FAQs

American Mahjong (also spelled Mah Jongg) is a tile-based strategy game played by four people using a set of 152 tiles. The game is governed by rules standardized by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL), which publishes an annual card of winning hands that players must use to play. Each player draws and discards tiles with the goal of building one of the hands on the card before anyone else does — combining strategy, memory, and a little luck into a game that has become one of the fastest-growing pastimes in the United States.

It's strategic enough to keep serious players engaged for decades, and social enough that most people describe their mahjong group as one of their favorite parts of the week.

The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) is the governing body for American Mahjong. Founded in 1937, it does three important things for the game:

• Publishes a new card of winning hands each spring that all American Mahjong players use to play
• Establishes and maintains the official rules of American Mahjong
• Sanctions and certifies tournaments across the country

The annual card is the heart of the game — it changes every year, which means the strategy shifts every spring and keeps experienced players constantly learning. Purchase the current card at National Mah Jongg League .

They share ancient roots but play very differently at the table:

• American Mahjong (NMJL) uses 152 tiles including 8 jokers, follows an annual card of winning hands, and has a passing phase called the Charleston. The card changes every year.
• Chinese / Hong Kong Mahjong uses 144 tiles with no jokers and no card. Winning hands are based on traditional sets and pairs, scored using a points system.
• Riichi (Japanese) Mahjong is another distinct format with its own rules and a declaration mechanic called riichi that changes the strategy significantly.

If you're learning to play in the United States with a local group, you're almost certainly playing American Mahjong under NMJL rules.

American Mahjong as standardized by the NMJL is played by exactly four players. The four positions are named after the cardinal directions — East, West, North, and South — and East rotates after each hand.

If your regular group has someone who can't make it, most open play groups welcome drop-ins to fill a seat — which is one more reason to find a local community to play with.

A single hand of American Mahjong typically takes 15 to 30 minutes. A full session of multiple hands — the way most groups play — runs about 2 to 3 hours. Most open play groups and league sessions are scheduled for 2-hour blocks.

As you get more experienced, hands tend to move faster. Competitive players and leagues often time hands to keep the game moving — a useful habit to develop once you're past the beginner stage.

Mahjong has a real learning curve. Understanding the tiles, the Charleston pass, and how to read the NMJL card takes time. Most beginners feel genuinely comfortable after two or three guided play sessions with a patient teacher or group.

The fastest path to learning is sitting down with an instructor or an experienced group who can walk you through your first few hands in real time. Once it clicks, most people describe the feeling as immediate — and then they can't stop playing.

To play American Mahjong you need three things:

• A mahjong set — 152 tiles, 4 racks with pushers, and dice. Make sure it's a 152-tile American set, not a 144-tile Chinese set.
• The current NMJL card — the annual card of winning hands, available at nationalmahjonggleague.org. A new card comes out each spring.
• Three other players — friends, family, or a local open play group.

Many open play groups provide sets, so if you're just starting out you may only need to bring your card.

The NMJL card is a small laminated card published annually by the National Mah Jongg League. It lists every valid winning hand for the current year, organized into categories such as 2468, Any Like Numbers, Consecutive Run, Quints, Winds and Dragons, and Singles and Pairs.

To win a hand, you must declare mahjong using one of the hands on the current year's card. The card changes every year, which means the strategy shifts every spring and keeps the game fresh. New cards are released between March and May and are available at nationalmahjonggleague.org.

The new NMJL card is typically released between March and May each year. The exact date isn't announced in advance — most players follow mahjong Facebook communities for the news each spring.

Once the new card drops, it immediately becomes the card for all NMJL play — leagues, tournaments, and open play groups switch over right away. Purchase the new card directly from the NMJL at nationalmahjonggleague.org. Order early — they sometimes sell out.

Jokers are wild tiles in American Mahjong. A standard NMJL set contains 8 jokers. Here's what you need to know:

• A joker can substitute for any tile in a set of 3 or more identical tiles (a pung, kong, or quint)
• Jokers cannot be used in pairs — ever. This is the rule beginners get wrong most often.
• Any player who has the matching natural tile can claim a joker from another player's exposed set by replacing it with that natural tile

Joker strategy — when to use them, when to hold them, and how to protect your exposed sets — is one of the most interesting strategic layers in the game.

The Charleston is the tile-passing phase that happens at the beginning of every hand — before any drawing from the wall begins. Here's how it works:

• First Charleston: Pass 3 tiles to the right → pass 3 tiles across → pass 3 tiles to the left
• Second Charleston (optional): Pass 3 tiles to the left → pass 3 tiles across → pass 3 tiles to the right. Any player can stop the second Charleston before it begins.
• Courtesy pass: After the Charleston, players may exchange 1–3 tiles with the player across from them.

The Charleston is a strategic phase — what you pass is as important as what you keep.

House rules are local variations that individual groups adopt beyond the official NMJL rules. They're common and completely normal — but they can cause confusion when you play with a new group.

Common house rules include how dead hands are handled, whether a second Charleston is mandatory, and joker exchange etiquette. Always ask a new group about their house rules before the first hand. Official NMJL tournament play uses the official rulebook with no variations.

Declaring Mahjong with an incorrect hand — called a false claim — results in your hand being declared dead. A dead hand means:

• You continue to play out the hand, drawing and discarding tiles
• You cannot win that hand, even if you later complete a valid hand
• Other players continue playing normally and can still win

A dead hand can also result from other rule violations depending on house rules. Confirming house rules before you start is always a good idea.

Here's what matters most for your first American Mahjong set:

• 152 tiles — not 144. American Mahjong sets have 8 jokers that Chinese sets don't. This is the most important thing to check.
• Acrylic tiles — the most popular material. Durable, great feel, and satisfying sound when you wash them.
• 4 racks with pushers — should be included. Some budget sets omit these.
• A case or bag — for storage and transport.
• Budget: Expect $200–$425 for a quality set. Anything under $100 is usually lower quality and may not hold up to regular play.

Avoid sets marketed for solitaire or puzzle games — they use different tile counts and aren't suitable for American Mahjong.

• 152-tile sets are for American Mahjong (NMJL rules). They include the standard 144 tiles plus 8 jokers.
• 144-tile sets are for Chinese, Hong Kong, or Japanese Mahjong formats. They have no jokers.

If you're going to play American Mahjong with the NMJL card, you need a 152-tile set. Using a 144-tile set for American Mahjong means playing without jokers, which most groups won't allow.

• Under $100: Budget sets — functional but lower quality. Fine for learning but may not last long with regular play.
• $200–$350: The sweet spot for most players. Quality acrylic tiles, solid racks and pushers, good case.
• $350–$425: Mid-premium sets with better tile material and more refined feel.
• $375–$500+: Designer and luxury sets — Oh My Mahjong, Bam Bird Boutique, Two Sparrows Mahjong. The kind of set you'll use for 20 years.

If you play regularly, investing in the $250–$375 range is worth it. A good set lasts decades.

A mahjong mat is a padded playing surface — typically 33" × 33" — that cushions tile sounds, prevents scratching, and makes the table look beautiful. Mats aren't required to play, but they've become standard in most American Mahjong groups.

They range from $50 to $125 depending on brand and design, and come in hundreds of patterns. If you play at home regularly, a mat is worth having.

A rack is the holder each player uses to stand their tiles upright during play — facing the player, hidden from opponents. A pusher is the sliding piece along the bottom used to push tiles off when discarding.

Most American Mahjong sets include 4 racks and pushers (one per player). Racks come in standard plastic, colored acrylic, and higher-end styles — many players coordinate their rack with their mat.

A line finder is a small sliding tool players use to track their position on the NMJL card during play. You slide it down the card to mark which hand you're working toward, making it much easier to scan quickly without losing your place mid-game.

Line finders are usually under $20, come in a range of colors, and once you've used one, playing without it feels surprisingly difficult.

A tile shuffler is a flat tray with a textured surface used to mix tiles between hands. Players push and roll the face-down tiles across it to randomize them before building the next wall.

Shufflers protect tiles from scratching against each other and reduce the noise of the tile-washing process. Not strictly necessary, but a nice addition if you play regularly at home.

The Mahjong Guild directory is the most comprehensive resource for finding mahjong groups, open play sessions, leagues, and instructors in the US — all searchable by state. Start with the Open Play, Leagues & More directory for recurring sessions and the Social Groups directory for online communities in your area.

Other good resources:

• Facebook — search your city or state + "mahjong" to find local communities
• Meetup.com — search "mahjong" to find groups near you
• Local libraries and community centers — many host free weekly open play
• Local boutiques — shops that carry mahjong products often host events or know where games are happening

Open play is an informal, drop-in session — no lessons, just games. Most sessions run 2 to 3 hours at a regular venue on a set schedule and welcome players who already know the basics.

Some sessions are completely free; others charge a small fee ($5–$15) to cover the venue. Sets are usually provided — just bring your current NMJL card. Open play is the best way to practice and meet other players once you know how to play.

The Mahjong Guild's Featured Gatherings directory lists tournaments, destination events, cruises, and camps across the US — filterable by state, event type, and skill level.

For competitive tournament play specifically, Mah Jongg Fever (mahjonggfever.com) runs multi-day NMJL tournaments at hotels across the country year-round. Most major tournaments sell out well in advance — add yourself to organizer mailing lists to get early notice.

Yes — two platforms support online American Mahjong with NMJL rules:

• I Love Mahj (ilovemahj.com) — the most popular platform, with real-time multiplayer, NMJL card, and both desktop and mobile access
• Mah Jongg Time (mahjongtime.com) — online play with virtual tournaments and cash prize events

Online play is a great way to practice between in-person sessions and to find games when you can't get four people together.

A mahjong league is a structured competitive program where players compete on a regular schedule — usually weekly — over a season, with results tracked and standings updated throughout.

The Mahjong League (themahjongleague.org) runs nationally ranked leagues where players' results contribute to national standings. Many local programs run their own leagues independently. Leagues are a step up from casual open play — for players who want structure, competition, and the motivation that comes from knowing your results count.

The Mahjong Guild is the complete online directory and membership community for American Mahjong players in the United States. We curate and verify listings across six directories:

• Retail Locations — US shops and online retailers selling sets, mats, and accessories
• Featured Gatherings — tournaments, cruises, camps, and one-time destination events
• Open Play, Leagues & More — recurring weekly sessions, leagues, and drop-in programs
• Social Groups — Facebook communities, Meetup groups, and online mahjong spaces
• Instructors & Educators — verified teachers and teaching programs
• Mahjong Info — reference articles, guides, and strategy resources

All directories are searchable by state, game format, and skill level.

Visit themahjongguild.com/membership-options to choose your plan. All plans include full access to all six directories, daily mahjong tips, and the member newsletter:

• Explorer — $4.99/month or $47/year
• Guild Member — $9.99/month or $89/year (includes listing submissions and member profile)
• Guild Champion — $19.99/month or $179/year (featured profile, early access, Champion badge)

All memberships renew automatically and can be cancelled anytime.

Guild Member and Guild Champion members can submit listings through the Submit a Listing page. All submissions are reviewed before publishing. We welcome listings from retailers, instructors, open play groups, tournament organizers, and Facebook communities.

If you run any part of the mahjong community — whether it's a Tuesday night game at the library or a nationwide tournament series — we'd love to include you.

The directory focuses primarily on American Mahjong under NMJL rules because it's the format played by the vast majority of players in the United States. That said, we also list groups and events for Riichi, Siamese, and Hong Kong Mahjong where they exist. If you play a non-NMJL format, note your format when submitting a listing.

New listings are added on a continuous basis as our team researches and verifies retailers, instructors, programs, and events. Members who discover a missing listing can submit it for review through the Submit a Listing page.

All members receive new listing alerts via the member newsletter so you'll know when something new in your state or format is added.