How to Play Chinese Mahjong | Beginner's Guide in Atlanta

So you want to learn Mahjong. Good choice.

At first glance, a Mahjong table can look mildly terrifying: 144 tiles covered in unfamiliar symbols, people drawing and discarding at lightning speed, mysterious words being called across the table, and at least one player who appears very emotionally invested in what you just discarded.

Don't panic.

The basic idea behind Mahjong is actually pretty easy to understand. Once you learn what the tiles are and what you're trying to build, the game starts making a lot more sense.

And if reading instructions isn't your thing, there's an even easier option: come to Felix's Atlanta on Thursday night and let Master Mitch teach you.

But first, let's learn the basics.

First: There Isn't Just One Mahjong

Before we start, there's something important to know.

Mahjong originated in China and, over time, different versions of the game developed throughout China and around the world. You'll encounter Chinese variations, Hong Kong-style rules, Japanese Riichi Mahjong, American Mahjong and others.

The exact scoring, special hands and even some rules can change depending on which version you're playing.

So think of this guide as Mahjong 101: the basic concepts that will help you understand the tiles, the table and what everyone is trying to accomplish.

At Felix's Mahjong League, we're teaching Chinese Mahjong, and Master Mitch can walk you through the rules we use at our tables.

Meet the Mahjong Tiles

A traditional Mahjong set generally contains 144 tiles.

Don't let that number scare you. They're organized into groups, and once you recognize those groups, the pile suddenly becomes much less mysterious.

The Three Suits

There are three numbered suits, each running from 1 through 9:

Dots (Circles)
Tiles featuring circles or dots.

Bamboo
Tiles featuring bamboo-like symbols. One Bamboo can look different from the others and is often represented by a bird.

Characters
Numbered tiles featuring Chinese characters.

There are four copies of each numbered tile.

Honor Tiles

Then there are the Honors:

Winds:
East, South, West and North.

Dragons:
Red, Green and White.

You'll hear these names a lot once you start playing.

There may also be Flowers and Seasons, which are bonus tiles under many rule sets.

Congratulations. You can now look at a Mahjong set and have at least some idea what you're looking at.

Progress!

What's the Goal?

Here's the concept to remember:

You're trying to build a complete hand out of combinations of tiles.

A standard winning hand in many forms of Mahjong consists of four sets and one pair, for a total of 14 tiles.

A set is generally one of three things.

Chow

Three consecutive numbers from the same suit.

For example:

3 Bamboo + 4 Bamboo + 5 Bamboo

That's a Chow.

Pung

Three identical tiles.

For example:

Red Dragon + Red Dragon + Red Dragon

That's a Pung.

Kong

Four identical tiles.

A Kong has some special rules attached to it, but for now, just remember:

Four matching tiles = Kong.

Pair

Two identical tiles.

Your completed hand generally needs one pair along with your four sets.

So if you remember only one thing before walking into your first game, remember:

Four sets + one pair.

You're already ahead of where you were five minutes ago.

How Does a Turn Work?

The basic rhythm of Mahjong is beautifully simple:

Draw a tile. Decide what to keep. Discard a tile.

Then the next player goes.

You're constantly improving your hand while watching what everyone else is discarding.

Maybe you're holding a 4 and 5 Bamboo and hoping to find the 3 or 6.

Maybe you've already collected two Red Dragons and desperately want the third.

Maybe another player just discarded exactly what you needed.

Which brings us to one of the fun parts.

Can You Take Someone Else's Discard?

Sometimes.

Depending on the situation and rules being played, another player's discarded tile can be claimed to complete a combination.

That's where you'll start hearing calls associated with combinations such as Chow, Pung and Kong.

But there's a catch.

Taking a discard to create a set generally means revealing that combination to the table.

Now everybody knows a little more about what you're building.

And that's when Mahjong starts becoming much more interesting.

You're not merely collecting tiles.

You're collecting information.

Pay Attention to the Discards

New players tend to stare almost exclusively at their own hand.

Understandable.

Experienced players are also watching everyone else's.

What has already been discarded?

What tiles aren't appearing?

What might another player be collecting?

What does that player seem suspiciously excited about?

The more you play, the more Mahjong becomes a mixture of probability, memory, strategy and reading the table.

And yes, luck.

Sometimes the exact tile you need appears at exactly the right moment.

Sometimes it absolutely refuses to exist.

That's Mahjong.

How Do You Win?

When you've completed a legal winning hand under the rules you're playing, you declare:

MAHJONG!

That's the moment you've been waiting for.

Your hand is checked, scoring is determined according to the particular rules being used, and everyone gets another opportunity to question the decisions that led them to this moment.

Then you shuffle up and play again.

Five Beginner Tips

If you're playing for the first time, don't try to become a Mahjong strategist overnight.

1. Learn the tiles first.
Being able to quickly recognize Dots, Bamboo, Characters, Winds and Dragons makes everything else easier.

2. Look for simple combinations.
Concentrate on building Chows, Pungs and your pair.

3. Don't get too attached to a plan.
The tiles you draw may send your hand in a completely different direction. Let them.

4. Watch the table.
Even when it isn't your turn, pay attention to what other players discard.

5. Ask questions.
You're learning. Nobody was born knowing what a Pung was.

And at Felix's, asking questions is very much the point.

The Best Way to Learn Mahjong? Play Mahjong.

You can read rules all day.

Eventually, you have to sit down and touch the tiles.

That's why we started Mahjong League at Felix's Atlanta.

Every Thursday from 6–9 PM, Candace and Master Mitch host an evening of Chinese Mahjong for experienced players, curious newcomers and people who saw the word "Mahjong" somewhere and thought, I keep hearing about this. Maybe I should finally learn.

You absolutely should.

No experience is necessary.

You don't need your own Mahjong set.

You don't need to bring three other players.

And you don't need to memorize this entire article before you arrive.

Come by yourself or bring some friends. Grab a drink. Sit down at a table. Let Master Mitch show you the ropes.

A few hands later, all those mysterious tiles start making sense.

And then comes the dangerous part:

You start wanting to play again.

Come Learn Mahjong at Felix's

FELIX'S MAHJONG LEAGUE

THURSDAYS • 6–9 PM
Hosted by Candace & Master Mitch

Chinese Mahjong • Beginners Welcome • 21+ • No Cover • Free Parking

Come learn. Come play. Come find your table.