Interactive primer
How to Play Mahjong
A hands-on, ten-minute introduction to American Mah Jongg, the version played with a National Mah Jongg League card. Touch the tiles, read a hand, run a Charleston. No experience needed.
Mahjong looks intimidating from across the room: a hundred and fifty little tiles, fast hands, a card full of codes. It is far simpler than it looks. Three short steps and you will understand the whole game well enough to sit down and learn the rest at the table.
- The tiles: what is in the set.
- Reading a hand: the one idea that surprises everyone.
- The Charleston: the passing ritual every game opens with.
A note: the example hands here are made up to teach you how to read them. At a real table you play from the current official NMJL card, which prints the year’s actual hands. You’ll want your own.