American Mahjong Rules Explained
American mahjong follows a precise sequence: the game is set up, tiles are dealt, the Charleston is completed, and play continues through drawing and discarding until someone declares mahjong or the wall is exhausted. The annual card determines which hands are legal, while table procedures determine how players may reach those hands.
The full game in order
- Build and break the wall. Players shuffle the tiles, build walls, determine East, and deal the starting hands.
- Complete the Charleston. Players pass three tiles at a time through the required directions, followed by any optional passing.
- Begin with East. East starts with fourteen tiles and makes the first discard.
- Draw and discard. Each player normally begins a turn with thirteen tiles, draws one, evaluates the hand, and discards one.
- Call only when legal. A player may claim the most recent discard for a complete exposure or for mahjong, subject to concealed-hand restrictions.
- Declare mahjong correctly. A winning hand must match one current-card line exactly in tile identity, grouping, suit relationship, and exposure status.
Rules controlled by the card and rules controlled by play
The card controls
Winning patterns, hand values, concealed or exposed status, suit relationships, and special notes belong to the current annual card.
Gameplay controls
Turn direction, calls, exposures, joker exchanges, discard priority, and how an error is handled belong to the rules of play.
Before making any call
- Identify the exact hand and line.
- Confirm the discard completes one full group.
- Verify the hand is not required to stay concealed.
- Check whether jokers are permitted in that group.
- Expose the complete group immediately and discard to finish the turn.
The most important beginner rule
A legal hand is not merely fourteen tiles that look related. Every tile must match one printed card line exactly. Group sizes, colors, suit relationships, flowers, winds, dragons, and exposure status all matter.
Core rule questions
Can a player rearrange exposed tiles later?
No. An exposure may be corrected only while the player is making it and before the next discard is made. Once play continues, the exposure is fixed.
Can any discard be called?
Only the most recent discard is available, and it must immediately complete a legal exposure or the winning hand.
What happens when no one wins?
If the wall is exhausted without a legal mahjong, the game ends as a wall game and no player wins that hand.