American mahjong rules at a glance

1. Meet the tiles

• There are 152 tiles: Dots, Bams and Craks, numbered 1 to 9.
• There are also winds, dragons, 8 flowers and 8 jokers.
• Read the number in the corner of each tile.

2. Making sets

• Sets are matching tiles: a pair (2), pung (3), kong (4) or quint (5).
• Matching means the same number and the same suit.
• Jokers fit sets of 3 or more, never a pair.

3. Reading a hand

• Each line on the card is one winning hand of 14 tiles.
• Same color means same suit. You choose which suit.
• A D is the dragon that goes with its color's suit. 0 is Soap.

4. Choosing a hand

• Start with your tiles, then look at the section they fit.
• Go for the hand that needs the fewest new tiles.
• Keep 2 hands in mind until after the Charleston.

5. The Charleston

• Pass 3 tiles right, then across, then left.
• A second round and a courtesy pass are optional.
• Never pass a joker.

6. Set up and deal

• Each player builds a wall 19 tiles long and 2 high.
• East gets 14 tiles. Everyone else gets 13.
• East goes first by throwing away one tile.

7. Your turn

• Take a tile from the wall, then throw one away.
• Say the name of the tile you throw.
• Throw away tiles your hands don't use.

8. Calling tiles

• You can take the last thrown tile to finish a set of 3 or more.
• Then show that set face up and throw a tile away.
• Hands marked C can call only the last tile, for mahjong.

9. Watching the table

• Exposed sets show what other players are building.
• Tiles already thrown, or that fit no exposed set, are safer to throw.
• Late in the game, don't throw a tile that could finish someone's hand.

10. Jokers in play

• Jokers fit sets of 3 or more, never pairs or single tiles.
• A thrown joker can't be called.
• On your turn, you can swap a real tile for a joker in a set on the table.

11. Declaring mahjong

• Say "Mahjong" and show all 14 tiles.
• The player who threw your winning tile pays double. From the wall, everyone pays double.
• No jokers in your hand doubles the payment (not for Singles & Pairs).