AMERICAN MAH JONGG · DAY 7

At a real table

You'll learn: Practise table habits: naming discards, calling, exchanging jokers and asking for help.
Time: 10 minutes
Builds on: Scoring and payments
Up next: None
Why it helps: A few familiar habits help you feel at home and enjoy your first game with other people.

You're learning this game so you can enjoy it with other people. A few familiar table habits will help you feel at home.

Tell the table you're new

Let the group know you're new before the first deal. It gives them a chance to help with setup and explain their habits. Taking a moment to check the card is normal, and the rules have no turn clock.

Ask which card and house rules the group uses. Everyone needs the same card, and a different year's card has different hands.

Say what you're doing

When you…	Say or do this
Discard	Name the tile aloud. Say “same” for a repeat of the previous discard.
Need to consider a discard	Say “wait” before the next player continues.
Exchange a joker	Announce the exchange and hand over your tile. Let the owner give you the joker.
Win	Say “Mah Jongg” and show all 14 tiles for the table to check.
Make a mistake	Explain what happened straight away so the table can resolve it.

A discard is no longer available once the next player racks a tile, discards or starts an exchange confirm.

Speak up promptly when you want to consider a discard.

Let someone show you the setup

Ask someone to build a wall alongside you the first time. Mix the tiles face down, then make your wall 19 stacks long and 2 tiles high. Dice determine East and where to break the wall confirm.

Players take their own tiles: East finishes with 14 and everyone else with 13. Deal and play go right. The next wall comes from the left confirm.

Keep exposed groups separate and put jokers in the middle so everyone can read them. If you think a hand is dead, have the table check the visible tiles before proceeding confirm.

Take a reminder with you

Bring the printable table checklist if you'd like a reminder for setup, calls, exchanges and scoring. House rules can include extra tiles or special payments, so ask before the game starts.

7 Bam — Keep exposed groups separate and place each joker in the middle.

Joker — Keep exposed groups separate and place each joker in the middle.

Remember

Say you're new. Name your discards. Speak up for calls. Ask when you're unsure.

Teaches on the Learner card · reviewed 2026-09-14