Start with your tiles.
Players begin with 13 tiles; the dealer starts with an extra tile and discards first. Sort your hand into suits and look for potential groups.
A seat at the table.
No experience necessary.
Just bring your curiosity.
Just bring your curiosity.
Rooted in traditionMade for connectionOpen to everyone ↗
01 / The tile collection
Small objects.
A whole language.
Three numbered suits. Winds and dragons. Flowers, seasons, and American jokers.
Every face, in one continuous row. Click any tile to explore it.
43 faces / 8 families
Scroll sideways or use the arrows. Click a tile to open. →Illustrated learning models · Tile artwork varies by set
Your first moves / Interactive lesson
Less reading.
More playing.
Learn three building blocks of Chinese mahjong. Pick tiles, build a group, and see why it works.
Practice groups, not a full winning hand. American mahjong follows its hand card; chow-style groups are not used in the same way.
02 / The invitation
A timeless game.
A fresh perspective.
Mahjong brings four people together around a table of tiles. You draw, discard, and build a hand—reading patterns and finding possibilities along the way.
Our club is a place to learn it together. Start with the basics, ask every question, and discover why one more round is always so tempting.
03 / Learn the game
One table.
Two ways in.
Chinese and American mahjong share a rhythm. What makes a winning hand is where their paths diverge.
Find the pattern.
Build your hand.
There is no single Chinese ruleset. This is an introduction to the common four-sets-and-a-pair structure; regional rules determine valid wins and scoring.
4Players
13 + 1Draw, then discard
136–144Typical tile set
The common winning structure
4 sets + 1 pair
A set is a sequence of three consecutive tiles in one suit, or three identical tiles. A pair is two identical tiles. Kongs and special hands introduce exceptions.
Draw. Decide. Discard.
On a normal turn, draw a tile from the wall, then discard one. Keep tiles that work together. Certain discards can also be claimed to complete a set.
Complete your hand.
When your hand meets your table’s winning rules, declare mahjong. Four sets and a pair is a common structure, but may not satisfy a variant’s minimum scoring requirement.
A hand, piece by piece.
Four sets and a pair: an illustration of the common Chinese structure, not a guaranteed valid win under every ruleset.
A few words you’ll hear
- Chow / chi: three consecutive numbers in the same suit. Generally, you can claim a discard for a chow only from the player immediately before you.
- Pung / peng: three identical tiles. A matching discard can generally be claimed from any player.
- Kong / gang: four identical tiles. Usually followed by a replacement draw, with details depending on the ruleset.
- Honors: winds and dragons. They can form identical groups, but not numbered sequences.
Before the first round, agree on a specific variant. Hong Kong, Sichuan, and Chinese Official rules differ in important ways. Flower and season tiles are optional in some sets and are often handled as bonus tiles.
Pick a pattern.
Make it yours.
Common American play follows an annually updated hand card, such as the National Mah Jongg League card. That card defines which combinations can win.
4Players
14Tiles in a winning hand
152Standard playing set
The winning structure
Your hand.
The card’s pattern.
The card’s pattern.
Match one of your current card’s listed hands, including its suit, number, grouping, and exposure requirements. This is not generally a four-sets-and-a-pair game.
Read the card.
Start with 13 tiles; East begins with 14. Choose a few possible hands on your card. Its colors indicate suit relationships, not tile colors.
Pass, then play.
The Charleston usually begins with passing three tiles right, across, then left. Further exchanges follow the chosen rules. Once play starts, draw and discard to build toward a listed hand.
Match it exactly.
Declare mahjong when all 14 tiles satisfy a listed hand. Check restrictions on exposed groups and concealed hands, and use jokers only where the rules allow.
What makes American play different?
- Jokers: generally substitute within identical groups of three or more tiles, not singles or pairs. Do not pass them in the Charleston.
- Calling discards: generally allowed to expose a permitted group of three or more, or to complete mahjong. You cannot call a tile just to improve your hand.
- Concealed hands: cannot expose groups during play; a final discard may be called for mahjong if the rules permit.
- The annual card: use the actual current card and its official rules at the table. No copyrighted card patterns are reproduced here.
This overview describes common NMJL-style play. Other American organizations may use different cards or rules. The standard 152-tile playing set includes eight flowers and eight jokers; sets may include extra spare tiles.
The difference, at a glance.
| At the table | Chinese traditions | American / NMJL-style |
|---|---|---|
| Winning goal | Usually sets and a pair, plus variant-specific requirements. | A precise hand on the annual card. |
| Sequences | Three consecutive tiles in one suit can form a chow. | No chow-style calls; follow the card’s groupings. |
| Jokers | Not used in many common variants. | Eight, with restrictions on where they can substitute. |
| Before play | Set up and deal according to the variant. | Usually includes the Charleston tile exchange. |
04 / Why play?More than a game.
More than a game.
Something shared.
Give your mind a move.
Spot patterns, weigh possibilities, and practice making decisions with incomplete information. Every new tile changes the question.
Make room for people.
Put down your phone and settle into a shared rhythm. Familiar faces become teammates in learning—even across the table.
Meet a living tradition.
Discover a game with roots in China and communities around the world. Learn how different traditions make the same tiles their own.
Meet / Learn / PlayA place at
A place at
our table.
New to mahjong? Start here. Already play? Come join a game.
Weekly club meeting · Current planThursdays · Second lunch
Find usSouthworth Library
Who can join?Thayer students · All experience levels
Sign up for club ↗Coming soon / Parents + students
Jump Start
to Mahjong.
A future after-school learning series for parents and students. We’ll help beginners get started, and anyone who already plays—or simply wants to play—is welcome to join a table. More details soon.
Schedule and location will be shared once they are confirmed.
WHENSchedule coming soon
Details will be shared once the series is confirmed.
FORMATAfter-school learning + play
More information coming soon.
WHOParents and students
First-time learners and experienced players
WHERELocation to be announced
To be announced with the schedule.