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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Mahjong is a four-player tile game: players draw and discard tiles while trying to complete a legal hand. The exact winning hand depends on the ruleset. This guide explains the shared basics, then uses the Mahjong International League’s Chinese/Official International rules for its step-by-step example; American Mah Jongg is a separate game with a card-based target and a Charleston passing phase.
How do you play mahjong?
Players build a hand by drawing tiles and discarding tiles they do not need. The aim is to complete a hand that qualifies under the version being played. In the Chinese/Official International example below, hands are built from groups and a pair, with permitted patterns and scoring defined by that ruleset. In American Mah Jongg, the target is one complete hand printed on the current National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card.
The Mahjong International League (MIL) says that “whichever version is being played, game play is broadly similar.” That broad resemblance does not make the details interchangeable: calls, hand patterns, turn order, and scoring vary by ruleset. The MIL recognizes MCR (Mahjong Competition Rules), Riichi, and Sichuan Rules as major international competition rules; American Mah Jongg is another distinct ruleset. Mahjong International League
Meet the tiles
The familiar tile families are three numbered suits—bamboo, characters, and dots—plus winds and dragons. Some sets also include flower and season tiles, whose use depends on the rules. The MIL’s Chinese/Official International guide describes a 144-piece set: four copies of each suited and honor tile, plus eight single flower and season tiles. In that guide, a flower or season is declared and replaced, with bonus scoring under its rules. A Guide to Mahjong (Chinese / Official International Rules)
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Recognize the basic groups
- Chow: three consecutive numbered tiles in the same suit, such as 3, 4, and 5 of dots. This term and example apply to Chinese/International play; American Mah Jongg does not use chows.
- Pung: three identical tiles.
- Kong: four identical tiles. A kong counts as a set, but its handling has special rules in the selected version.
How many tiles do you start with?
There is no single starting count for every mahjong version. The MIL guide describes a 144-piece Chinese/Official International set, but the number dealt to each player and the dealing procedure belong to that ruleset’s setup instructions. American Mah Jongg uses a different configuration: the American-focused Sage Mahjong guide, updated June 6, 2026, describes 152 tiles. Neither set count should be treated as a universal count for all mahjong.
How to play Chinese/Official International mahjong
This walkthrough follows the MIL’s Chinese/Official International guide, not every Chinese local variant, Riichi, Sichuan, or American Mah Jongg.
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Set up the table
- Mix the tiles face down. Each of the four players builds a wall two tiles high; together, the walls form a square.
- The East player rolls dice to determine where the wall is broken, following the MIL guide’s setup procedure.
- Players draw from the wall to form their starting hands as directed by that guide. Keep the guide nearby for the exact deal and turn details.
Take a turn
- Draw a tile from the wall when it is your turn.
- Check whether the new tile completes a legal winning hand under the selected rules. If it does not, consider whether it helps build a useful group or pair.
- Discard a tile to continue play.
A player may be able to claim another player’s discard to make a set or to win, but which claims are legal and how they affect turn order depend on the chosen rules. Consult the corresponding rulebook before making or allowing a claim; do not apply one version’s call rules at another table.
Know what counts as a win
In Chinese/Official International play, do not assume that any four groups and a pair automatically win: the MIL guide specifies qualifying patterns and scoring. Check the complete hand against its rules. In American Mah Jongg, a hand must match one whole line on the current NMJL card; a generic set-and-pair shape is not enough.
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Is American mahjong the same as Chinese mahjong?
No. They share the broad draw-and-discard idea, but their hand targets, equipment, and procedures differ. This comparison covers only the Chinese/Official International example above and American Mah Jongg; it is not a survey of every regional ruleset.
| Feature | Chinese/Official International example | American Mah Jongg |
|---|---|---|
| Winning target | Ruleset-specific patterns and scoring; the MIL guide describes set-and-pair-based hands. | One complete hand line on the current NMJL card. |
| Distinctive pre-play | Build walls and use dice to determine the break, following the MIL guide. | Charleston tile passing: three tiles are passed right, across, and left. The American Mah Jongg Association guide notes that a second Charleston may be optional in some situations. |
| Equipment | The MIL guide describes suits, winds, dragons, and optional flower and season tiles. | Jokers, racks, dice, and the current NMJL card. |
| Scoring reference | The selected Chinese/International rules and their scoring patterns. | The current NMJL card and official instructions. |
American Mah Jongg uses the Charleston before regular play: players pass three tiles to the right, across, and to the left. The annual NMJL card determines which hand patterns are legal; card lines, scoring values, joker substitutions, and table rulings should be checked against the current card and official NMJL material. American Mah Jongg Association · National Mah Jongg League
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What mahjong set do you need?
Choose equipment for the ruleset you intend to play. A set’s tile count and accessories are not automatically compatible across versions.
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- For Chinese/Official International play: look for the suits, winds, and dragons described by the MIL guide; its set also includes eight flower and season tiles.
- For American Mah Jongg: choose a set with jokers and racks, and obtain the current NMJL card. The card is essential because it defines the legal hands.
- If borrowing a set: ask which ruleset it is intended for and whether the necessary card or other version-specific equipment is included.
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