Learn American Mahjong — Free Lessons | Mahj Parlour

12 Free Lessons

Learn American
Mahjong

Never played before? Mahj Parlour walks you through everything — from your first tile to your first win. Interactive lessons, built into the app, completely free.

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What You'll Learn

12 step-by-step lessons that take you from complete beginner to confident player. Go at your own pace — pick up where you left off anytime.

1

Meet the Tiles

Get to know the 166 tiles in an American Mahjong set — three suits, Winds, Dragons, Flowers, and the all-important Jokers.

2

Building Blocks

Learn what pungs, kongs, quints, and pairs are and how they form the foundation of every winning hand.

3

The Goal

Understand what you're trying to accomplish — matching a hand on the NMJL card before anyone else at the table.

4

Your Turn

Walk through the draw-and-discard cycle that drives every round of American Mahjong.

5

Jokers & Flowers

Master the wildcard tiles that make American Mahjong unique — when to use them, when to hold them, and when to exchange them.

6

The Charleston

Learn the structured tile-passing ritual that happens before every game — the sequence, the strategy, and the blind pass.

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All 12 lessons are free inside Mahj Parlour. No subscription required.

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7

Calling & Exposures

Know when you can claim another player's discard, how to expose tiles on your rack, and the priority rules when multiple players call.

8

Reading the Card

Decode the NMJL card's notation — colors, numbers, abbreviations, and point values — so you can pick a hand with confidence.

9

Concealed vs. Exposed

Understand the tradeoffs between open and concealed hands, and when each strategy makes sense.

10

Choosing Your Hand

Develop the skill of scanning your tiles, evaluating candidates, and committing to a hand at the right moment.

11

Defensive Play

Learn to read the table, recognize dangerous discards, and protect yourself from feeding another player's win.

12

Scoring

Know how points work, who pays whom, and what makes certain hands worth more than others.

Already know the basics? Skip ahead to any lesson. They're designed to work on their own or in order.

Want to read up first? Start with our beginner's guide or browse the glossary.

Popular Guides

These are the guides most readers use alongside the free lessons when they want to learn faster or compare where to play.

Beginner's Guide

Learn the core flow of American Mahjong before your first real game.

Rules Guide

Get the full rules for dealing, calling, exposures, Jokers, and scoring.

NMJL Card Guide

Decode the notation, colors, and hand structure on the card.

Play Online With Friends

Set up private online games when your regular table can't meet in person.

Best American Mahjong Apps for iPhone

Compare the main iPhone options for real NMJL-style play.

Need a lower-friction starting point? See our guide to the easy American Mahjong app options for seniors .

Frequently asked questions

Do I need any prior experience to use these lessons?
No. The 12 lessons inside Mahj Parlour start from the very beginning, including how to recognize each tile, what the NMJL card means, and how a single turn works. You can finish the first lesson in about five minutes.
Are the lessons really free?
Yes. All 12 interactive lessons are built into Mahj Parlour and cost nothing to complete. No subscription is required to finish the curriculum or play against bots while you learn.
How long does it take to learn American Mahjong?
Most beginners pick up the basics in a week of casual play and feel comfortable at a real table after two or three full games. The NMJL card takes longer to master because it changes every April, but the underlying rules of play stay the same year after year.
Do I need to own the NMJL card to learn?
Not for the lessons. The curriculum teaches you how to read the card without requiring you to buy one. When you are ready to play with a physical card at a table, you can order one directly from the National Mah Jongg League.
Can I play against real people after I finish the lessons?
Yes. Once you are comfortable with the basics, you can practice against smart bots, invite friends to a private table, or match online with other players, all inside Mahj Parlour.
What is the difference between American Mahjong and Chinese Mahjong?
American Mahjong uses the NMJL card, eight Jokers, and the Charleston passing ritual. Chinese Mahjong plays without those rules and focuses on different winning patterns. Our detailed comparison post explains each difference in depth.
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