How American Mahjong Works

Start with the full table flow

Before you learn every tile, card symbol, and rule edge case, it helps to see how one hand actually begins. Think of this lesson as the quick map: where everyone sits, how the wall is built, who becomes East, how the tiles are dealt, why the Charleston happens, and how normal play starts.

One hand starts in eight steps

You do not need to master every detail yet. For now, follow the order from setup to the first discard.

• ✓1. Set up the table: four players sit in a square, with racks, walls, and a shared center.
• ✓2. Build the wall: mix all 152 tiles face down; each player builds a wall two tiles high and 19 stacks long.
• ✓3. Determine East: roll dice or use the table's agreed method; East is the dealer and starting player.
• ✓4. Break the wall: East rolls, counts stacks from the right, and breaks the wall where dealing will begin.
• ✓5. Deal the tiles: players take four at a time; on the final draw East takes two, everyone else takes one.
• ✓6. Do the Charleston: first Charleston is required, second is optional, and courtesy pass only happens if both players agree.
• ✓7. Organize the hand: compare your tiles to possible card lines and note any jokers for larger groups.
• ✓8. Begin play: East discards face up to start; turns continue counter-clockwise, toward the right.

Keep three anchors in mind

East starts with 14 tiles, while the other players start with 13. After East's first discard, players normally sit at 13 tiles until it is their turn to draw or until they call Mah Jongg. Jokers are powerful, but they are not for singles or pairs; you save them for larger matching groups as the hand develops.

• East opens normal play by discarding, not by drawing.
• A winning hand still totals 14 tiles and must match the card.
• Jokers help in larger groups, not singles or pairs.