PALORA PLAYBOOK · BEGINNER EDITION
Your first hand starts here.
Pull up a chair. Learn the essentials, explore the tiles, then try a few low-pressure practice questions.
American Mahjong is a social tile game, distinct from solitaire tile matching. This introduction follows common NMJL-style play. Use your table's current card and official rulebook for complete rules and rulings.
01 · KNOW YOUR TILES
A little vocabulary goes a long way.
Dots
Numbered 1–9, with circle designs. Also called circles.
Bams
The bamboo suit, numbered 1–9. The One Bam often features a bird.
Craks
The character suit, numbered 1–9. Also spelled “cracks.”
There are four copies of each numbered tile. Winds are East, South, West and North. Dragons are Red, Green and White; the White Dragon is often called “Soap.” Flowers and Jokers have their own designs.
152 in play. Extras stay aside.
A standard American playing set uses 108 suited tiles, 16 Winds, 12 Dragons, 8 Flowers and 8 Jokers. A retail set may include spare tiles. Sort and count yours before playing; do not add extras automatically.
Illustrations here are learning symbols, not a product tile identification chart. Check your set's artwork and labels.
02 · FROM SHUFFLE TO FIRST TURN
Get everyone around the table.
Gather four players, a complete American playing set, racks and the same current-year card for everyone. Shuffle facedown and build four walls, each 19 stacks long and two tiles high. Follow the rulebook for breaking the wall and dealing: East begins with 14 tiles; the others have 13.
The Charleston
First exchange: pass three tiles Right → Across → Left. Any player may stop before the optional second exchange, Left → Across → Right. Never pass a Joker. Blind and courtesy passes have special rules; learn them with your instructor.
The rhythm of play
East discards first. Turns proceed counterclockwise: draw, consider your hand, discard and name the tile. Calling a discard has restrictions; a call for Mahjong takes priority.
03 · YOUR HAND'S ROADMAP
The card gives your tiles a destination.
The NMJL publishes a new card each year. A winning hand must match a listed pattern and its instructions. Check the required numbers, suits, groups, exposure restrictions and score on your own card. Colors distinguish suits rather than the ink colors on your physical tiles.
Joker reminder: Jokers substitute in groups of three or more identical tiles, not singles or pairs. “NEWS” and a year are not identical-tile groups. Matching tiles can redeem exposed Jokers on your turn under the rules.
Get the current card and official rulebook from NMJL ↗
PALORA's original learning material is independent of NMJL. No annual card hands are reproduced here.
04 · KEEP IT HANDY
Your table-side quick reference.
| Before you start | Make it a habit |
|---|---|
| Agree on the card and rules. | Ask questions before the hand begins. |
| Sort the playing tiles and set spares aside. | Read every tile aloud while learning. |
| Keep the card within reach. | Recheck a pattern before committing to it. |
| Choose an unhurried first session. | Practice together, then celebrate the small wins. |
Use your browser's Print command to print this guide or save it as a PDF.
Is this the same as Mahjong solitaire?
No. Here you build a hand with other players. Solitaire apps usually remove matching pairs from a layout.
Does a tile set include racks and a card?
Contents vary. Check each product listing before ordering; tiles, racks, storage and an annual card may be sold separately.
What should I do after reading?
Try the practice lab, then arrange a teaching session with a knowledgeable player. This short guide is a starting point, not a complete rulebook.
Ready to make it your tradition?
Explore the coastal Sea Life design or the festive Festival Of Light set. Check each listing for its contents.
Further reading: NMJL · Tile reference by Tom Sloper · American Mahjong FAQ by Tom Sloper. Updated October 2026.