Goal
Make a valid 14-tile hand that exactly matches one complete line on the current official annual card.
For New Players
Complete American Mah Jongg Rules Guide
Read this once before game night, then keep it open beside the HIEALO mat. The annual card decides the exact winning hands; this page teaches the rules that help you use that card correctly.
Before Play
What everyone is trying to do.
Equipment
American Mah Jongg uses 152 tiles, racks, dice, four players, and the current annual card.
Deal
East begins with 14 tiles. The other three players begin with 13 tiles.
Start
After the Charleston and any courtesy pass, East discards first and normal play begins.
Charleston
The passing round before play starts.
Pass tiles face down. The first Charleston is required. The second Charleston and Courtesy Pass are optional. A Joker should stay with you, not travel around the table.
First CharlestonRequiredRight, Across, LeftPass exactly 3 tiles each time.
Second CharlestonOptionalLeft, Across, RightDo it only if the table agrees.
Courtesy PassOptionalAcrossOpposite players exchange 0, 1, 2, or 3 tiles.
Turn Flow
Your normal turn is simple.
Take one tile from the wall unless you are claiming a discard.
Compare your tiles with the line you are trying to build.
Put one tile face up in the center and name it clearly.
Other players may call only if that discard legally helps them.
Calling A Discard
Call only when the card allows it.
You may call only the most recent discard.
A call must complete a legal exposure, usually a Pung, Kong, Quint, or Sextet.
You usually cannot call a discard for a Single or Pair unless it is the final tile for Mah Jongg.
If the card line is marked Concealed, do not expose during play.
Jokers
Powerful, but not everywhere.
Jokers may stand in for tiles in Pungs, Kongs, Quints, and Sextets.
Jokers may not be used as Singles or Pairs.
Do not pass Jokers during the Charleston.
On your own turn, you may exchange a natural tile for a matching Joker in an exposed group.
Can I Say Mah Jongg?
Pause and check these five things.
You have exactly 14 tiles.
Every tile matches one complete line on the current official card.
The suits, Flowers, Winds, Dragons, and zeroes are interpreted correctly.
Jokers are used only in legal groups.
Any exposure follows the card line's X or C marking.
Scoring Basics
Use the value printed on the card.
If a discard gives someone Mah Jongg, the discarder usually pays double and the other two players pay the card value. If the winner self-picks from the wall, all three players usually pay double. Jokerless hands may also double, except where the card value already accounts for it, such as Singles and Pairs.
Printable
Save this full guide.
Use it as a training sheet before teaching new players.
Important note
HIEALO does not replace the current NMJL card. Always use the official card for final hands, values, yearly changes, and table disputes.
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