How to play American mahjong
New to the table? Here's what American (NMJL) mahjong is, what you need, and how to get started.
What is American mahjong?
American mahjong is a four-player tile game played with the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card — an annual card that lists the legal hands for the year. It's social, strategic, and a little different from Chinese mahjong: it uses jokers, a tile-passing round called the Charleston, and that yearly card.
Every Opus set is built for American play — 160 tiles including 10 jokers, with raised-relief faces that are easy to read across the table.
What you need to start
- A set. 160 American tiles with jokers, plus racks — every Opus set qualifies.
- The current-year NMJL card. Required for American play and released each spring by the National Mah Jongg League. It is not included with sets — buy it directly from the League.
- Three or four players. American mahjong is best with four and works with three.
New-player questions
How many people do I need?
Four is ideal; three works too.
Do I need the NMJL card?
Yes — American play uses the current-year NMJL card for the legal hands. It's sold by the National Mah Jongg League and isn't included with sets.
How is American mahjong different from Chinese?
American play uses jokers, the Charleston (a tile-passing round), and the annual NMJL card of set hands. The tiles look similar, but the rules and goals differ.
How many tiles are in a set?
Opus American sets have 160 tiles, including 10 jokers.
Can a total beginner learn?
Absolutely. The yearly card guides the hands, and many players pick it up in a few games. Local clubs, libraries, and teachers are great places to start.
Which set should I start with?
Any of our American sets works for NMJL play — pick the colorway you love, or our floating line if you want to play poolside.