The short answer: The dealer rolls three dice and counts players counterclockwise, starting with themselves. The player that count lands on breaks their wall that many stacks from the right. Dealing goes clockwise from the break: everyone gets 13 tiles, the dealer 14, then discards first.
Dealing mahjong looks like a secret ritual, but it’s two counting rules: players move counterclockwise, tiles move clockwise. Once you’ve got that, dealing takes two minutes.
Who deals first?
- Pick the dealer. Everyone rolls one die; the highest roll deals. (Or the East seat deals.)
- Roll three dice. The dealer rolls and adds them up.
- Count counterclockwise. Starting with themselves as one, the dealer counts around the table.
- Find the break point. That player counts that many stacks from the right end of their own wall — that’s where dealing starts.
For example, if the dice total five, the count returns to the dealer — they break their own wall five stacks from the right.
How do you actually deal the tiles?
- Start at the break point. The dealer takes the first four tiles, then each player takes four in turn, clockwise.
- Repeat. After three rounds of four, everyone has 12 tiles.
- Finish the deal. The dealer takes two more tiles; every other player takes one. The dealer holds 14, the others 13.
- Set flowers aside. Any flowers drawn go face up in front of you, replaced from the wall’s tail.
American mahjong deals differently: everyone, dealer included, gets 13 tiles, and the dealer draws the 14th to open. See the American Mahjong page for that version, and our how to play guide for the full game. Need tile practice? Play mahjong solitaire free online.
Related Questions
How many tiles do you deal in mahjong?
Each player gets 13 tiles. The dealer takes 14 and discards first. In American mahjong everyone gets 13, and the dealer draws the 14th to start.
Do you deal mahjong clockwise or counterclockwise?
Dealing moves clockwise, always. Counting players and rotating the dealer position move counterclockwise. Tiles go one way, players the other.
How many dice do you roll to deal mahjong?
Three. The dealer rolls them to pick the break point. Before that, one die picks the dealer — highest roll wins.
Why does the dealer have more tiles?
Because the dealer discards first, they need 14 to start. It’s a small advantage, which is why the role rotates each hand. In American mahjong the dealer starts with 13 like everyone else and draws the extra tile.