Learn Mahjong

Learn Mahjong

A winning hand shown face up beside a note describing a wall game with no winner
Learn to play

Declaring Mahjong, and What Happens in a Wall Game

A winning hand must match a line on the card exactly. Learn how to declare...
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Three examples: a joker in a set of three is allowed, in a pair is not allowed, and alone as a single is not allowed
Jokers

Jokers in American Mahjong: What They Can Replace

Jokers are the most flexible tiles in the game, with firm limits. Learn where a...
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A discarded dot tile with an arrow to three matching tiles laid face up on a rack, next to a note about winning
Calling

Calling a Discard in Mahjong: When It Helps

You can call a discard only to complete a set of three or more, or...
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A rack of tiles with an arrow from the wall for the draw and an arrow to a discarded tile in the middle
Learn to play

Your Turn in Mahjong: Draw One, Discard One

After the Charleston, play is a simple rhythm: draw a tile, then discard one. See...
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Three diagrams of a table showing the second Charleston passes: left, across and right
Charleston

Second Charleston and Courtesy Pass: What Is Optional

The first Charleston is required; the second Charleston and the courtesy pass are optional. Learn...
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Three diagrams of a table showing the first Charleston passes: right, across and left
Learn to play

First Charleston in Mahjong: Step-by-Step Guide

Three tiles right, three across, three left. The first Charleston is required. See every pass,...
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A rack of 13 tiles sorted into dots, bams, craks, winds and dragons, and jokers
Learn to play

Sort Your Mahjong Rack First: A 60-Second Routine

Sorting your 13 tiles by suit before you open the card shows pairs, jokers and...
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Four racks around a table showing 13 tiles for three players and 14 for East
Learn to play

Mahjong Starting Tiles: Why East Gets 14 and Others 13

East starts with 14 tiles and everyone else with 13. See how the deal works,...
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Two dice showing 3 and 4 above a row of wall stacks with a gap counted seven stacks from the end
Learn to play

Who Deals First in Mahjong? Rolling for East Explained

Dice pick the dealer, called East, and then decide where the wall opens. Learn the...
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Illustration of a mahjong wall 19 stacks long and 2 tiles high, with a small diagram of four walls forming a square
Learn to play

Building the Four Walls in American Mahjong: Setup Guide

Each player builds a wall 19 stacks long and two tiles high, 152 tiles in...
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Latest guides

A wrapped gift box with mahjong tiles on it and a note that racks, mat and card are separate
Gifting the Whole Table: What a Mahjong Set Includes and Doesn't
A timeline showing delivery day, opening and counting the gift, waiting wrapped, and day 30
Gift Returns: How the 30-Day Window Works Around the Holidays
Three safe gift ideas: an ornament, a line reader card and a wrapped gift box, each with a tick
Safe Mahjong Gifts When You Don't Know What She Owns
A heart-shaped ornament and a line reader card each with a $19.99 price tag
Mahjong Gifts Under $50 That Still Feel Like a Real Gift