The Land of Mahjong Journal
Gift guides, game-night ideas, beginner how-tos and the story behind the tiles. Everything you need to play American mahjong beautifully.
Learn to Play
American mahjong is played by four people with 152 tiles and the annual NMJL card. Full beginner guide: setup, the Charleston, turns, calls, jokers, and winning.
Learn to Play
The NMJL card lists every legal hand across nine themed sections. Here is what the numbers, colors, C and X markings, and point values actually mean.
Learn to Play
The Charleston is six tile passes in the order right, over, left, left, over, right. The first three are required, the last three optional. Jokers never...
Learn to Play
Jokers work in groups of three or more, never in singles or pairs. How to swap for an exposed joker, why a discarded one is dead,...
Learn to Play
Yes. Remove a wind or deal a dummy fourth hand, and adjust the Charleston. What changes, what stays the same, and why all four racks stay...
Buying Guides
A square table of 34 to 36 inches suits American mahjong. Why four racks set the minimum, and what to do on a round or glass...
Hosting & Care
Store tiles in a closed pouch, roll rather than crease the mat, and clean with a barely damp cloth. What to avoid, and why heat matters...
Hosting & Care
A full American mahjong set weighs about 4kg. What to pack, what to leave, how to stop tiles chipping in transit, and the one rule about...
Ready for game night?
