Mahjong guide
Learn your first hand
This is one of the ways to play Mahjong. No need to memorize this before you join us. Get to know a few tiles, try a hand, and ask questions as you go.
Meet the tiles
Characters
The number on top, 萬 underneath. The small corner number helps you learn the characters.
- 1 of characters
- 2 of characters
- 3 of characters
- 4 of characters
- 5 of characters
- 6 of characters
- 7 of characters
- 8 of characters
- 9 of characters
Dots
Count the circles. Once you spot the pattern, you’ll recognize these at a glance.
- 1 of dots
- 2 of dots
- 3 of dots
- 4 of dots
- 5 of dots
- 6 of dots
- 7 of dots
- 8 of dots
- 9 of dots
Bamboo
Count the stalks, with one exception: the bird is one bamboo. It likes to do things its own way.
- 1 of bamboo
- 2 of bamboo
- 3 of bamboo
- 4 of bamboo
- 5 of bamboo
- 6 of bamboo
- 7 of bamboo
- 8 of bamboo
- 9 of bamboo
Winds
East, south, west and north. No sequences - winds only ever group with their own kind.
- East wind
- South wind
- West wind
- North wind
Dragons
Red, green and white. The white dragon is a blank face in some sets and an empty frame in others.
- Red dragon
- Green dragon
- White dragon
Flowers
Plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo. These optional bonus tiles are set aside when drawn; designs and numbering can vary by set.
- Plum blossom flower tile, 1
- Orchid flower tile, 2
- Chrysanthemum flower tile, 3
- Bamboo flower tile, 4
Seasons
Spring, summer, autumn and winter form a second set of four bonus tiles. Their use depends on the rules at your table.
- Spring season
- Summer season
- Autumn season
- Winter season
- Three suits
- Characters, bamboo and dots are numbered one through nine.
- Honor tiles
- The four winds and three dragons do not form sequences.
- The gold
- Our Fuzhou-style game uses a wildcard that can stand in for another tile.
Build a winning hand
- 2 of bamboo
- 2 of bamboo
Pair: two matching tiles
- 1 of bamboo
- 1 of bamboo
- 1 of bamboo
Pung / pong / peng: three matching tiles
- 5 of bamboo
- 6 of bamboo
- 7 of bamboo
Chow / chi: a run in one suit
- 8 of dots
- 8 of dots
- 8 of dots
Pung / pong / peng: three matching tiles
- 2 of characters
- 3 of characters
- 4 of characters
Chow / chi: a run in one suit
- 3 of dots
- 3 of dots
- 3 of dots
Pung / pong / peng: three matching tiles
A hand comes together in sets (also called melds). Three identical tiles make a pung; three consecutive tiles in one suit make a chow. A kong is four identical tiles and counts as one set.
In Fuzhou-style play, you hold sixteen tiles between turns. The example above finishes with seventeen: five sets and a pair. The gold wildcard gives you more ways to get there.
Pung, pong, peng? Chow, chi?
Two shapes, with a few names you might hear at the table.
- Pung / pong / peng碰Three of a kind
- Three identical tiles, such as three eight-dot tiles. If you hold two, you can usually call pung to claim the latest matching discard from any player.
- Chow / chi吃A sequence
- Three consecutive numbers in the same suit, such as five, six, and seven bamboo. A chow is normally claimed only from the player to your left, immediately before your turn.
After a pung or chow call, show the completed set and discard a tile. Winds and dragons can form pungs, but not chows. Ask the table about local calling rules and the gold wildcard.
Terminology: pung and chow; chi and pon call names. Rules vary by mahjong style.
Take a turn
- DrawTake one tile from the wall.
- Read your handLook for groups that are complete or one tile away.
- DiscardReturn one tile face-up to the center.
A discard can sometimes be claimed to finish a group. Calls vary by situation. Club members can help you spot them, and you'll pick it up quickly.
Your first table
Just bring yourself. We provide the sets, explain the rules, and practice before getting competitive!
Ask any questions as you play. Nobody expects you to know every tile and rule. Know any other ways to play? Let us know! We are happy to learn from other players and styles.