Complete Beginner's Guide to American Mahjong
Learn American Mahjong from scratch with our comprehensive step-by-step guide. By the end, you'll understand the tiles, the Card system, and be ready to join your first game night.
This guide assumes zero prior knowledge. We'll cover everything from the 152 tiles to your first winning hand, with clear explanations perfect for social and casual play.
Each chapter builds on the previous one, so we recommend reading them in order. American Mahjong is wonderfully social — by the end of this guide, you'll be ready to join local game nights or start your own!
Course Chapters
What is American Mahjong?
Discover American Mahjong, the social game that's captured hearts across the USA. Learn what makes it unique and why it's perfect for casual play.
The Tiles & The Card
Learn the 152 American Mahjong tiles including Jokers, and how to read the official NMJL Card that defines all valid winning hands.
Gameplay Flow
Step-by-step walkthrough of how a round of American Mahjong works, from the Charleston to declaring Mah Jongg.
Building Hands
Master the art of choosing the right hand from the Card and building toward victory in American Mahjong.
Scoring & Strategy
Learn American Mahjong scoring systems, payment variations, and intermediate strategy to improve your game.
Your First Game
Complete walkthrough of playing your first American Mahjong game, from setup to Mah Jongg, with real examples.
Ready to Start?
Begin with Chapter 1: What is American Mahjong? You'll learn about this uniquely American variant, its social nature, and what makes it perfect for game nights.