American Mahjong
The Charleston, jokers and a card of hands — practice the game everyone is learning, free against three friendly bots.
Three bots, any time
No need to gather four players. Easy, Normal or Hard computer opponents fill the table in seconds.
Card helper
See the hands you are closest to, how many tiles you still need, and which hands are already dead.
Big, clear tiles
Corner numbers on every tile, three tile sizes, dark mode, and a confirm step so you never discard by accident.
Free, no sign-up
No download, no ads wall, no subscription. Works on phone, tablet and computer, and saves your game.
What is American Mahjong?
American Mah Jongg is a four-player tile game played with 152 tiles: three suits (Bams, Craks and Dots), winds, dragons, eight flowers and eight jokers.
Instead of building any sets you like, you race to complete one of the hands printed on a card. Before play begins, players swap tiles in a ritual called the Charleston.
The game came from China to the United States in the 1920s and grew its own rules. Today it is enjoying a big revival: mahjong clubs and game nights are filling up across the country.
How to play in five steps
- Deal: everyone gets 13 tiles; East, the dealer, gets 14.
- Charleston: pass three tiles right, across and left. A second round (left, across, right) is optional, then an optional courtesy pass of up to three tiles across.
- Play: East discards first. On your turn, draw a tile and discard one. Jokers can never be passed in the Charleston.
- Call: you may take another player’s discard to complete a pung, kong or quint, which you then expose on the table — or to finish your hand.
- Mah Jongg: when your 14 tiles exactly match a hand on the card, declare Mah Jongg and collect.
The Charleston explained
The Charleston lets you get rid of tiles you don’t need before the game starts. The first round is required: right, across, left. Any player can stop the second round. Pick a direction for your hand early, but stay flexible until the passes are over.
How jokers work
- A joker can stand in for any tile in a group of three or more (pung, kong, quint).
- Jokers can never be used in a single tile or a pair.
- Joker exchange: on your turn, if an exposed group anywhere on the table holds a joker and you have the real tile, swap it and take the joker.
- A discarded joker is dead: nobody can call it.
The card of hands
Each line on the card is one winning hand. Colors show which groups must be in the same suit or different suits; X means you may expose groups, C means the hand must stay concealed; the number is its value. This site uses its own original card, the House Card 2026, with 50 hands in ten categories.
| 2026 | FF 222 000 222 666 | 3 suits | X | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2468 | 222 4444 666 8888 | Any 1 suit | X | 25 |
| Like Numbers | FFFF 1111 111 111 | 3 suits · any like numbers | X | 25 |
| Consecutive Run | FFF 111 2222 3333 | 3 suits · any consecutive numbers | X | 25 |
| Winds & Dragons | NNNN EEE WWW SSSS | Any 1 suit | X | 25 |
| Singles & Pairs | FF 11 33 55 77 99 DD | Any 2 suits | C | 50 |
2026246813579Like NumbersAdditionQuintsConsecutive Run369Winds & DragonsSingles & Pairs
American vs Chinese vs Japanese mahjong
| American | Chinese | Japanese (Riichi) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiles | 152 (with flowers and jokers) | 136–144 | 136 |
| Jokers | 8 | None | None |
| Winning hand | Match a hand on the card | Four sets and a pair | Four sets and a pair, plus at least one yaku |
| Tile passing | Yes — the Charleston | None | None |
Tips for beginners
- In the Charleston, look for the two or three card categories your tiles fit, and pass the tiles that fit none of them.
- Keep your jokers. Never pass or discard them unless you have to.
- Watch the discards: if three of a tile you need are gone, change hands.
- Exposing early tells the table what you are building. Concealed hands are worth more but harder to finish.
Frequently asked questions
Is this American Mahjong game free?
Yes. It is free to play in your browser with no download and no sign-up. Your games and stats are saved on your device.
How is American mahjong different from Chinese mahjong or Mahjong Solitaire?
American mahjong uses 152 tiles including eight jokers, starts with the Charleston, and you win by completing a hand printed on a card. Chinese mahjong builds four sets and a pair without a card. Mahjong Solitaire is a one-player tile-matching puzzle, a different game altogether.
How many tiles and jokers are there?
152 tiles: 108 suit tiles (Bams, Craks, Dots 1–9, four of each), 16 winds, 12 dragons, 8 flowers and 8 jokers.
What is the Charleston?
A series of tile passes before play. First round: three tiles right, across, then left. An optional second round goes left, across, right, and any player may stop it. Finally, players across from each other may swap up to three tiles.
When can I use a joker?
Only in groups of three or more identical tiles, never in singles or pairs. On your turn you can exchange a real tile for a joker in any exposed group. Discarded jokers cannot be called.
Do I need to buy the official card to play here?
No. We use our own original card of hands, built in the classic style, so you can learn and practice without buying anything. To play the official tournament hands with friends, buy the current card from the National Mah Jongg League.
Is this the official National Mah Jongg League game?
No. This site is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Mah Jongg League.
Can I play on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The table works on phones, tablets and computers. Turn on large tiles in the settings for easier reading.
How is scoring done?
The winner collects the hand’s value from each player. The player who discarded the winning tile pays double; if you draw the winning tile yourself, everyone pays double. A hand made without any jokers doubles again (except Singles and Pairs).
Can I play with friends online?
Online tables with invite links are coming soon. For now you can practice against three computer players.