How a game works
The short version is below. For the full rules with pictures, read How to Play American Mahjong.
- Charleston. Pass three tiles right, three across, and three left. You may agree to a second round, then a small courtesy pass.
- Draw and discard. East discards first. Then each player draws a tile and discards one, moving around the table.
- Call tiles. If someone discards a tile you need for a pung, kong or quint, call it and lay the group face up. See calling tiles.
- Mahjong. When your 14 tiles match a hand on the card, declare Mahjong. The others pay you the hand's value. See who pays what.
Already play the Chinese game? Read American vs Chinese mahjong. Want every guide in one place? Visit Learn American Mahjong.
Made for beginners
If you are new, leave hints on. Glowing tiles show what we would pass or discard, and the hint panel lists the three hands you are closest to, with the tiles you still need. After a few games you will start to see the patterns yourself.
About our practice card
Every year the National Mah Jongg League publishes a new official card, and many clubs play with it. That card is their copyrighted work, so we do not copy it. Instead we wrote our own Practice Card with the same kind of structure. It is a good way to learn, and the skills carry over to any card you play with at your local table.
Questions
Is this American mahjong game really free?
Yes. You can play as many games as you like against the computer with no download, no account and no subscription. The site is paid for by a few ads.
Do I need the official card to play here?
No. Games here use our own free Practice Card, which follows the usual American mahjong structure: 14-tile hands, jokers in groups of three or more, and the Charleston. You can open the card at any time during a game.
What is the difference between American mahjong and Chinese mahjong?
American mahjong is played with a card of set hands that changes every year, eight jokers, and a tile-passing round called the Charleston before play starts. Chinese mahjong has no card and no jokers; you win with four sets and a pair.
How hard is it to learn American mahjong?
Most people can play a slow game after an hour or two. The rules are simple; the skill is in choosing a hand and knowing when to switch. Our hints show your closest hands and suggest a tile to discard, so you learn while you play.
Can I play on my phone or iPad?
Yes. The table is built for phones and tablets first, with big tiles and big buttons. It also works on any computer.