What Is American Mahjong? A Beginner’s Guide

If you’ve ever heard a table of friends calling out “Two Bam!” and “Flower!” over the click of tiles and wondered what on earth was going on, welcome. That’s American Mahjong, and it’s one of the most fun, social games you’ll ever learn.

The basics

American Mahjong is played by four people with a set of 152 tiles: Bams, Craks and Dots (the three suits), plus Winds, Dragons, Flowers and Jokers. Each player builds a hand of tiles on their rack, drawing and discarding in turn. The goal is to be the first to complete one of the hands printed on that year’s National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card. When you do, you call out “Mahjong!” and win the round.

What makes the American version different

If you’ve played Chinese or Hong Kong mahjong, or the phone app version, a few things will surprise you. American Mahjong uses Jokers, which can stand in for tiles in many hands. The winning hands change every year when the League releases a new card, so the game always stays fresh. And before each game, players pass tiles to each other in a trade called the Charleston, which is half strategy and half pure fun.

Why people love it

Mahjong keeps your mind sharp, but what really keeps people coming back is the table itself. It’s a standing date with friends, a way to meet new people, and a reason to put your phone down for a couple of hours. Many of our regulars came in knowing no one and now have a whole mahjong group.

How to start playing in Lafayette

The easiest way to learn is at the table with a teacher. At Maison de Mahj, Acadiana’s first dedicated mahjong studio, our Mahjong 101 class walks true beginners through the tiles, the Charleston, reading the card and playing practice hands. From there, Mahjong 102 and Guided Play build your confidence, and Open Play gives you a place to play any week you like. Tiles, racks and mats are always provided, and you’re welcome to come solo.

Ready to join the table? Book Mahjong 101