Welcome to Mahjong Rules — a free, friendly home for the timeless game of Mahjong, from the classic Chinese game to the American (NMJL) version. Our aim is simple: explain the rules clearly and accurately, without the jargon, so anyone can sit down at the table and play with confidence.
Why we built this site
Mahjong is a wonderful game, but it can feel intimidating at first — tiles, suits, honors, melds, and scoring all at once, with rules that change from one region to the next. We created Mahjong Rules to be the clear, reliable guide we wished we’d had when learning: every rule explained step by step, in plain English, and laid out in large, easy-to-read type so the whole table can follow along.
What you’ll find here
- Complete, beginner-friendly rules for Chinese and American Mahjong
- How the tiles, melds, and scoring work — explained simply
- Free printable references and easy-to-follow guides
- Tips, variations, and answers to the questions players ask most
- A place to play Mahjong online — free, on desktop or mobile
About the author
Every guide on this site is written and reviewed by Connor Davis, a lifelong Mahjong enthusiast who has spent 10 years playing and teaching the game in its many forms. Connor believes good rules should be easy for everyone to read and follow — which is why each page here is written plainly and laid out clearly. Where a rule differs between the Chinese, American, and other versions, he explains the most common approach and notes where house rules vary.
Our commitment to accuracy
Few games have as many regional variations as Mahjong, and we take getting them right seriously. We focus on the most widely played versions of the game, double-check our scoring, and always note where common house rules differ — so you can trust what you read and adapt it to your own table.
Get in touch
Have a question, spotted something, or want to suggest a topic? We’d love to hear from you at mahjongrules101@gmail.com.