A complete American Mahjong tile set forms the draw walls and the hands you build.
JUNIPER MAHJ BEGINNER'S GUIDE
Learn American Mahjong
Learn the basics, follow the flow of play, and practice your first hands.
This guide is an introduction to common American Mahjong / NMJL-style play. Always use the current National Mah Jongg League card and rules for official play. JUNIPER MAHJ is not affiliated with the National Mah Jongg League.
01
Start here
What you need to play
American Mahjong is traditionally played with four players. Before you learn the rules, get familiar with the few pieces that appear in almost every game.
Each player uses a rack to organize tiles; pushers help build and move the walls.
The card lists the legal winning hands for the year. Ideally, each player has a copy.
Dice are used to establish the first dealer and help determine where the wall is opened.
Building your first table?
Explore Clear Acrylic Racks →
Start with a rack-and-pusher set, then add a mat and card accessory as your routine develops.
02
Know the pieces
Meet the tiles
You do not need to memorize every tile on day one. Learn the three numbered suits first, then the honor and special tiles.
The three suits
- Bams
- Bamboo suit, numbered 1–9.
- Craks
- Character suit, numbered 1–9.
- Dots
- Circle suit, numbered 1–9.
Honor & special tiles
- Winds
- North, East, West, and South — often shown as NEWS.
- Dragons
- Green, Red, and White. The White Dragon is often called “Soap.”
- Flowers
- Special tiles represented as F on the card.
- Jokers
- Wild tiles used in eligible groups of three or more matching tiles.
Know your groupings
Single1 tile
Pair2 matching tiles
Pung3 matching tiles
Kong4 matching tiles
Quint5 matching tiles
Beginner rule to remember: Jokers are generally used in eligible matching groups of three or more, not in singles or pairs. Check the current card and official rules for exceptions and exact play.
03
Read the roadmap
How to read the NMJL card
The card can look like a wall of numbers and colors at first. Instead of trying to memorize it, learn what the visual language is telling you.
Choose a section first
After the deal, look for a section that fits the overall shape of your tiles before committing to one exact line.
Colors show suit relationships
The printed colors on the card tell you how many different suits a hand requires; they are not permanently tied to Bam, Crak, or Dot.
Read every parenthetical note
Notes such as “Any Like Numbers” or “Matching Dragons” can completely change how a line may be played.
Check X vs. C
An X hand can be exposed during play. A C hand is closed/concealed and normally cannot be exposed before the final winning tile.
Helpful at the table
Mahjong Card Holder
Keep the card visible while you compare sections, symbols, and possible hands.
View Card Holder →
04
Before the first pass
Set up the table & deal
The setup creates four tile walls around the table and gives each player a starting hand.
- Give each player a rack.Shuffle the tiles face down in the center of the table.
- Build the four walls.Each player builds a two-tile-high wall in front of their rack. Exact wall length depends on the tile set and rules being used.
- Choose East.Players roll the dice; the first dealer is the East seat.
- Deal the tiles.Follow the deal procedure on the current NMJL rules/card. At the end of the deal, East begins with 14 tiles and the other players begin with 13.
- Rack and organize.Sort your tiles by suit and number so patterns are easier to see before the Charleston begins.
A defined playing surface helps.
Explore Mahjong Mats →
A mat visually contains the walls, discards, and accessories so the table is easier to read while you learn.
05
The signature pass
Learn the Charleston
The Charleston is the pre-game passing sequence that helps you release tiles you do not need and improve the direction of your hand.
RRight
OOver
LLeft
LLeft
OOver
RRight
The first Right–Over–Left sequence is the core Charleston. If the table continues into the second sequence, it runs Left–Over–Right. A Courtesy Pass may follow between players seated across from one another. Follow the current NMJL rules and your table’s agreed play.
06
The rhythm of play
Gameplay in four moves
Once the deal and Charleston are complete, the game settles into a repeatable draw-and-discard rhythm.
East discards first
East begins with 14 tiles, so the first action is a discard rather than a draw.
Draw, then discard
Play moves counterclockwise. On a normal turn, draw from the wall, rack the tile, then discard one tile face up.
Call only when the discard works
The newest discard may be called when it legally completes an eligible exposed grouping or is the final tile needed to Mahj.
Match one complete hand
The goal is to be the first player whose 14 tiles exactly match a legal hand on the current NMJL card.
Live vs. dead discards
The most recent discard is “live” until the next player racks their drawn tile. Once play moves on, that discard is dead under standard NMJL-style play.
Calling & exposing
If you call a discard, place the completed exposed grouping on top of your rack. That exposure is now committed to the hand you are building.
Jokers: the beginner version
- Jokers can act as wild tiles in eligible groups of three or more matching tiles.
- They are not used for singles or pairs.
- An exposed Joker can often be exchanged for the natural matching tile during a player’s turn.
- Always check the current NMJL rules/card for the exact situation you are playing.
07
Build confidence
A simple 30-minute practice routine
You do not need a full four-player table to improve. Short, repeatable practice is one of the easiest ways to make the card and tile patterns feel familiar.
5 minSort the tiles
Separate Bams, Craks, Dots, Winds, Dragons, Flowers, and Jokers.
5 minScan the card
Pick one section and identify two or three lines you can explain in your own words.
10 minBuild practice hands
Lay out sample hands and practice spotting which tiles are useful, flexible, or safe to pass.
10 minPractice the Charleston
Use a sample rack to choose three passes at a time while keeping one or two possible hands in mind.
Made for beginners
Learn to Mahj Set
Practice, reference, and card storage together in one compact setup for learning between real games.
Shop the set
08
Beginner questions
Before your first game
Do I need four players?
Four players is the standard format and the easiest place to start. Two- and three-player variants exist, but they use modified rules.
Do I need an NMJL card?
For standard American Mahjong / NMJL-style play, yes. The legal hands change with each annual card, so use the current card when learning with a regular group.
Should I memorize the card?
No. Learn how to read its sections, colors, symbols, and notes. Pattern recognition becomes much faster with repetition.
What about blank tiles?
Some social groups use blanks as a house rule. They are not part of standard tournament-style NMJL play, so agree on the rule before the game begins.
What should I practice first?
Start with tile recognition and reading the card, then practice choosing a section and making Charleston passes. Speed comes later.
One game at a time
The fastest way to learn is to play.
Keep this guide and the current rules handy as you practice.