Learn Mahjong Quick
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Learn American mahjong

12 short lessons. Each one takes a few minutes. Start at lesson 1 if you have never played.

0 of 12 lessons

Start: Meet the tiles

Lessons

The basics
  1. 1. Meet the tilesAll 152 tiles, and how to tell them apart.
  2. 2. Making setsPairs, pungs, kongs and quints, and where jokers fit.
  3. 3. Reading a handHow a card line turns into the 14 tiles you need.
  4. 4. Choosing a handHow to find the hand on the card that fits your tiles.
Before play
  1. 5. The CharlestonThe tile swap before play, and what to pass.
  2. 6. Set up and dealBuild the wall, break it, and deal the tiles.
Playing
  1. 7. Your turnDraw a tile, throw one out, and say its name.
  2. 8. Calling tilesTake a thrown tile to finish a set, and show it.
  3. 9. Watching the tableWhat other players' sets and discards tell you, and which tiles are safer to throw.
  4. 10. Jokers in playHow to use jokers, and how to swap them out of other sets.
  5. 11. Declaring mahjongSay you won, check the hand, and see who pays.
Your first game
  1. 12. Play a coached gameA full game against the computer, with a tip on every turn.

Practice

Quick review10 questions on lessons you finished. About 2 minutes.Daily puzzleFive quick questions. A new set every day.Tile drillName 10 random tiles. New ones every time.Pick a handSee a rack of tiles. Choose the hand on the card it is closest to.What to throw awaySee 14 tiles and the hand you want. Pick the tile to throw away.Charleston passesPick 3 tiles to pass that your hand doesn't use.Spot the joker swapLook at the sets on the table. Find the joker you can take, if any.ScoringA hand was won. Work out who pays what.

If you'd rather read, see the rules at a glance. The guides cover every rule, and the glossary explains what each word means.