Easy American Mahjong

Learn American Mahjong

Everything you need, from your very first game to your weekly club night. Free, plain English, big print.

By the Easy American Mahjong team · Updated

Four smiling women of different backgrounds playing American mahjong around a table at home

What is American mahjong?

American mahjong is a four-player tile game played with 152 tiles, including 8 jokers. Players pass tiles in the Charleston, then draw and discard until someone completes a 14-tile hand that matches the card and calls “Mahjong!”.

New to the game? Read How to Play first (about ten minutes), then play a practice game with hints on.

tiles in a set
152
players
4
tiles in a winning hand
14
free guides and tools here
13

1Start here: learn in four steps

Rules first, then one practice game, then the Charleston and jokers, then strategy.

  1. Read How to Play.The tiles, the card, turns, calling and winning.
  2. Play one game with hints.Glowing tiles show you what to pass and what to throw.
  3. Learn the Charleston and the jokers.The two rules that make the American game special.
  4. Read the strategy tips.Then play again and watch your results improve.
An instructor showing two beginners how to set up the tiles
Most people learn the basics in one afternoon.

2The basics

The full rules, every word, and how the American game differs.

How to Play American MahjongThe complete rules for beginners, with a picture of every tile.GlossaryBam, Crak, Soap, pung, quint: every word in plain English.American vs Chinese MahjongWhat changes when you sit down at an American table.

3Rules, one topic at a time

Short guides for the rules people ask about most.

The CharlestonEvery pass in order, blind passes and the courtesy pass.Joker RulesWhere jokers can go, joker swaps, and the odds of being dealt one.Calling Tiles and ExposuresWhen you may take a discard, and how to expose it.Paying and ScoringWho pays the winner, and why the thrower pays double.

4Play better

Strategy and the mistakes to avoid.

Strategy for BeginnersPick hands, keep jokers, read discards. With our own game data.10 Beginner MistakesThe errors everyone makes in their first weeks, and the fixes.

5Practice and tools

Free things to use while you learn, all without signing up.

Free Practice Card32 original hands in 8 sections, free to print.Tile TrainerA picture quiz to learn all 42 kinds of tiles.Payment CalculatorEnter a hand and see exactly who pays what.Play vs ComputerA full free game with hints, on any phone, tablet or computer.
A community center room with several tables of women playing mahjong
Once you know the rules, you are ready for a club or a weekly game.

Questions people ask

How long does it take to learn American mahjong?

Most people learn the basic turns in one afternoon and feel comfortable after five to ten games. Learning the card well takes a season of regular play.

What is the best way to learn American mahjong?

Read the basic rules once, then play practice games with hints, then learn the Charleston and joker rules in detail. Playing often matters more than reading.

Can I learn American mahjong online for free?

Yes. Every guide on Easy American Mahjong is free, and you can play full practice games against the computer without signing up.

Keep learning

How to PlayStart with the full rules.Play free nowA full game against three computer players.Practice CardThe hands you can win with on this site.