If you've just been invited to a mahjong group, or you're shopping for your first set, the box can look like a lot: more than 150 tiles, four racks, dice and chips. Here's what every piece is and what it's for.
The short answer
American mahjong is played with 152 tiles. Many sets, including ours, include a few more, usually extra Jokers and blank tiles, so you have spares. A complete set also comes with four racks with pushers, dice, betting chips and a case to keep it all together.
The 152 playing tiles
Three suits: 108 tiles
- Bams (bamboo): numbered 1 to 9, four of each, 36 tiles. The 1 Bam is often drawn as a bird.
- Cracks (characters): numbered 1 to 9, four of each, 36 tiles.
- Dots (circles): numbered 1 to 9, four of each, 36 tiles.
Most American sets print a small number in the corner of each suit tile, which makes them much easier for new players to read.
Winds: 16 tiles
North, East, West and South, four of each. Winds show up in many hands on the card, often as a group of all four directions.
Dragons: 12 tiles
Four each of the Red, Green and White Dragon. Each Dragon goes with a suit: Red with Cracks, Green with Bams, and White with Dots. The White Dragon is nicknamed "Soap," and it also stands in for a zero in hands that spell out the year.
Flowers: 8 tiles
Flowers are all treated alike in American mahjong, even if the artwork on each one is different. Many hands on the card call for one or more Flowers.
Jokers: 8 tiles
Jokers are what make American mahjong different. A Joker can stand in for any tile in a group of three or more, though never in a pair or as a single tile. Chinese and Japanese sets don't include Jokers, which is why you need a set made for American play.
The extras: spare Jokers and blanks
Many American sets include more than 152 tiles. Our Pavora set, for example, has 160 tiles: 10 Jokers (two spares) and 6 blank tiles.
- Spare Jokers replace a lost or chipped Joker. Play with 8 unless your group agrees otherwise.
- Blank tiles replace any tile that goes missing. Some groups also play house rules that use blanks during the game; agree on that before you start.
The accessories
- Four racks with pushers. Each player keeps tiles on a rack facing them. The pusher attachment slides the wall toward the center of the table. Our complete sets include all-in-one racks and pushers.
- Dice. East rolls to decide where to break the wall before dealing.
- Betting chips. Many groups keep score with chips instead of cash.
- A wind indicator (in some sets) shows which seat is East.
- A case. A good case keeps 160 tiles organized and protects them on the way to game night.
What's not in the box: the card
Every player needs this year's card from the National Mah Jongg League. It lists every winning hand and changes every year, so it is sold separately. Read our guide to the league card to learn how to read it.
Quick checklist before your first game
- Count your Jokers: you need at least 8.
- Check you have four racks with pushers.
- Order a current card for each player.
- Find a table with room for four racks. A mahjong mat keeps tiles quiet and in place.
Ready to learn? Our beginner's guide walks through a first game step by step. When you're ready for your own set, browse our curated American mahjong sets. Every set is inspected by our team before it ships.