The short answer: Mahjong is a draw-and-discard game. Every turn you take a tile from the wall, then throw one away. You win by building four sets plus a pair — 14 tiles total. You can also claim another player’s discard to complete a set, or to win. One hand lasts about 10-20 minutes.
If you’ve only watched mahjong from across the room, it looks chaotic. It isn’t. One simple loop drives the entire game, and once you see it, everything else clicks.
What happens on a normal turn?
- Draw. Take a tile from the wall.
- Check. If your hand is complete, declare the win. Otherwise, pick the tile you need least.
- Discard. Place that tile face up in the middle of the table.
- Pass. If no one claims your discard, the next player draws, and the loop repeats.
That’s a full turn. The game is just this loop, over and over, until somebody wins.
What can you do with other players’ discards?
- Chi: use a discard from the player on your left to finish a run of three consecutive numbers in one suit. Only their discards qualify.
- Peng: use any player’s discard to make three of a kind.
- Gang: claim a discard to make four of a kind, then draw a replacement from the wall’s tail.
- Win: take the discard and complete your hand. This beats every other claim at the table.
Chi, peng, and gang are usually optional — you can pass even when you could claim. Winning off a discard is always allowed, and it feels great.
A completed hand holds four sets and a pair: 14 tiles. A set is three of a kind or a run of three consecutive numbers; the pair is two matching tiles. See the full mahjong rules for scoring, and warm up with mahjong solitaire free online.
Related Questions
How do you win at mahjong?
Complete your hand with four sets plus a pair, on your own draw or someone’s discard. Once your 14 tiles fit, call the win.
What is a set in mahjong?
A set is either three identical tiles or a run of three consecutive numbers in the same suit, like 4-5-6 of bamboo. You need four of them, plus a pair, to win.
How long does a game of mahjong last?
A single hand runs about 10-20 minutes. A session is usually four hands, one with each player as dealer, but tables often play longer. See our how to play mahjong guide.
Can you win mahjong on another player’s discard?
Yes. If a discard completes your hand, call the win and claim it — it beats chi, peng, and gang claims.