American Mahjong

1 History and Origins

American Mahjong grew out of the Mahjong craze that swept the United States in the 1920s. The game arrived via China trade routes and became enormously fashionable, particularly among women in urban social clubs. Early American versions diverged from Chinese rules almost immediately, with players inventing new hands and rule variations to suit American tastes.

In 1937, the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) was founded in New York City to standardize American rules. The NMJL's annual card of winning hands became the defining feature of American Mahjong, making it a living game that changes every year. The NMJL card is still printed and sold annually, and using the current year's card is essential for tournament and standard play.

American Mahjong is especially popular among Jewish American communities in the Northeast, where it has been a social institution for generations. It differs substantially from all Asian variants and should be understood as its own distinct game rather than a simplified version of Chinese Mahjong.

2 The Tiles (152 Total)

Suited tiles (108): Same as Chinese Mahjong: Bamboo, Circles, and Characters, values 1-9, four of each.

Honor tiles (28): Four each of East, South, West, North winds; Red Dragon, Green Dragon, White Dragon.

Joker tiles (8): Unique to American Mahjong. Jokers can substitute for any tile in an exposure (a revealed set of 3 or more), but CANNOT be used in pairs. Jokers cannot be swapped out of another player's exposure once played.

Flower tiles (4): In American Mahjong, flowers are regular tiles used in specific hands on the NMJL card, not bonus tiles drawn and replaced like in Hong Kong rules.

Total: 144 standard + 8 jokers = 152 tiles.

3 The NMJL Card

The NMJL card is the heart of American Mahjong. Purchased annually from the National Mah Jongg League (approximately $14 for a standard card), it lists every valid winning hand for that year. No hand outside the card is a valid win. The card changes every year, keeping the game fresh and requiring players to re-learn hand options each season.

Card Sections (Typical Categories)

• 2468: Hands using only even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8).
• Any Like Numbers: Hands using the same number across different suits (e.g., all 3s: 3 Bamboo, 3 Circles, 3 Characters).
• Consecutive Numbers: Sequences of consecutive values across or within suits.
• 13579: Hands using only odd numbers.
• Quints: A group of five identical tiles (four tiles plus a joker).
• Singles and Pairs: Hands built entirely of pairs, sometimes with one single tile. Jokers CANNOT be used in these hands at all.
• Winds and Dragons: Hands featuring wind and dragon tiles prominently.
• 369: Hands using multiples of 3.
• Flowers: Hands incorporating flower tiles.

Reading the Card

Each hand on the card shows tiles in a specific notation. "FFFF" means four Flower tiles. "NEWS" means one each of North, East, West, South. "DDd" means two dragons of one color and one of another. A hand marked "C" is closed (cannot use exposures). A hand marked with a dollar value shows its payment amount. Jokers can be used for any exposure group of 3+ tiles unless the hand is Singles and Pairs.

Example hand from a typical card: "FF 2022 2022 2022" means two Flower tiles plus three pungs (groups of three) of 2022 in three different suits. The year's number appears on current-year cards in many hands.

4 Setup and Dealing

1. Shuffle all 152 tiles face-down.
2. Each player builds a wall of 38 tiles (2 high, 19 wide). Four walls form a square.
3. Determine the dealer (East). Roll dice or use another agreed method. Seat order counterclockwise: East, South, West, North.
4. Break the wall and deal. Each player receives 13 tiles. The dealer receives one extra tile (14 total) and must discard to begin. In some groups, everyone takes 13 and East picks up from the wall on their first turn.
5. Unlike Asian variants, there is no "dead wall" for replacement draws in most American rules. Replacements after kong declarations draw from the regular wall.

5 The Charleston

The Charleston is the tile-passing phase unique to American Mahjong. It happens before regular play begins and is one of the most strategically important phases of the game.

First Charleston

1. Pass Right: Each player passes 3 tiles face-down to the player on their right simultaneously.
2. Pass Across: Each player passes 3 tiles face-down to the player directly across.
3. Pass Left: Each player passes 3 tiles face-down to the player on their left. Before passing, you may "blind pass" 0-3 of the tiles you just received from the right (without looking at them) mixed in with tiles from your hand.

Second Charleston (Optional)

After the first Charleston, players may agree to do a second Charleston:

1. Pass Left: Pass 3 tiles to the left.
2. Pass Across: Pass 3 tiles across.
3. Pass Right: Pass 3 tiles right. Again, blind passing is allowed on the last pass.

Courtesy Pass

After the Charleston(s), each player may offer 1-3 tiles to the player across. That player may take any, all, or none of the offered tiles, and returns the same number of tiles. This is optional and by mutual agreement.

Strategy note: Pass tiles that do not fit your hand shape. During the last pass of each Charleston, consider blind-passing unwanted tiles you just received rather than giving away tiles from your hand.

6 Turn Structure

Play moves counterclockwise after the Charleston. On your turn:

1. Draw: Take one tile from the wall.
2. Decide: Win (declare Mahjong) or discard.
3. Discard: Place one tile face-up in the center.

After each discard, any player may claim it. Priority: win claim beats all; then pong/kong/quint claims; chow is not used in American Mahjong (sequences must be formed from your own draws). Any player, not just the next player, may claim a discard for any exposure.

Joker exchange: On your turn (before drawing), you may exchange a joker from another player's face-up exposure for the tile the joker represents if you have that exact tile in your hand. This is a legal way to "steal" jokers from opponents.

7 Exposures

An exposure is a set of tiles claimed from a discard and revealed face-up. Once exposed, the tiles are locked and cannot be changed (except by joker exchange). Exposures tell opponents part of your hand, so be thoughtful about claiming.

Types of exposures:

• Pung (3 identical): Claim a discard to complete three identical tiles.
• Kong (4 identical): Four identical tiles. Can use jokers.
• Quint (5 identical): Five identical tiles (requires at least one joker). Only available for specific hands on the NMJL card.

Singles and Pairs hands on the NMJL card are closed hands. You cannot make any exposures while pursuing these hands. Jokers cannot be used in Singles and Pairs hands at all.

8 Winning

To win, your complete 14-tile hand must exactly match one of the hands printed on the current NMJL card. No exceptions. Partial matches or hands that seem reasonable but are not on the card are not valid wins.

You may win on:

• A discard: The tile completes your hand. You claim it and declare Mahjong.
• Self-draw: You draw the winning tile from the wall. Declare Mahjong immediately.

Wall game: If all tiles are drawn with no winner, no money changes hands and the game is typically replayed.

Example winning hand: NMJL card shows "FF 111 222 333 444" (two flowers, then pungs of 1, 2, 3, 4 in the same suit). Your hand: Flower, Flower, 1-1-1 Bamboo, 2-2-2 Bamboo (with one joker), 3-3-3 Circles (wait) -- this would NOT be a valid hand because 3s must all match the 1-2-3-4 suit pattern. Every tile group must match exactly.

9 Scoring and Betting

American Mahjong does not use a faan or points calculation system. Payment is based on fixed values printed on the NMJL card next to each hand, typically expressed in cents.

Standard Betting Amounts

• 25 cents: Basic hands (most common hands on the card)
• 50 cents: More difficult hands
• 75 cents: Very difficult hands
• Some groups play for nickel/dime/quarter (5/10/25 cents) or scaled up dollar amounts.

Payment Rules

• Discard win: Only the player who discarded the winning tile pays, at the hand's face value.
• Self-draw win: All three opponents each pay the face value.
• Joker in winning hand: Standard payment. No penalty or bonus for joker use unless house rules apply.
• Closed hand (Singles and Pairs): Some groups pay double for a closed Singles and Pairs win. Check house rules.

Dealer does not pay or collect double in American Mahjong (unlike Hong Kong rules). All players pay equally based on the hand value on the card.

10 Strategy

Know the Current Year's Card Cold

The single biggest skill in American Mahjong is memorizing the current NMJL card. Players who know all hands can spot which ones fit their tiles immediately after the Charleston. Study the card before every game.

Charleston Strategy

Identify your 2-3 strongest hand possibilities in the first few tiles. Pass tiles that are useless to all your target hands. On the last pass of each Charleston, consider blind-passing tiles you received instead of giving away key tiles from your hand.

Joker Management

Jokers are extremely powerful. Use them in exposures for difficult-to-complete groups. Avoid using jokers in pairs (impossible anyway, since they are banned from pair use). If you need jokers that opponents have exposed, have the matching tile ready for a joker exchange on your next turn.

Defense

When another player has multiple exposures, you can read part of their hand. If they have exposed three of the same number (say, three 6s in Bamboo), look at the NMJL card to narrow down which hand they are pursuing and avoid discarding tiles that complete it.

Singles and Pairs Gamble

Singles and Pairs hands pay well and are closed, so opponents cannot read them from exposures. The risk is that you cannot use jokers, making the hand harder to complete. Best pursued when you start with many pairs after dealing and Charleston.

11 Common Misconceptions

• "Any reasonable hand wins." No. Only hands exactly matching the current NMJL card are valid. There is no improvising.
• "Jokers work like wild cards in all situations." Jokers cannot be used in pairs, and cannot be used in Singles and Pairs category hands at all.
• "You can swap jokers anytime." Joker exchanges from opponents' exposures can only happen on your own turn, before you draw.
• "The Charleston is optional." In standard play, the first Charleston is mandatory. The second Charleston requires mutual agreement but is commonly done.
• "Chow works the same as in Chinese Mahjong." American Mahjong does not use chow at all. Sequences are formed only with tiles in your own hand, not by claiming discards.
• "Same rules every year." The NMJL card changes annually. A 2022 card hand may not be legal in 2024. Always use the current year's card.

12 Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I buy the NMJL card?

From the National Mah Jongg League website (nationalmahjonggleague.org). Cards cost approximately $14. The league also supports charitable causes, so purchasing directly supports that mission.

Can I play American Mahjong without the NMJL card?

You can use an older card or create your own house hands list, but this is nonstandard. For tournament play or playing with new people, the current NMJL card is expected.

How many jokers are in the set?

Eight jokers in a standard American Mahjong set, making the total tile count 152.

What happens if two players claim the same discard?

The player claiming to win takes priority. If both are claiming for an exposure (not a win), the player closest counterclockwise (next in turn order) takes priority.

Can I look at tiles being passed to me during the Charleston?

Yes, once they reach you. During the blind pass (last pass of each Charleston), you may pass tiles you just received without looking at them, mixing them with tiles from your hand.

Is there a minimum hand value?

No faan minimum exists. Any hand exactly matching a card hand is a valid win, regardless of its stated monetary value.

What if no one wins before the wall runs out?

It is a wall game. No money changes hands. The dealer rotates and a new hand is dealt.

Can the dealer win on the first discard?

No. The dealer cannot win on their own discard at the start of the hand (they must wait for play to proceed normally).

Are flowers always used?

Flowers are regular tiles in American Mahjong, used only when specified in a hand on the NMJL card. They are not automatically bonus tiles like in Hong Kong rules.

Can I change my target hand mid-game?

Yes, as long as you have no exposures. Once you have made an exposure, you are committed to a hand that uses those tiles. You cannot take back an exposure.