American Mahjong in Highland, Utah
M
Highland Made Company
Mahjong, made beautifully simple
Learn Mah Jongg

Start here. You can learn this.

American Mah Jongg can look like a wall of symbols and rules at first. We break it into small pieces so the table starts making sense.

Beginner path

Eight lessons to your first game

Work through these in order, then keep the page nearby during your first few games.

01

Meet the tile families

Learn dots, bams, cracks, winds, dragons, flowers, and jokers.

02

Build the wall

Set up the tiles, choose East, and understand how the game begins.

03

Read the card

Learn what the colors mean and how to read groups, suits, and repeated numbers.

04

Learn the Charleston

Practice the passing sequence and use it to improve your starting hand.

05

Pick and discard

Understand the basic turn rhythm and how your hand changes.

06

Call a tile

Learn when you may call a discard and when your hand must stay concealed.

07

Use jokers wisely

Know where jokers can be used and how a joker exchange works.

08

Call Mah Jongg

Finish a valid hand, verify it against the card, and celebrate.

152 tilesStandard League play includes 8 flowers and 8 jokers.
13 tilesMost players hold 13 tiles during play. East begins with 14.
14 tilesA complete Mah Jongg hand contains 14 tiles.
Printable beginner guide

Want a guide beside you while you learn?

My American Mah Jongg Guide for Beginners gives you an easy printable reference to use while practicing at home or playing your first games.

Shop Beginner Guide on Etsy
Beginner questions

Things everyone asks at first

No. Card colors show that groups must be different suits. They do not tell you to use a tile with that printed color.
No. Jokers are used in groups of three or more identical tiles, not in singles or pairs.
Absolutely not. Experienced players use the card during play. The skill is learning how to read it and narrow your choices.
A concealed hand must be completed without calling discards to expose groups. You can still use the final discard to declare Mah Jongg when the hand permits it under current rules.