Basics

The basic rhythm of American Mahjong is simple:

Draw one. Decide. Discard one.

On your turn

Draw one tile from the wall.

Look at your hand and decide whether the new tile helps the hand or hands you are considering.

Then discard one unwanted tile face up in the center of the table.

Clearly name the discarded tile out loud.

Play then continues to the next player unless someone legally claims the discard.

Calling a discard

A discarded tile may be claimed when it completes an eligible exposed group or when it completes Mahjong.

When you claim a discard to complete a group, place the completed group face up on top of your rack.

This is called an exposure.

Once exposed, those tiles remain visible to everyone.

Singles, pairs and groups

These terms appear throughout American Mahjong:

Single: 1 tile

Pair: 2 identical tiles

Pung: 3 identical tiles

Kong: 4 identical tiles

Quint: 5 identical tiles

The card may also show larger groupings.

Jokers

Jokers may substitute for tiles in groups of three or more, including pungs, kongs, quints, and larger eligible groups shown on the card.

Jokers may not be used in singles or pairs.

Joker exchange

An exposed Joker can sometimes be exchanged.

If another player’s exposed group contains a Joker and you hold the natural tile represented by that Joker, you may exchange your natural tile for the exposed Joker on your turn.

The natural tile takes the Joker’s place in the exposure, and you take the Joker into your hand.

Calling Mahjong

When your hand exactly matches one complete hand on the card, call:

“Mahjong!”

Verify the hand against the card before ending the game.