Mahjong Rules
Mahjong is a centuries-old tile-based strategy game originating in China, traditionally played by four players. Combining skill, strategy, and chance, the objective is to form a complete winning hand before your opponents. Over the years, Mahjong has evolved into many regional variants, including Hong Kong Mahjong, Japanese Riichi Mahjong, and American Mahjong.
Created by Adam D Fernsby
How to Play Mahjong (Traditional Chinese Version)
This game rules guide explains the traditional Chinese Mahjong rules – perfect for beginners while providing a foundation for understanding other versions.
Preparations
- Players: 4 (adaptable for 2 or 3 casually)
- Components (144 tiles total):
- Dots (Circles): 1–9
- Bamboo (Bams): 1–9
- Characters (Craks): 1–9
- Wind tiles: East, South, West, North
- Dragon tiles: Red, Green, White
- Bonus tiles: Flowers & Seasons (optional)
Setup
- Players build a wall of tiles: 18 tiles long × 2 tiles high, forming a square.
- Each player draws 13 tiles, except the dealer (East), who starts with 14 tiles.
- The dealer begins by discarding one tile, starting the game.
Gameplay Overview
Mahjong is played in clockwise turns. Each turn, a player:
- Draws a tile (from the wall or by claiming a discard).
- Discards one tile to maintain a hand of 13 tiles.
The goal is to form a winning hand of 14 tiles.
Objective: Winning Hand
A standard winning hand consists of 14 tiles, typically arranged as:
- 4 sets (Pungs, Chows, or Kongs) + 1 pair
Types of Sets
| Set | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pung | 3 identical tiles | 🀇🀇🀇 |
| Chow | 3 consecutive numbers in the same suit (only claimable from the player to your left) | 🀄🀅🀆 |
| Kong | 4 identical tiles (requires drawing an extra tile) | 🀈🀈🀈🀈 |
| Pair | 2 matching tiles (required to complete hand) | 🀆🀆 |
Declaring Mahjong (Winning)
When you complete your 14-tile hand:
- Declare “Mahjong!” or “Hu”.
- Reveal your hand.
- The round ends immediately.
Winning can occur by:
- Self-draw → Drawing the winning tile from the wall.
- Claiming a discard → Taking the winning tile discarded by another player.
Claiming Discards
Players may claim a discarded tile to complete a set:
- Pung or Kong: Claimable from any player.
- Chow: Only claimable from the player to your left.
When claiming, reveal the completed set immediately. If multiple players want the same tile:
- Pung/Kong claims take priority over Chows.
Scoring (Simplified Chinese Mahjong)
Scoring varies across regions, but in classic Chinese Mahjong:
| Combination | Points |
|---|---|
| Pung of number tiles | 2 pts |
| Pung of honor tiles | 4 pts |
| Kong | 8 pts |
| Flowers & Seasons | +1 each |
| Bonus hands (All Pungs, Pure Suit, etc.) | Extra multipliers |
Tip: Many Mahjong sets include a scoring chart – keep it handy!
Winning the Game
Mahjong is usually played over multiple rounds, with the dealer role rotating in this order:
East → South → West → North.
- After all four players have been dealer once, that’s called a wind round.
- At the end of the session, the player with the highest total score wins.
Strategies and Tips
Learn these tips and strategies to increase the chances of winning in Mahjong:
Beginner Tips
- Focus on one or two suits, avoid spreading across all three.
- Recognize potential Chows and Pungs early.
- Discard honor tiles and terminals (1s and 9s) early unless pursuing a special hand.
Intermediate Tactics
- Watch opponents’ discards and exposed sets. Avoid feeding them winning tiles.
- Use defensive discards if you suspect someone is close to Mahjong.
- Know when to give up your hand and play defensively to avoid losing big points.
Overview of the Game Rules
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Goal | Form a complete 14-tile hand (4 sets + 1 pair) |
| Play | Draw and discard tiles to build a winning hand |
| Claim | Take discards to complete sets (Chow only from left) |
| Score | Based on sets, honors, bonuses (varies by region) |
| Win | Highest score after a session or by immediate Mahjong |
Popular Variants
There are a few other popular variants of Mahjong with some different rules.
Hong Kong Mahjong
- Fast-paced and beginner-friendly.
- Uses a simplified scoring system.
- Ideal for casual players.
Japanese Riichi Mahjong
- Introduces riichi declarations, furiten rules, and yaku-based scoring.
- Popular in tournaments and anime culture.
American Mahjong
- Includes jokers and annual scorecards from the NMJL (National Mah Jongg League).
- Features special hands that change yearly.
Mahjong Solitaire
- A single-player puzzle variant.
- Match identical tiles to clear the board.
Mahjong FAQ
What are the basic rules of Mahjong?
Draw and discard tiles until you complete a winning hand with 4 sets and 1 pair. You can claim discards and earn points based on your combinations.
Is Mahjong hard to learn?
It can seem complex, but once you understand the structure of the hand and basic tile types, it becomes intuitive – especially with simple Mahjong rules.
What’s the difference between Chinese and American Mahjong?
American Mahjong includes jokers and pre-set winning hands. Chinese Mahjong sticks to traditional hand-building and simpler mechanics.
How many tiles do you need to win Mahjong?
A winning hand contains 14 tiles: 4 sets (pung, chow, or kong) + 1 pair.
What are “honor tiles” in Mahjong?
Winds (East, South, West, North) and Dragons (Red, Green, White) are honor tiles. They don’t form chows but can make pungs or kongs.
Can 2 people play Mahjong?
Not officially, but there are casual 2-player Mahjong rules used for practice or fun.