Mahjong Player FAQ
These are questions players ask about mahjong, found in search results and public forums and reworded by our editors. The answers are written by our editors and follow the rule books we cite. Questions that already have a full answer on a rules page get one line here and a link. Editorial policy
Learning and practice
How long does one game of mahjong usually take?
It depends on what your table calls a game. In American mahjong, a game is a single hand: it ends when someone declares Mah Jongg or the wall runs out, and the deal passes. Groups usually play a set number of hands or until a set time. In Hong Kong play, a full game is 4 rounds named for the winds, each at least 4 hands long, so it runs at least 16 hands. Speed depends mostly on how well everyone knows the rules. See: How to play Hong Kong mahjong →
Can you teach yourself mahjong without a group?
Yes, up to a point. On your own you can learn the tiles, the setup and the turn order, and, for American mahjong, how to read the card. What you can't practice alone is calling discards and reading what other players collect. A good path: learn one style from a single source, play practice hands alone (next question), then join a 3- or 4-player game. Two-player games are a useful middle step. See: Mahjong for 2 or 3 players →
How do you practice mahjong alone with real tiles?
This is a practice method, not an official game. Shuffle face down, build the walls as you would for 4 players, and deal yourself 13 tiles. Draw a tile, decide on a target hand, and discard 1. Repeat until you complete a hand or the wall runs out. For American mahjong, keep the card open and practice picking 2 or 3 target lines early. For Hong Kong play, practice spotting 4 sets and a pair. Counting your tiles after every turn is a habit worth building now. See: How to set up mahjong →
At the table
Why does American mahjong have no runs like 1-2-3?
Official In American mahjong you can't call a discard to make a run, or chow. Calls are only for pungs, kongs and larger groups, or for Mah Jongg, and every winning hand must match a line on the National Mah Jongg League's card. Consecutive numbers still appear, but only as the card's fixed patterns, such as consecutive pungs or kongs, never as a free 3-tile run. Chinese and Hong Kong mahjong do allow chows. See: American mahjong rules →
Is American mahjong hard to learn?
The turns are quick to learn; reading the card takes longer. Full answer: American mahjong rules →
What happens when a hand is declared dead?
You stop playing that hand but keep your seat and still pay if someone else wins. Full answer: American mahjong rules →
Sets
Which American mahjong set should a beginner buy?
Start with a set that has enough jokers for the American game and racks that fit the tiles. Full answer: How to choose a mahjong set →
Why are American mahjong sets so expensive?
They hold more tiles than Chinese sets and usually come with racks, pushers and a case. Full answer: How to choose a mahjong set →