Learn Mahjong — Complete Guide

Everything you need to learn mahjong from certified TML Ambassadors:

Start Here

What is mahjong · How to play · First lesson · Mahjong 101 · Book now

Rules & Tiles

NMJL card · Read the card · 2026 card · Suits · Singles · Pairs · Triples · Quads · Quints · Like numbers · Even numbers · Odd numbers · 369 hands · Year hands · Runs · Tiles hub

Charleston & Dealing

Charleston · First left pass · Second right pass · Across pass · Last right pass · Pass three tiles · First Charleston round · Second Charleston round · Third Charleston round · Rotate winds · Stop Charleston · Courtesy pass · Pick from wall · Dealing

Strategy

Mahjong 102 · 10 tips · Charleston strategy · Calling · Exposed hand · Switch hand · Redeem joker · Win on discard · Joker strategy · Defense · Foul hand

Common Questions

Is mahjong hard? · How long to learn · How many tiles · Beginner mistakes · Brain health · FAQ

NMJL lessons · NMJL membership · Hand selection · Declaring mahjong · Consecutives · Any like numbers · Kong · Concealed kong · Exposed kong · Pung · Self-pick · Honor tiles · Flowers hand · Bams, cracks & dots · Win types · Jokerless hand · Scoring value · South seat · West seat · North seat · Wall game · Call waiting · Calling a tile · Claim discard · Meld types · Dealer rules · Last right pass · Dead wall · Expose meld · Wrong discard · Rack space · Third Charleston round · Call priority · Exposure rules · Quint meld · Discard rules · Rotate winds · Foul rules · Illegal exposure · Concealed pair · Concealed pung · Exposed pung · Draw & discard · Call rules · Out of turn · Blind pass · Concealed pung · Draw & discard · Turn order · Rack order · Discard pile · Greenbrier prep · We travel to you