Which Mahjong Variant Should You Learn First?

“I want to learn mahjong. Where do I start?”

This is the #1 question on r/Mahjong, and the answer isn’t simple. There are 4 major mahjong variants, each with different rules, tiles, and communities. Picking the wrong one means wasted time learning rules that don’t transfer.

Here’s how to choose.

The 4 Main Variants (Quick Overview)

Variant	Tiles	Complexity	Where It’s Played	Best For
Riichi (Japanese)	136 + red 5s	Medium-High	Japan, online globally	Strategy enthusiasts, competitive players
Chinese (MCR)	144	Medium	China, international tournaments	Traditional players, cultural enthusiasts
Hong Kong	144	Medium-Low	Hong Kong, Cantonese communities	Fast-paced social play
American (NMJL)	166	Low-Medium	USA, Jewish/senior communities	Social game nights, pattern matching

Decision Tree: Which Variant Is Right for You?

Choose Riichi (Japanese) if:

✅ You want to play online (Mahjong Soul, Tenhou, Riichi City) ✅ You’re interested in competitive/strategic play ✅ You like games with deep decision-making (similar to poker or chess) ✅ You watch anime and want to understand mahjong scenes ✅ You’re learning solo without a local group

Why Riichi? It’s the dominant online variant with the largest English-speaking community. If you want to improve through practice games, Riichi is the clear choice.

Start here: Complete Beginner’s Guide to Riichi Mahjong

Choose American if:

✅ You’re in the USA with local American mahjong groups ✅ You want a social, casual game night experience ✅ You prefer pattern-matching over strategic depth ✅ You’re joining existing players (family, senior centers, etc.) ✅ You don’t care about online play

Why American? It’s the social variant — perfect for relaxed game nights. The annual “Card” system (65-70 preset hands) makes it approachable for casual players.

Important: American mahjong is almost entirely different from Asian variants. Skills don’t transfer well.

Choose Chinese/Hong Kong if:

✅ You have friends/family who play Chinese variants ✅ You’re in a Chinese-speaking community ✅ You want the “most traditional” experience ✅ You prefer faster-paced games

Why Chinese? It’s the root of all mahjong variants and widely played in Asia. Hong Kong style is particularly popular for its speed.

Challenge: Fewer English-language resources compared to Riichi.

What r/Mahjong Recommends

From 100+ “which variant?” threads:

Overwhelm consensus: Start with Riichi

Why?

Largest online player base (Mahjong Soul has millions of players)
Best English-language learning resources
Most active competitive scene
Transferable skills if you switch variants later

Quote from u/mahjong_enthusiast:

“Riichi is the ‘default’ mahjong for the international community. If you don’t have a specific reason to learn American, start with Riichi.”

Skill Transferability

Riichi → Other Variants: 60-70% transferable

Core concepts (tile efficiency, hand building, reading opponents) mostly carry over to Chinese/HK variants.

American ↔ Asian Variants: ~20% transferable

American mahjong is so different that skills barely transfer. Think of it as a cousin, not a sibling.

Chinese ↔ Riichi: 80-90% transferable

Very similar core mechanics. Main differences are scoring and specific yaku/fan.

Online Play Matters

If you want to practice online:

Riichi options:

Mahjong Soul (best for beginners)
Tenhou (serious competitive players)
Riichi City (newest, available on Steam)

American options:

Very limited online options
Mostly requires in-person play

Chinese options:

Several apps, but mostly Chinese-language interfaces
Smaller English-speaking community

The Popularity Surge of 2026

Mahjong is having a moment. Recent press coverage (NPR, Boston Globe, Better Homes & Gardens) highlighted mahjong’s appeal as a “slow game in a fast world.”

Key trend: Younger players are choosing Riichi because of:

Mahjong Soul’s beautiful anime aesthetic
Competitive online scene
Twitch/YouTube mahjong content (mostly Riichi)

Meanwhile, American mahjong remains strong in 50+ demographics but isn’t growing as fast among younger players.

Our Recommendation

For 90% of new players: Learn Riichi

Unless you have a specific reason (local American group, family plays Chinese), Riichi is the best starting point in 2026.

Why?

Largest online community for practice
Best learning resources in English
Most active competitive scene
Skills transfer if you want to explore other variants later

Start Your Riichi Journey

Read our Complete Beginner’s Guide (free, comprehensive)
Download Mahjong Soul (free, beginner-friendly)
Bookmark the Yaku Reference (you’ll need this constantly)
Play 10-20 games to get comfortable with the flow
Read Riichi Book 1 to level up (free PDF)

You can go from “total beginner” to “comfortable playing online” in 2-3 weeks of casual practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I learn multiple variants?

Yes, but start with one. Get comfortable (20-30 games) before branching out. Learning 2-3 variants simultaneously causes rule confusion.

Is one variant “better” than others?

No. They’re different games with different appeals:

Riichi = strategic depth
American = social/casual
Chinese = traditional/cultural
Hong Kong = fast-paced

“Better” depends on what you want from the game.

What if my friends play a different variant?

Learn theirs. Mahjong is a social game — playing with people you enjoy beats playing the “optimal” variant alone.

Can I switch variants later?

Absolutely. Many experienced players dabble in multiple variants. Core tile-reading skills transfer surprisingly well (except to/from American).

Bottom Line

If you’re learning solo or want online play: Riichi If you’re joining an existing American group: American If you have Chinese-speaking friends/family: Chinese or Hong Kong

When in doubt, start with Riichi. It’s the international standard, has the most resources, and gives you the most options for practice and improvement.

Welcome to the mahjong community. See you at the table.