Tile set customizer
Match your tile labels
Add a photo as a private reference, then choose labels that match your set. The photo and labels stay in this browser.
American mahjong · Learn at your own pace
Play a guided hand
Choose a skill to practice. Each exercise includes its own instructions.
Look something up, then return to your hand.
Your learning progress saves in this browser. Photos and custom tile labels also stay here.
Start at the first lesson and clear the saved hand and decision history? Your photo and tile labels will stay.
Lesson 1 of 22
一
Characters
One Character
Numbered suits run from 1 to 9.
Tile Families
Tile identifier
Tile names you may hear
A seat at a four-player table
Pass, receive, rethink
You are one of four players. You have 13 tiles; the dealer, East, has 14. Three computer players exchange tiles with you. Keep tiles that help the practice pattern below.
Your practice pattern
Choose a different pattern in Practice card. These are original teaching hands, not official 2026 hands.
The first Charleston is complete. Any player can stop the second before it begins. For this drill, the other players agree to continue if you do.
Your opposite player offers up to 2 tiles. The smaller requested number sets the exchange.
Already played? Try a blind pass
On the first left or second right only, you can send on up to three incoming tiles without looking. Pick any rack tiles you want to pass, then add blind tiles to reach three. Incoming blind tiles stay hidden until the exchange.
Draw and discard · guided drill
Your Hand
Match the practice pattern below. This short exercise starts one tile away. Draws come from a finite tile supply; useful draws are brought forward for practice. Choose another pattern in Practice card.
Draw, compare with the target, then discard.
Can you call?
0 questions answered correctly
First game together
American mahjong
Your practice card
Use these three original patterns for the lessons and exercises. Pick one below. All tiles are shown, so you do not need a separate card. These are teaching hands, not the official 2026 NMJL hands.
How an annual card differs
The National Mah Jongg League publishes a new list of hands each year. The full 2026 list is not included here. This app teaches how to read its notation and uses its own patterns for practice.
This app teaches card-reading concepts. It does not reproduce the copyrighted official NMJL hand list.
Year section
Soap as Zero
Read 2026 as 2, Soap, 2, 6. Soap is the White Dragon. This shows how to read the year, not a complete official hand or its required suits.
Card notation
Read the card symbols
Compare a hand
Enter 13 tiles
Add tiles from the bank below.
Charleston helper
Pick 3 to Pass
These suggestions compare your entered tiles with the selected practice pattern. They do not evaluate the official annual card.
Rules practice
Try the rules
Table agreement
Before you play
Shared learning