Journal

What Do You Need to Play American Mahjong? A Beginner's Checklist

To play American mahjong you need four players, an American mahjong set of 152 tiles including Jokers, four racks, two dice, and a current yearly hand card for each player. A square table and a mat help make the game quieter and smoother, and coins or chips are handy if your group keeps score.

That is the whole list. The details below explain what each piece does, what to check before you buy, and which extras are worth adding once your group plays regularly.

The Short Answer: Your Core Supplies

Players: four is standard
Tiles: a complete American set of 152 tiles
Racks: four, one per player, often with pushers
Dice: two
The yearly hand card: one current card per player
A square table with matching chairs
A mahjong mat to cushion and protect the table

The Tiles: What Is in an American Mahjong Set

An American set has 152 tiles. Here is how they break down:

Three suits, 108 tiles: Bams, Craks, and Dots, numbered 1 to 9, with four of each
Winds, 16 tiles: four each of North, East, West, and South
Dragons, 12 tiles: four each of Red, Green, and White (the White Dragon is also called Soap)
Flowers, 8 tiles
Jokers, 8 tiles

The Jokers are what set American mahjong apart. Sets made for other styles of mahjong often have no Jokers at all, so check before you buy. Some American sets include a few blank tiles as spares or for house-rule games; you do not need them to play.

Count your tiles when the set arrives and again before each game night. A missing Joker or Flower is far easier to find on the day it goes missing.

Racks and Pushers

Each player keeps their hand on a rack facing them, so the tiles stay hidden from the table. Many racks come with a pusher arm attached, which lets you slide your wall forward to the center in one smooth move.

Pushers are not required, but most American players find them helpful once the walls are built. Racks also usually have a flat ledge in front where you can line up exposed tiles after a call.

Two Dice

Dice decide where the wall is broken at the start of each hand. East rolls, counts the total, and the deal begins from that point. Any standard pair of dice works.

The Yearly Hand Card

This is the piece new players most often overlook. American mahjong is played from a card that lists every winning hand for the year, and a new card comes out once a year. Each player needs their own current card, because older cards list different hands.

The card is usually sold separately from tile sets, so plan to buy one for yourself each year and remind guests to bring theirs. To keep the card upright and easy to read at every seat, many players use a stand. Our card holder set of four is designed for exactly that.

A Square Table and Matching Chairs

A square table gives every player an equal side and the same reach to the wall. Folding card tables and square dining tables both work. Chairs of the same height matter more than you might think, since everyone reaches to the center many times each hand.

Good overhead light helps too. Flowers and Dragons are much easier to read under even lighting.

A Mahjong Mat

A mat is technically optional, but most regular groups use one. It helps soften the sound of tiles hitting the table, helps protect the finish from scratches, and gives tiles a smoother surface when you push the walls. A mat sized at 33 x 33 inches fits square tables about 34 to 40 inches across.

If you are shopping for one, look for a mat that arrives rolled rather than folded so it lies flat from the first game. The Host Edition mat we are developing, described at the end of this guide, is built around that idea.

Helpful Extras

Coins, chips, or a scorepad if your group plays for points or small stakes
A tile bag or case so the set travels safely to a friend's house
Coasters and a side table to keep drinks off the playing surface
A Charleston reference for new players, since the passing directions are the step beginners forget most

For that last one, our free Charleston Quick Guide lays out every pass on one page.

Do You Need to Know the Rules First?

Not before you buy, but it helps before your first game. The two things worth learning ahead of time are how to read the card and how the Charleston works. The Charleston is the series of tile passes at the start of each hand, and it trips up almost every newcomer once. Our step-by-step guide to the Charleston walks through each pass, the optional second round, and the courtesy pass.

Buying a Set vs. Building One Piece by Piece

Many American mahjong sets come with tiles, racks, pushers, and dice together, and some starter kits add a mat or a case. That is a simple way to begin. The yearly hand card is usually sold on its own either way.

Building piece by piece takes longer but lets you choose a mat, card holders, and bags that coordinate with your tiles. Many hosts start with a complete set and add matching pieces over time.

Your American Mahjong Checklist

Four players, or a plan for a fifth to rotate in
A complete 152 tile American set, counted, with all eight Jokers
Four racks, with pushers if you like them
Two dice
A current yearly hand card for every player
A square table, matching chairs, and good light
A mat sized to your table
Coins or a scorepad, coasters, and a Charleston reference

Ready for Your First Game

We are developing the American Mahjong Mat, Host Edition: a 33 x 33 inch mat that ships rolled, with a matching carry bag in Coastal Blue Chinoiserie and our own Charleston Quick Guide card for new players. It is not available yet. If you would like to hear when it is, join the early list. It is free: launch news and the occasional hosting tip, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Questions

Quick answers

How many tiles do you need to play American mahjong?

A complete American set has 152 tiles: 108 suit tiles, 16 Winds, 12 Dragons, 8 Flowers and 8 Jokers. Some sets add a few blank spares, which are not needed to play.

How many people do you need to play American mahjong?

Four players is standard. Groups sometimes play with three or two using house-rule variations, or rotate a fifth player in each game.

Is the yearly hand card included with a mahjong set?

Usually not. A new card comes out once a year and is typically sold separately, so each player buys their own current card.