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American Mahjong Rules Cheat Sheet for Beginners
A rules cheat sheet should help during a real game without replacing the annual card. This page collects the table sequence and restrictions beginners most often need to confirm.
Quick answer
Use 152 tiles and four racks. East starts with 14 tiles, everyone else with 13. Complete the Charleston, then draw one and discard one. Call eligible discards for exposures, keep concealed hands hidden, and match one exact card line to win.
Setup and Charleston
Build four walls of 19 stacks, two tiles high. Deal 14 tiles to East and 13 to each other player, then complete the directional Charleston used by your group.
Jokers stay in the player’s hand during passes. After the required passes, an optional courtesy pass may occur across the table.
Turns, calls, and exposures
On a normal turn, draw one tile, evaluate the rack, and discard one tile face up. A player may call an eligible discard to expose a matching group needed by the selected card hand.
A concealed hand cannot call intermediate discards. The final discarded tile may generally be called when it completes Mahjong.
Jokers and winning
Jokers can support eligible identical groups of three or more, but not singles or pairs. Exposed jokers may be exchanged with matching natural tiles under the normal procedure.
A win must match one exact printed hand, including suit relationships, group sizes, flowers, winds, dragons, and concealed or exposed status.
Beginner checklist
- East has 14; others have 13
- Draw one and discard one
- Never pass a joker in the Charleston
- Never use a joker for a single or pair
- Match one complete card line exactly
Compact and travel-table note
Save this page on a phone or print a short copy for the travel bag. Pair it with the current official card; a generic cheat sheet cannot show the year’s valid hands.
Rules note: American Mah Jongg groups may use local table conventions. Use the current official card and rules for tournament or league play, and agree on house rules before the first deal.
Rules authority
The National Mah Jongg League publishes the American version of the rules and the annual Standard Hands and Rules card. Check the current card and official materials when a tournament-level ruling matters.
Continue learning
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles are used in American Mahjong?
Standard American play uses 152 tiles.
How many tiles does each player start with?
East starts with 14; the other players start with 13.
Does a cheat sheet replace the annual card?
No. The current card defines the valid hands for the year.
Gather Four Mahjong is an independent retailer and educational publisher. It is not affiliated with the National Mah Jongg League.