Whether you’re brand new to mahjong or looking to refine your strategy for competitive play, you’ve come to the right place.
Mahjong Rules is your complete guide to understanding how mahjong is played – across cultures, styles, and tables. From the fast-paced action of Hong Kong style to the calculated complexity of Japanese Riichi, we break down each version clearly and accessibly. No fluff. No confusion. Just clean, helpful rules and strategy.
🀄 Learn the rules.
🎯 Sharpen your skills.
🧠 Play with confidence.
What Is Mahjong?
Mahjong is a 4-player tile game that originated in China over 150 years ago and has since become a global phenomenon. It combines strategy, memory, probability, and psychology. Players draw and discard tiles to form specific combinations – called melds – in pursuit of the winning hand.
But depending on where you play, the rules vary dramatically. That’s where we come in.
Learn Every Major Rule Set
At Mahjong Rules, we cover the 5 most popular mahjong styles in full detail:
🎋 Chinese Classical
The original form of the game. Elegant, mathematical, and deeply strategic.
🀄 Hong Kong Style
Fast-paced and widely played in casual and competitive scenes across Asia.
🇯🇵 Japanese Riichi
A high-skill format that rewards calculation and bluffing – popular in esports-style tournaments.
🇺🇸 American Mahjong
Played with a special card of hands. Common in U.S. clubs and communities, especially among older generations.
🐉 Taiwanese Mahjong
Uses 16-tile hands and rewards combo-building. Big hands, big swings.
Each guide comes with:
- Clear, illustrated rules
- Scoring breakdowns
- Winning hand examples
- Beginner tips
- Cultural notes
Play Smarter, Win More
Understanding the rules is just the beginning. We also offer:
- Strategy breakdowns for each ruleset
- Best online platforms for free and competitive play
- Glossaries for confusing terms
- Connor’s Corner: Personal insights and experience from our in-house mahjong enthusiast
Who Is This Site For?
- Total beginners who want a non-intimidating introduction
- Casual players ready to learn scoring and etiquette
- Competitive grinders looking to compare global formats
- Teachers and organizers seeking accurate rule explanations
About Connor
💬 “I used to think mahjong was a game for old men in smoky rooms. Then I played a Riichi match online that nearly gave me a heart attack – in the best way possible.”
Connor is a lifelong strategy gamer who fell in love with mahjong while living abroad in Southeast Asia. What began as a curiosity turned into a full-blown obsession. He’s played hundreds of hours across all major formats – from fast Hong Kong games in crowded cafés to solo American-style training sessions late at night.
Connor contributes in-depth reviews, personal strategy advice, and accessible breakdowns for new players. His mission? Help more people appreciate how much depth – and joy – mahjong can offer.
Start Here
- How to Play Mahjong – Beginner’s Guide
- Rules by Country
- Mahjong Terms Glossary
- Best Mahjong Platforms Online (2025)
🀄 Mahjong isn’t just a game. It’s a culture, a mindset, and a puzzle with infinite solutions. Welcome to the journey.