1Choosing one hand too early
Keep two or three possible hands until after the Charleston.
Right after the deal, many beginners fall in love with one line on the card and pass away everything else. Then the Charleston brings tiles that fit a different hand. Pick your best section first (Evens, Odds, Winds…) and keep two or three hands in mind.
2Passing away pairs
Pairs are hard to rebuild, and you cannot call a tile to make one.
Because you can never call a discard for a pair (unless it wins), every pair has to come from the wall or the Charleston. Keep pairs until you are sure you do not need them.
3Putting a joker in a pair or single
Jokers only work in groups of three or more.
This is the most common rule mistake. It also means Singles and Pairs hands can never use jokers. Read the full joker rules.
4Throwing a joker away
A discarded joker is dead: nobody can call it, including you.
Jokers are the most valuable tiles in the game. Throwing one early almost always costs you. Keep them unless your hand cannot use them at all, for example a Singles and Pairs hand.
5Ending a turn with the wrong number of tiles
You should have exactly 13 tiles after you discard. A wrong count makes your hand dead.
- Draw or call.You now have 14 tiles.
- Discard one.Back to 13.
- Count now and then.Count your tiles, including exposures, every few turns, especially after a call.
6Exposing a group that fits no hand
Once tiles are face up on your rack, they must fit a hand on the card.
Calling a tile feels great, but if your exposure cannot be part of any hand on the card, your hand is dead. Before you call, check that the group matches a line you can still make. More in calling tiles.
7Calling a tile for a concealed (C) hand
C hands must stay hidden: only the very last winning tile may come from a discard.
Look at the letter at the end of the line on the card. X means you may call; C means you may not, except for Mahjong.
8Feeding the player with exposures
Late in the game, do not throw tiles that fit another player’s exposures.
If a player has a pung of 3 Dots and a kong of 6 Dots face up, they are probably collecting Dots. The more exposures a player has, the closer they are to Mahjong. Hold on to “hot” tiles that might complete their hand. If your tile gives them Mahjong, you pay double.
9Waiting for a tile that is already gone
Count what has been thrown and exposed. If all four are out, switch hands.
Each tile has only four copies (eight for Flowers and Jokers). Watch the discards and exposures, and change your target hand when the tiles you need are gone.
10Calling Mahjong too fast
Check your 14 tiles against the card line before you say “Mahjong!”.
In the excitement, it is easy to miss one wrong suit or number. A false Mahjong usually makes your hand dead, and some tables add a penalty. Lay your tiles out slowly and read the card line once more.
Questions people ask
What is a dead hand in American mahjong?
A dead hand is a hand that can no longer win, for example because you have the wrong number of tiles or your exposures fit no hand on the card. You stop playing for that game but still pay if someone else wins.
What happens if you call Mahjong by mistake?
If nobody has exposed their tiles yet, most tables let you take it back and play on. Otherwise your hand is dead. Many groups add their own penalty, so agree on a house rule first.
Can you throw a joker in American mahjong?
Yes, you may discard a joker, but nobody can call it, and you lose the most useful tile in the game. Beginners should almost never do it.
How do I get better at American mahjong fast?
Play many short practice games, keep two or three possible hands in mind, never throw jokers, and watch other players’ exposures. Our free game shows hints while you learn.