A SEAT AT THE TABLE STARTS HERE
A little less mystery.
A lot more mahjong.
Meet the tiles. Make your first move. Find the rhythm.
Learn at your own pace, with something to try at every step.
Same suit. Three in a row.
That’s a chow.
THE LEARNING LIBRARY
One good move at a time.
Five small guides. A clearer path into the game.
Your first game
Learn how to play mahjong, choose American, Hong Kong or Riichi rules, and try a free interactive lesson. Understand tiles, turns and winning hands.
Read & try 02Meet the tiles
Learn mahjong tile names with a visual guide to dots, bamboo, characters, winds, dragons, flowers and jokers. See how tile roles change by variant.
Read & try 03Find your rules
Compare American mahjong, Hong Kong mahjong, Japanese Riichi and solitaire. Find the right rules for your friends, your first lesson or solo practice.
Read & try 04Build a set
See what makes a pung, chow, kong and pair, learn which tiles can form each, and understand why American card groups follow different rules.
Read & try 05Rules made clear
Understand beginner mahjong rules: dealing, turns, discards, calls and legal wins. Compare American, Hong Kong and Riichi rules without mixing them up.
Read & tryWhich mahjong do you mean?
American, Hong Kong and Riichi share a family of tiles, but have different rules. Solitaire is a separate matching puzzle. Start with the version your friends play.
Find your versionTHE AMERICAN TABLE
The rules this game deals.
Longer references for Light Mahjong’s own card: the Charleston, the 152 tiles, scoring, and a free table.
How to play mahjong
One American hand, from East’s first discard to Mah Jongg.
Mahjong rules
What you may call, which lines stay concealed, and how a draw pays.
Mahjong tiles explained
Bams, Craks, Dots, winds, dragons, flowers, and jokers.
Mahjong scoring
Printed value, the jokerless double, and who pays a discard.
Mahjong strategy tips
What to pass, and when a call gives the table too much.
Play mahjong online free
Computer players, a table code, and nothing to install.