The short answer: American Mahjong is a four-player game with 152 tiles — 144 standard plus 8 jokers. The NMJL card decides legal hands, the Charleston opens with three passing rounds, and jokers are wild except flowers. Build four melds plus a pair and call Mahjong.
American Mahjong looks like the Chinese game but plays by its own book — a fresh card from the National Mah Jongg League every year decides what you can win with.
What is in the set?
- 108 suit tiles — bamboo, characters, and dots, plus 16 winds and 12 dragons
- 8 flowers plus 8 jokers — 152 tiles total
How does a game go?
- Charleston: pass three tiles right, three across, then three left
- Pick one hand from your card, build four melds plus a pair, call Mahjong
- Jokers are wild except flowers — call them out when you use one
Fastest way to learn? Play the free four-player American Mahjong game — the computer handles the card. New to mahjong? Read how to play mahjong first.
Related Questions
How many jokers are in American Mahjong?
Eight — two per player, wild for any tile except flowers. That is why the set runs 152 tiles instead of 144. Save them for the hands you cannot fill.
What is the Charleston?
The opening exchange: pass three tiles right, three across, three left, then one optional round. It exists to fix a terrible starting hand.
Must you memorize the card?
No. Keep it in front of you the whole game. It is a menu of legal hands — read the one you are chasing, then check it again when you win.