8 articles · read in order

American Mah Jongg

The American game of the National Mah Jongg League: the annual card, the Charleston, jokers, exposures, dead hands, payments and strategy.

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American Mah Jongg Explained

American Mah Jongg is played with 152 tiles including jokers, begins with the Charleston tile exchange, and is won only by completing one of the hands printed on that year's National Mah Jongg League card.

3 min read

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Reading the National Mah Jongg League Card

The card lists every hand you may win with this year, grouped into families such as year hands, 2468, like numbers, quints, runs, 13579, winds and dragons, 369 and singles and pairs. Here is how to read it.

3 min read

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The Charleston: Passing Tiles Before Play

The Charleston is the American Mah Jongg ritual of passing unwanted tiles before play begins: right, across, left, then an optional second round and a courtesy pass. Here is exactly how it works.

2 min read

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Calling Discards and Making Exposures in American Play

In American Mah Jongg you may call a discard only to complete a group of three or more identical tiles, or to win. Exposures reveal part of your hand — and can make it dead if they no longer match the card.

2 min read

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Scoring and Paying in American Mah Jongg

American scoring is simple: the card gives each hand a value. Who pays, and how much, depends on whether the winning tile was discarded or self-picked, and whether the hand used jokers.

2 min read

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Dead Hands and Penalties in American Mah Jongg

A dead hand can no longer win. In American play it happens when you have the wrong number of tiles, your exposures match no hand on the card, or you call Mah Jongg in error. Here is how it works.

2 min read

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American Mah Jongg Strategy: Choosing and Switching Hands

Good American play starts with picking hands that fit your tiles and the jokers, keeping options open through the Charleston, and switching smoothly when the tiles turn against you.

2 min read

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Defense in American Mah Jongg

You cannot win every game, but you can avoid paying double. Defensive American play means reading exposures, recognising hot tiles and knowing when to give up on your own hand.

2 min read