A Beginner's Guide to American Mahjong

What Is American Mahjong?

American Mahjong (also spelled Mah Jongg) is a tile-based game played by four players. While it shares roots with Chinese Mahjong, the American version has its own distinct rules, tile set, and scoring system governed by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL).

The game combines strategy, pattern recognition, and a bit of luck. Each year, the NMJL releases a new card with the winning hands for that season — making the game fresh and exciting year after year.

The Tiles

An American Mahjong set includes 166 tiles across several categories:

  • Craks, Bams, and Dots — three suits numbered 1 through 9
  • Winds — North, South, East, and West
  • Dragons — Red, Green, and White
  • Flowers — eight flower tiles
  • Jokers — eight joker tiles (unique to American Mahjong)

Jokers are one of the biggest differences from other versions of Mahjong. They can substitute for any tile in a group of three or more identical tiles.

The NMJL Card

Every player needs an official NMJL card to play. The card lists all the valid winning hands for the current year, organized by category. You can purchase your card at nationalmahjonggleague.org.

Learning to read the card takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, choosing and pursuing a hand becomes the core strategic challenge of the game. For a closer look at the notation and symbols, see our guide on how to read the NMJL card.

How a Round Works

  1. The Deal — Each player receives 13 tiles (the dealer gets 14).
  2. The Charleston — Players pass tiles to each other in a structured exchange, helping everyone improve their hand.
  3. Gameplay — Players take turns drawing and discarding tiles, trying to complete a hand from the NMJL card.
  4. Winning — The first player to complete a valid hand calls “Mahjong!” and wins the round.

Getting Started

The best way to learn is to play. Mahj Parlour lets you practice against bots at your own pace — no pressure, no waiting. Once you’re comfortable, invite friends or match with other players online.

Download Mahj Parlour for iPhone and start playing today.