How to play American mahjong here
You play against three computer players with big tiles you can read at a glance: every tile shows its number or letter and its name. Make a 14-tile hand from the card before anyone else.
- Deal. East (the dealer) gets 14 tiles, everyone else 13. The deal moves to the right each hand; a game is four hands.
- Charleston. Tap three tiles and pass them right, then across, then left. Jokers can’t be passed. You can choose a second Charleston, then a courtesy pass of up to three tiles with the player across.
- Play. You draw automatically; tap a tile, then Discard. When someone discards a tile that brings you closer or wins, you’ll be asked whether to call it.
- Win. When your tiles match a hand on the card, tap Mahjong!
Under the table, your closest hand is laid out tile by tile: solid tiles you have, faded ones you still need. Tap Card to see every hand and how far you are from each, and Hint for what the computer would do.
Our practice card
Real American mahjong is played with a card of winning hands that changes every year. The standard card in the United States is published by the National Mah Jongg League; this game does not use it. Instead it uses our own practice card: 33 hands in eight sections (even numbers, odd numbers, consecutive runs, like numbers, 3-6-9, winds and dragons, quints, and singles and pairs) that teach the same skills: reading a card, choosing a hand, passing, calling and using jokers. To play with your group, buy this year’s card from the League.
Rules used in this game
- Jokers fill any group of three or more identical tiles, never a single or a pair. A discarded joker can’t be called.
- On your turn you may swap a real tile for a joker in anyone’s exposed group.
- You may call a discard to expose a pung, kong or quint, or to win. If two players call, Mahjong wins; otherwise the player next in turn.
- Scoring: win on a discard and the discarder pays double, the others the hand’s value; win on your own draw and everyone pays double. A hand with no jokers is worth double (except singles and pairs).
- Blind passes aren’t used.
New to the game? Read the full American mahjong rules for beginners.
Questions
Is it free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it’s free with no sign-up. Your game is saved in this browser after every move.
Is this the official card?
No. It’s our own practice card, made for learning and fun. The official card for American groups comes from the National Mah Jongg League each spring.
Do the computer players cheat?
No. Each one sees only its own tiles, the discards and the exposed tiles, just like you.
Is this mahjong solitaire?
No. Mahjong solitaire is a tile-matching puzzle for one player. This is the real four-player game, the way it’s played at American mahjong tables.