To help you brush up your Mah Jongg skills, we provide the following resources:
Below are a few online videos that provide tutorials on how to play American mah jonggAlso, check out our step-by-step guide to learning American Mah Jongg
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American Mah Jongg (often shortened to mahj) is a standardized 4-player tile game adapted from traditional Chinese mahjong. It is the dominant competitive and social mahjong variant across North America, defined by three unique features: an annually updated official winning hand card, a mandatory pre-game Charleston tile pass, and 8 wild Joker tiles.
The biggest difference is that American Mah Jongg uses an annually updated NMJL card to define valid winning hands, while Chinese standard mahjong and Japanese Riichi mahjong follow permanent fixed hand patterns. American Mah Jongg also includes 8 Joker wild tiles and the mandatory Charleston pass, which do not exist in most other variants.
The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) is the primary standard-setting body in the U.S., publishing the annual official score card and governing most tournament and league play. The American Mah Jongg Association (AMJA) is a secondary governing body with fully aligned core rules.
Official American Mah Jongg is designed for exactly 4 players. Casual home games sometimes use 3 players with modified rules, but all NMJL-sanctioned play requires 4 participants.
Core rules are relatively easy to learn for beginners. Most new players can master basic gameplay in 1-2 hours. The main learning curve comes from reading the annual NMJL card and building strategic awareness, rather than core mechanics.
A single round takes 15-30 minutes, depending on player skill level. A full casual game with 4 rounds (one per wind position) usually takes 1-2 hours.
"Mah Jongg" (with two g’s and a hyphen) is the official standardized spelling for the American variant, formalized by the NMJL. "Mahjong" is the general global spelling for the game, and both spellings are commonly used in search and casual reference.
A complete NMJL-compliant American Mah Jongg set includes 152 tiles total: 108 numbered suit tiles, 16 wind tiles, 12 dragon tiles, 8 flower tiles, and 8 Joker tiles.
Mandatory equipment for official play includes:
No. Standard Chinese mahjong sets only have 144 tiles and do not include the 8 Joker tiles required for American Mah Jongg play. You must use a dedicated 152-tile American set for official NMJL rules.
Melamine is the industry standard for tournament and casual play, thanks to its durability, uniform weight, and matte non-reflective finish. Premium and gift sets often use acrylic, resin, or bamboo for aesthetic appeal.
Top-selling accessories include hard/soft carrying cases, non-slip felt table mats, replacement tiles, beginner cheat sheets, and automatic mahjong tables for clubs and commercial venues.
For official league and tournament play, yes — the valid winning hands change every year, and only the current year’s card is official. Casual home play can use older cards, but most players update annually to stay aligned with standard play.
The NMJL card is an annual official reference that lists all valid 14-tile winning hands, point values, and special rules for the year. It is the foundation of American Mah Jongg gameplay, and no official game can be played without it.
Each line on the card represents one complete winning hand, broken into groups of identical tiles (pairs, pungs, kongs, etc.). Standard abbreviations include numbers 1-9 for suit tiles, F for flowers, D for dragons, and N/E/W/S for winds.
Three colors mark tile groups and follow two core rules:
Every valid winning Mah Jongg hand has exactly 14 tiles. Non-dealer players start with 13 tiles and draw one to reach 14; the dealer starts with 14 tiles and discards one first.
No. Core gameplay mechanics, tile specifications, Charleston rules, and Joker rules are permanent. Only the list of valid winning hands and point values on the NMJL card are updated every April.
Standard permanent categories include 2468 (even numbers), 13579 (odd numbers), Consecutive Runs, 369, Winds & Dragons, Quints, Singles & Pairs, and year-themed hands.
The Charleston is a mandatory pre-game tile pass unique to American Mah Jongg. Players exchange unwanted tiles in a fixed sequence to refine their starting hands before regular play begins.
The first 3-round Charleston is mandatory for all official NMJL play. A second Charleston is optional and only proceeds if all 4 players unanimously agree.
A blind pass occurs on the final round of each Charleston phase. Instead of passing 3 of your own tiles, you may pass tiles you just received from the adjacent player without looking at them, to supplement your own pass up to 3 total tiles.
Play proceeds counterclockwise, starting with the dealer. Every turn follows the same sequence: draw a tile (or call a discard), arrange your hand, then discard one tile to end your turn.
A Wall Game is a draw round where all tiles are drawn from the wall before any player declares a winning Mah Jongg hand. No points are awarded, and the round ends with no winner.
Call "Mah Jongg!" immediately when you draw or receive the final tile of a valid NMJL hand. Then expose your full 14-tile hand for all players to verify against the card.
A Joker is a wild tile exclusive to American Mah Jongg. There are 8 Jokers per set, and they are the most powerful tiles in the game, with strict official usage rules.
Jokers can only substitute for tiles in groups of 3 or more identical tiles (pungs, kongs, quints). You may also swap a matching natural tile for an opponent’s exposed Joker on your turn.
No. Jokers may never be used for single tiles or pairs, and cannot be used for single-tile sets like NEWS or year combinations. Violations invalidate your hand.
No. Jokers may never be passed during any phase of the Charleston. Accidentally passing a Joker results in an automatic dead hand.
A dead hand is disqualified from winning the round. The player continues to draw and discard tiles, but cannot make calls or win the game.
Common dead hand triggers include:
If multiple players call the same discarded tile:
No. A discarded Joker can never be called by any player for any reason, and is always a safe discard.
For new players, the highest-impact strategies are:
Start by identifying hard-to-replace combinations: existing pairs, flower clusters, and natural tile groups. Then match these combinations to the most suitable card category. You do not need to lock into a single hand early — keep 1-2 backup options through the Charleston.
Generally no. Early exposures reveal your hand to opponents, lock you into a narrow set of options, and eliminate your ability to play a higher-scoring concealed hand. Wait until you have at least 7 tiles toward your target hand before calling discards.
Defensive play means tracking opponents’ likely hands based on their exposures, discards, and Charleston passes, and avoiding discarding tiles they need to win. It is the core skill that separates average players from consistent winners.
Joker bait is an advanced tactic: hold an unused pair, then discard one tile mid-game. If an opponent calls it and uses a Joker in their exposure, you can redeem that Joker on your next turn with the second tile from your pair.
Use three core clues: Charleston pass patterns, early discard trends, and exposed tile groups. One exposure narrows hands to a few categories; two exposures almost always reveal the exact target hand.
NMJL-sanctioned tournaments ban all external reference materials except for the official NMJL card. Casual local leagues often allow printed cheat sheets for new players, but always check event rules first.
An incorrect Mah Jongg declaration results in an automatic dead hand. You continue to draw and discard for the rest of the round, but cannot win or make calls.
Core gameplay, tile specifications, and Charleston rules are identical between the two organizations. Differences are limited to tournament scoring, administrative procedures, and event formats.
Yes, as long as they meet uniformity requirements: identical size, weight, matte finish, and no distinguishing marks on tile backs. Custom printed front designs are permitted as long as all tiles meet consistency standards.
In tournament play, a player may call another player’s hand dead. If the call is incorrect, the caller’s own hand is declared dead instead. In casual home play, disputes are resolved at the end of the round.
The NMJL maintains a directory of affiliated local leagues across the U.S. Many community centers, senior centers, and social clubs also host casual open play sessions for new members.
A set is NMJL-compliant if it includes exactly 152 tiles with 8 Jokers, follows standard tile type breakdowns, and meets size/weight uniformity requirements for tournament play.
For new players, a mid-range melamine set with racks, pushers, and a carrying case is the best value. Beginner bundles that include a rule card and cheat sheet are ideal for first-time buyers.
Yes. Custom engraved tile sets, monogrammed racks, and branded carrying cases are a fast-growing premium segment, popular for gifting, corporate events, and league merchandise.
Yes. Local leagues, senior centers, cruise lines, and retail stores qualify for bulk wholesale pricing on sets, accessories, and replacement parts. Contact our B2B team for a custom quote.
Standard full sets include 152 tiles, 4 tile racks, 4 pushers, 2 dice, and a carrying case. Premium sets may also include a rule guide, cheat sheet, and felt table mat.
Yes. Replacement tiles, extra Jokers, and spare racks are available for most standard tile sets. Always match the size, material, and design of your existing set when ordering replacements.....