How do you play American mahjong?

The short answer

American mahjong usually has four players and uses 152 tiles and a printed card of winning hands. Players build a fourteen-tile hand that matches the card; “Mahjong!” names a winning declaration. JONGG also offers Quick Duel, its own two-player variant. Other mahjong traditions use different rules.

In American mahjong, a printed list of the hands you are allowed to win with. It changes every year, so everyone at the table aims for the same small set of patterns. Each hand on it has a value.

A hand, step by step

The deal. East, the dealer, receives fourteen tiles; the other players receive thirteen.

The Charleston. Before play, players pass tiles: right, across, then left. If everyone agrees, a second round goes left, across and right. A courtesy exchange across is available even when the second round is stopped.

Draw and discard. East discards first without drawing. After that, draw on your turn unless you legally call a discard. Discard one face up, saying its name.

Calling. For an exposed hand, call a live natural discard only to expose a complete matching group of three or more that fits your card and earlier exposures. A discard may complete a single, pair or concealed hand only when it completes your entire valid mahjong.

Mahjong. When your fourteen tiles match a hand on the card, declare it on your turn or on the newest discard, and show your hand.

Practice this in JONGG

Play a guided hand with three patient bots. Each step is explained as it happens. No account or download.

• Play a guided hand