A fast, printable quick reference for American Mahjong (NMJL) — the Charleston, Jokers, calling tiles, and how to win. Keep it beside you for your first games, when the card and the passing order are still sinking in.
Playing a different style? See our general Mahjong Cheat Sheet for all variants.
- 4 players · a 152-tile set with 8 Jokers and 8 Flowers
- 13 tiles in hand · 14 to win
- Every hand must match a line on the current NMJL card — you can’t invent your own
- Deal: East gets 14 tiles, everyone else 13
The Charleston — pass order
The part new players forget most. The first Charleston is required; the second only happens if everyone agrees.
| Charleston | Pass order (3 tiles each) |
|---|---|
| First (required) | Right → Across → Left |
| Second (optional) | Left → Across → Right |
| Courtesy pass | 0–3 tiles across, by agreement |
- Jokers can never be passed in the Charleston.
- Any player can stop the second Charleston — it needs everyone’s agreement.
- Blind passes are allowed on the later passes — see what to pass in the Charleston.
Joker rules
| Jokers CAN | Jokers CANNOT |
|---|---|
| Stand in for a tile in a group of 3+ (pung, kong, quint) | Be used for a single tile or a pair |
| Be redeemed — swap the matching natural tile for an exposed Joker on your turn | Be passed in the Charleston, or picked up once discarded |
More detail: Jokers in Mahjong — full rules. Note: jokerless hands usually score double. Unsure about a play? Try the free Joker Rule Checker.
Calling & exposing tiles
- You may call a discard to complete a pung, kong, or quint — then expose that group face-up on your rack.
- You cannot call a discard for a single or a pair — except the tile that completes your hand for Mahjong.
- Once you expose tiles, you’re committed to a hand that matches the card.
How to win & scoring
- Complete a 14-tile hand that exactly matches a line on the NMJL card, then declare “Mahjong.”
- Each hand’s value is printed on the card. The player who discards the winning tile pays double; the others pay the face value.
- Pick your own winning tile and all three pay you double. See American Mahjong scoring for the full breakdown.
Need the exact amounts? Use the free Payout Calculator.
Get this cheat sheet as a printable PDF
The Charleston, Joker rules, and NMJL card basics on one printable page — keep it on the table while you play.
Download the free cheat sheet →Want more than a cheat sheet? The NMJL Beginner Starter Kit adds practice hands and a step-by-step walkthrough of the card. Or start with the full American Mahjong rules.