How many tiles are in American Mah Jongg?
A common American set has 152 playing tiles: 108 suited tiles, 16 Winds, 12 Dragons, 8 Flowers, and 8 Jokers. East begins with 14 tiles and each other player with 13. See every family and picture →
Do we need dice to start?
At a physical table, East rolls two dice to break the wall. A public group may also use dice to decide who starts as East. Online software may handle these setup steps for you; confirm the game room's rules.
Which direction do players take turns?
From East, turns move counterclockwise, to the player on East's right. A permitted claim of the latest discard can jump the normal order.
What do I do after the tiles are dealt?
Sort your rack by Flowers, suits, Winds, Dragons, and Jokers, compare complete lines on the current card, then pass three tiles at a time in the Charleston before East's first discard. Follow the first game →
Can I call a Chow or “eat” a tile?
No ordinary Chow claim is used in this American card-based ruleset. A Chow is a same-suit sequence such as 3–4–5. This differs from several Chinese Mahjong rulesets. Compare the pictured groups →
When can I call Pung or Kong?
Call the most recent discard only if it completes a permitted exposed group in a valid card line. A Pung is three identical tiles; a Kong is four. Show the group on top of your rack, then discard. Do not expose a group while pursuing a Concealed line.
Can a Joker finish a Pair?
No. Jokers may substitute in groups of three or more identical tiles, such as a Pung or Kong, but never in Singles or Pairs. A Joker discarded to the table cannot be claimed. Read the Joker guide →
Can I use a discard to win with a Pair?
Yes, a non-Joker discarded tile can complete the final Single or Pair when the resulting 14 tiles make a valid Mah Jongg. That is different from calling a discard only to expose a Pair during ordinary play.
What if no one wins?
When the wall is exhausted without a valid Mah Jongg, it is a wall game. The hand ends, and East moves to the next player to the right for the next game.
Do I need the current card for online play?
Check which card year and rules the platform or room selected. A physical table using NMJL-style hands needs the same current card for every player; an online game may display or require its own supported card. Never assume two platforms use the same card.