Mahjong How-To Guides
Step-by-step tutorials: setup, the Charleston, calling tiles, strategy, etiquette and hosting your own game.
How to Set Up American Mahjong: Step-by-Step for Beginners
American mahjong setup in 6 steps — washing tiles, building walls, choosing seats, dealing and getting the first game started correctly.
Read guide →How to Build the Mahjong Wall (and Break It) Correctly
Build the American mahjong wall the right way — 19 stacks of 2, the square formation, the dice roll and exactly where the wall breaks.
Read guide →How to Deal American Mahjong Tiles: Who Gets What, Exactly
The American mahjong deal explained — the dice roll, breaking the wall, 4-tile rounds, and why East starts with 14 tiles.
Read guide →The Charleston in American Mahjong: Complete Beginner’s Guide
The Charleston explained — every pass in order (right, across, left), blind passes, the courtesy pass, and what to pass for a strong start.
Read guide →How to Read the American Mahjong Card (NMJL Card Explained)
Read the NMJL card like a pro — colors, suits, X and C markings, values, and how to find a playable hand in under a minute.
Read guide →How to Pick a Hand in American Mahjong (Beginner Strategy)
How to choose which hand to play in American mahjong — a 4-step framework for picking from the card, plus when to switch hands mid-game.
Read guide →How to Call Tiles in American Mahjong: Pungs, Kongs and Quints
Calling rules in American mahjong — what you can call, when the window closes, exposure rules and the calls beginners get wrong.
Read guide →How to Use Jokers in American Mahjong: Rules and Pro Tips
Joker rules in American mahjong — where jokers are legal, the exchange rule, what you can never do with a joker, and strategy for beginners.
Read guide →How to Declare Mahjong: Calling the Winning Tile Correctly
How to declare mahjong in the American game — self-pick vs discard wins, showing your hand, verification, and what makes a win invalid.
Read guide →The Courtesy Pass in American Mahjong Explained
The courtesy pass explained — the final 0–3 tile exchange across the table after the Charleston, the rules, and smart passing tactics.
Read guide →How to Keep Score in American Mahjong (With Examples)
Keep score in American mahjong the easy way — points, chips and penny games, a scoresheet template, and three worked examples.
Read guide →How to Play American Mahjong with 3 Players
Three-player American mahjong — the rule adjustments, Charleston options, dealing changes and why 3-handed games are great practice.
Read guide →How to Play Mahjong with 2 Players (Beginner-Friendly Variant)
A simple 2-player American mahjong variant — dealing, dummy walls, no-Charleston rules and scoring tweaks for a satisfying two-person game.
Read guide →How to Host a Mahjong Night: Setup, Snacks and Seating
Host the perfect American mahjong night — table setup, what to buy, seating rotation, food that survives tiles, and teaching new guests.
Read guide →How to Teach American Mahjong to a Complete Beginner
Teach American mahjong in one evening — the lesson order that works, what to skip on night one, and the mistakes every teacher makes.
Read guide →American Mahjong Strategy: 10 Tips That Actually Win Games
Ten practical American mahjong strategy tips for beginners — hand selection, Charleston tactics, joker management, defense and timing.
Read guide →10 American Mahjong Mistakes Beginners Always Make
The 10 most common American mahjong beginner mistakes — dead hands, joker errors, Charleston blunders and miscalled tiles — and how to fix each one.
Read guide →American Mahjong Defense: How to Play It Safe (and Lose Less)
Defensive play in American mahjong — reading exposures, spotting hot tiles, safe discards, and knowing when to fold your own hand.
Read guide →How to Get Better at American Mahjong: A 30-Day Practice Plan
Improve at American mahjong fast — a 30-day practice plan covering card reading, Charleston decisions, defense drills and game review.
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