The Library
Guides
Plain-English answers to every beginner question — free, no signup, written by the school.
¶How to Play American Mahjong: The Complete Beginner's GuideLearn American Mahjong step by step: the tiles, the deal, the Charleston, jokers, calling, and winning. A plain-English guide for total beginners.¶The Charleston in American Mahjong: Rules, Order & StrategyThe complete rules of the Charleston: pass order, the optional second Charleston, blind passes, the courtesy pass, and what you may never pass.¶American Mahjong Tiles, Explained: All 152, Suit by SuitEvery tile in an American Mahjong set: the three suits, winds, dragons (including the Soap), flowers, and jokers — what they look like and how they're used.¶Joker Rules in American Mahjong: What Jokers Can and Can't DoEvery joker rule in American Mahjong: where jokers work, why they can't fill pairs, the joker exchange, and when discarding a joker is actually right.¶American vs. Chinese Mahjong: What's Actually Different?Jokers, the Charleston, the yearly card, racks — the concrete differences between American Mah Jongg and Chinese or Riichi mahjong, explained.¶How to Find a Mahjong Club Near You (and Survive Your First Night)Where American Mahjong clubs hide, how to get invited, what to bring, and the etiquette that makes a beginner welcome back.¶Mahjong, Mah Jongg, or Mah-Jongg? The Spelling, SettledMahjong, mah jongg, mah-jongg, mahjongg — every spelling is 'right' somewhere. Here's where each comes from, what the League uses, and what to type when you search.