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This is a solo game against 3 bots. To play online, earn lanterns, and keep track of stats, make an account. New to mahjong? Play the guided first hand.

Play a free hand of American mahjong against 3 bots

New to the table?

How a hand of American mahjong goes

A hand in five steps. The beginner guide has every rule, and the lessons let you try each one.

  1. Step 1

    Aim for a hand on the card

    The card lists the winning hands. You win by matching one of them with exactly 14 tiles. Open the card at the table any time to see what you can make.

  2. Step 2

    Pass tiles in the Charleston

    Before play, everyone passes three tiles they don't want: right, across, then left. Jokers never pass.

  3. Step 3

    Draw one, discard one

    On your turn take a tile from the wall, the tiles waiting to be drawn, then throw one into the pond, the discards in the middle.

  4. Step 4

    Call a discard

    Need a thrown tile for a pung (three alike), a kong (four) or a quint (five)? Call it and lay the group face up. Jokers fill groups of three or more, never a pair.

  5. Step 5

    Call Mahjong

    When all 14 tiles match a hand on the card, call Mahjong and the hand is yours.

Guides for your next hand

Plain answers to the questions every new player asks.

All guides
Beginner guideHow to play American mahjongLearn American mahjong step by step: the 152 tiles, reading the card, the Charleston, calling discards, joker rules, and how winning and payouts work. Interactive lessons included.Charleston rulesMake sense of the CharlestonUnderstand the Charleston passing order, the optional second round, blind passes, and the courtesy pass, with a simple visual guide for American mahjong beginners.Joker rulesKnow when to use a jokerLearn when American mahjong jokers are allowed, why they cannot fill singles or pairs, how joker exchanges work, and the mistakes beginners can avoid.

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