The Game-Night Kit
Sit Down & Win
Everything your group needs to play a real American Mahjong night. Read it on your phone, or print the whole thing and keep it at the table.
Part 1
The Card-Reading Cheat-Sheet
Every hand on the card is one of these shapes. Read your tiles, find the one they fit, and you have your direction.
Consecutive Numbers (Runs)
A ladder of numbers climbing in one suit, like 3·4·5·6 all in Dots.
Chase: Keep the longest run you hold and extend it. Pairs and pungs along the run are gold.
Pass: Off-suit strays and numbers that don't touch your run.
Even Numbers (2·4·6·8)
A hand stacked with 2s, 4s, 6s, and 8s across any suits.
Chase: Collect the evens, especially numbers you already hold in pairs.
Pass: Odd numbers (1·3·5·7·9) and unpaired honors.
Odd Numbers (1·3·5·7·9)
A hand stacked with 1s, 3s, 5s, 7s, and 9s.
Chase: Collect the odds and pair them up.
Pass: Even numbers and unpaired honors.
Like Numbers
The same number showing up across suits, like a 5 of Craks, 5 of Bams, and 5 of Dots.
Chase: Gather more copies of your most-repeated number.
Pass: One-off numbers you only hold a single copy of.
Winds & Dragons (Honors)
Three or more wind and dragon tiles, ideally already in pairs.
Chase: Pair and pung your winds and dragons; honors only score in groups.
Pass: Scattered single number tiles that don't build a group.
Singles & Pairs
Lots of pairs and very few groups of three.
Chase: Protect every pair you have and build toward more. Remember: a joker can never fill a pair.
Pass: Tiles with no partner in sight.
Part 2
The Charleston Flowchart
Six rules, in order. Walk down the list each pass and you'll almost never give away a tile you needed.
1
Never pass a joker.
You aren't allowed to, and they're the most valuable tile you can hold.
2
Pass your most isolated tiles first.
A tile that serves no direction is the cheapest thing to give away.
3
Protect your pairs and pungs.
A joker can never rebuild a pair, so a made pair is a sole path you don't break.
4
Pass flowers last.
Many card lines need them, so flowers are the last thing to let go, not the first.
5
Send single winds and dragons early.
Unless you're going for an honors hand, a lone honor rarely scores.
6
Re-read after every pass.
Three tiles leave and three arrive, so your direction can change from pass one to pass four.
Part 3
The Score Card
The winner of each hand is paid by everyone, at the value printed on the card (double it for a jokerless or self-picked win). Tally the night here.
| Hand | Winner | Card value | Doubled? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Part 4
Host Your First Game Night
A simple run of show, from the box on the table to calling Mahjong.
1
Gather your table
Four players is the classic game; three works fine. Each player needs the current year's National Mah Jongg League card.
2
Lay out the set
A full American set: 152 tiles including 8 jokers and the flowers, plus racks and a pair of dice. Score slips and snacks make it a night.
3
Build the wall and deal
Each player builds two rows of tiles, then the dealer hands out 13 to each player (the dealer keeps 14 to start).
4
Run the Charleston
Pass three right, three across, three left, then an optional second pass. This is where most hands are won or lost, use the flowchart.
5
Play the hand
Draw and discard around the table. Call a discard only to make an exposure that matches a line on your card.
6
Declare Mahjong and score
The first complete hand calls Mahjong and is paid by everyone, using the value printed on the card (with doubles for a jokerless or self-picked win).
7
Keep it warm
Keep the card at every elbow, call your tiles clearly, and let beginners take back a discard or two. The goal is everyone comes back next week.
Part 5
30 Reading Drills
Cover the answer, read the hand: where is it going, and which three would you pass? Then check yourself. Every answer is from the same coach that runs the daily hand.
Drill 1
Hand: 1 Crak · 2 Bam · 2 Dot · 3 Crak · 4 Crak · 7 Bam · 7 Dot · 8 Crak · Green Dragon · Red Dragon · Flower · East · South
Show the read
Going for: Winds & Dragons
Keep (your spine): Green Dragon, Red Dragon, East, South, Flower
Pass: 2 Bam, 2 Dot, 7 Bam
Drill 2
Hand: 1 Crak · 4 Bam · 4 Dot · 5 Dot · 6 Crak · 8 Bam · 8 Bam · Soap (White) · Flower · Joker · Joker · South · West
Show the read
Going for: Even Numbers (2·4·6·8)
Keep (your spine): 8 Bam, 8 Bam, 4 Bam, 4 Dot, 6 Crak
Pass: 1 Crak, 5 Dot, Soap (White)
Drill 3
Hand: 1 Dot · 2 Dot · 3 Crak · 5 Crak · 6 Dot · 7 Crak · 8 Bam · 8 Crak · Red Dragon · Joker · East · East · West
Show the read
Going for: Winds & Dragons
Keep (your spine): East, East, Red Dragon, West, 3 Crak
Pass: 1 Dot, 2 Dot, 6 Dot
Drill 4
Hand: 1 Dot · 2 Crak · 3 Bam · 5 Bam · 6 Bam · 6 Dot · 7 Bam · Green Dragon · Green Dragon · Flower · Joker · North · North
Show the read
Going for: Consecutive Numbers
Keep (your spine): 3 Bam, 5 Bam, 6 Bam, 7 Bam, Green Dragon
Pass: 1 Dot, 2 Crak, 6 Dot
Drill 5
Hand: 2 Dot · 4 Bam · 5 Bam · 5 Dot · 5 Dot · 8 Crak · 8 Dot · 9 Bam · 9 Crak · 9 Dot · Soap (White) · Flower · Flower
Show the read
Going for: Like Numbers
Keep (your spine): 5 Dot, 5 Dot, 5 Bam, Flower, Flower
Pass: 2 Dot, 4 Bam, 8 Crak
Drill 6
Hand: 1 Dot · 2 Bam · 4 Bam · 5 Dot · 7 Bam · 8 Crak · 8 Dot · Soap (White) · Soap (White) · Flower · Joker · Joker · North
Show the read
Going for: Winds & Dragons
Keep (your spine): Soap (White), Soap (White), North, Flower, 8 Crak
Pass: 1 Dot, 2 Bam, 4 Bam
Drill 7
Hand: 1 Crak · 1 Dot · 2 Bam · 3 Bam · 3 Crak · 4 Crak · 4 Crak · 6 Crak · 6 Dot · 8 Dot · 9 Crak · Joker · Joker
Show the read
Going for: Even Numbers (2·4·6·8)
Keep (your spine): 4 Crak, 4 Crak, 2 Bam, 6 Crak, 6 Dot
Pass: 1 Crak, 1 Dot, 3 Bam
Drill 8
Hand: 2 Crak · 2 Dot · 4 Bam · 4 Bam · 4 Bam · 4 Dot · 5 Dot · 6 Bam · 7 Crak · 9 Bam · 9 Crak · 9 Dot · Green Dragon
Show the read
Going for: Like Numbers
Keep (your spine): 4 Bam, 4 Bam, 4 Bam, 4 Dot, 2 Crak
Pass: 5 Dot, 7 Crak, 9 Bam
Drill 9
Hand: 1 Crak · 3 Dot · 3 Dot · 3 Dot · 5 Bam · 6 Bam · 6 Crak · 8 Dot · Green Dragon · Red Dragon · Soap (White) · Joker · East
Show the read
Going for: Like Numbers
Keep (your spine): 3 Dot, 3 Dot, 3 Dot, Green Dragon, Red Dragon
Pass: 1 Crak, 5 Bam, 6 Bam
Drill 10
Hand: 1 Bam · 2 Bam · 4 Bam · 4 Dot · 6 Dot · 8 Crak · 8 Crak · 8 Dot · 9 Bam · 9 Crak · Red Dragon · Flower · East
Show the read
Going for: Even Numbers (2·4·6·8)
Keep (your spine): 8 Crak, 8 Crak, 8 Dot, 2 Bam, 4 Bam
Pass: 1 Bam, 9 Bam, 9 Crak
Drill 11
Hand: 1 Bam · 2 Dot · 3 Dot · 3 Dot · 5 Bam · 5 Bam · 5 Crak · 5 Crak · 7 Bam · 8 Bam · 8 Dot · Soap (White) · East
Show the read
Going for: Like Numbers
Keep (your spine): 5 Bam, 5 Bam, 5 Crak, 5 Crak, 3 Dot
Pass: 2 Dot, 8 Bam, 8 Dot
Drill 12
Hand: 3 Crak · 3 Dot · 3 Dot · 4 Dot · 6 Crak · 6 Dot · 7 Bam · 8 Dot · 9 Dot · Green Dragon · Soap (White) · Flower · Flower
Show the read
Going for: Like Numbers
Keep (your spine): 3 Dot, 3 Dot, 3 Crak, Flower, Flower
Pass: 4 Dot, 6 Crak, 6 Dot
Drill 13
Hand: 1 Crak · 3 Crak · 3 Dot · 4 Bam · 4 Crak · 5 Crak · 6 Crak · 6 Dot · 9 Bam · Green Dragon · Flower · Flower · Flower
Show the read
Going for: Consecutive Numbers
Keep (your spine): 1 Crak, 3 Crak, 5 Crak, 4 Crak, 6 Crak
Pass: Green Dragon, 4 Bam, 6 Dot
Drill 14
Hand: 1 Bam · 1 Crak · 1 Dot · 2 Dot · 4 Dot · 5 Dot · 6 Bam · 6 Bam · 8 Bam · 9 Dot · Green Dragon · Joker · West
Show the read
Going for: Like Numbers
Keep (your spine): 1 Bam, 1 Crak, 1 Dot, 6 Bam, 6 Bam
Pass: 5 Dot, 9 Dot, Green Dragon
Drill 15
Hand: 1 Bam · 2 Bam · 3 Bam · 4 Crak · 4 Crak · 6 Crak · 6 Crak · 7 Bam · 7 Dot · 8 Crak · 8 Dot · Red Dragon · Flower
Show the read
Going for: Even Numbers (2·4·6·8)
Keep (your spine): 4 Crak, 4 Crak, 6 Crak, 6 Crak, 2 Bam
Pass: Red Dragon, 7 Dot, 1 Bam
Drill 16
Hand: 1 Bam · 1 Dot · 3 Bam · 3 Crak · 5 Bam · 7 Bam · 8 Bam · 8 Crak · 9 Bam · 9 Crak · Green Dragon · Flower · North
Show the read
Going for: Odd Numbers (1·3·5·7·9)
Keep (your spine): 1 Bam, 3 Bam, 5 Bam, 7 Bam, 9 Bam
Pass: Green Dragon, North, 8 Crak
Drill 17
Hand: 1 Bam · 1 Dot · 4 Crak · 4 Crak · 4 Dot · 7 Bam · 8 Crak · 8 Dot · 9 Bam · 9 Dot · 9 Dot · East · South
Show the read
Going for: Like Numbers
Keep (your spine): 4 Crak, 4 Crak, 4 Dot, 9 Dot, 9 Dot
Pass: 1 Bam, 1 Dot, 7 Bam
Drill 18
Hand: 1 Crak · 3 Bam · 4 Bam · 4 Dot · 5 Dot · 5 Dot · 8 Bam · 8 Dot · 9 Bam · 9 Crak · Flower · Joker · North
Show the read
Going for: Odd Numbers (1·3·5·7·9)
Keep (your spine): 5 Dot, 5 Dot, 3 Bam, 9 Bam, 1 Crak
Pass: North, 4 Dot, 8 Dot
Drill 19
Hand: 2 Crak · 4 Crak · 5 Bam · 5 Crak · 5 Crak · 5 Dot · 6 Crak · 7 Bam · 9 Crak · 9 Crak · Green Dragon · Flower · Joker
Show the read
Going for: Like Numbers
Keep (your spine): 5 Crak, 5 Crak, 5 Bam, 5 Dot, 9 Crak
Pass: 2 Crak, 4 Crak, 6 Crak
Drill 20
Hand: 2 Bam · 3 Bam · 3 Crak · 4 Crak · 5 Bam · 6 Bam · 6 Dot · 7 Crak · 7 Crak · 9 Crak · Flower · Joker · West
Show the read
Going for: Odd Numbers (1·3·5·7·9)
Keep (your spine): 7 Crak, 7 Crak, 3 Crak, 9 Crak, 3 Bam
Pass: West, 2 Bam, 6 Bam
Drill 21
Hand: 1 Bam · 2 Bam · 2 Crak · 2 Crak · 4 Bam · 6 Bam · 7 Crak · 8 Bam · 8 Dot · 9 Bam · Green Dragon · North · South
Show the read
Going for: Even Numbers (2·4·6·8)
Keep (your spine): 2 Crak, 2 Crak, 2 Bam, 4 Bam, 6 Bam
Pass: 1 Bam, 7 Crak, 9 Bam
Drill 22
Hand: 2 Bam · 3 Crak · 4 Crak · 4 Dot · 5 Bam · 5 Crak · 5 Crak · 8 Bam · 9 Bam · 9 Crak · Flower · Joker · Joker
Show the read
Going for: Like Numbers
Keep (your spine): 5 Crak, 5 Crak, 5 Bam, Flower, 3 Crak
Pass: 2 Bam, 4 Dot, 8 Bam
Drill 23
Hand: 3 Crak · 4 Bam · 5 Crak · 6 Crak · 7 Bam · 7 Crak · 8 Dot · 9 Dot · Green Dragon · Soap (White) · East · South · West
Show the read
Going for: Winds & Dragons
Keep (your spine): Green Dragon, Soap (White), East, South, West
Pass: 4 Bam, 7 Bam, 8 Dot
Drill 24
Hand: 1 Dot · 1 Dot · 2 Crak · 2 Dot · 3 Bam · 5 Bam · 5 Dot · 6 Dot · 7 Crak · 8 Bam · 9 Bam · Soap (White) · Flower
Show the read
Going for: Odd Numbers (1·3·5·7·9)
Keep (your spine): 1 Dot, 1 Dot, 3 Bam, 5 Bam, 9 Bam
Pass: Soap (White), 2 Crak, 2 Dot
Drill 25
Hand: 2 Crak · 2 Dot · 3 Crak · 4 Crak · 4 Dot · 6 Crak · 6 Crak · 7 Crak · 8 Crak · Green Dragon · Soap (White) · Flower · North
Show the read
Going for: Even Numbers (2·4·6·8)
Keep (your spine): 6 Crak, 6 Crak, 2 Crak, 4 Crak, 8 Crak
Pass: Green Dragon, Soap (White), North
Drill 26
Hand: 2 Bam · 3 Bam · 3 Crak · 3 Crak · 4 Dot · 5 Dot · 6 Dot · 7 Dot · 9 Dot · Flower · Flower · Flower · West
Show the read
Going for: Consecutive Numbers
Keep (your spine): 4 Dot, 5 Dot, 6 Dot, 7 Dot, 9 Dot
Pass: West, 2 Bam, 4 Dot
Drill 27
Hand: 2 Dot · 3 Bam · 4 Bam · 4 Dot · 6 Bam · 7 Bam · 7 Crak · 8 Crak · 9 Dot · Soap (White) · Flower · Flower · West
Show the read
Going for: Even Numbers (2·4·6·8)
Keep (your spine): 8 Crak, 2 Dot, 4 Bam, 4 Dot, 6 Bam
Pass: Soap (White), West, 3 Bam
Drill 28
Hand: 2 Bam · 3 Bam · 3 Crak · 4 Bam · 4 Crak · 5 Bam · 7 Crak · 8 Bam · 8 Bam · 9 Crak · Red Dragon · South · West
Show the read
Going for: Consecutive Numbers
Keep (your spine): 8 Bam, 8 Bam, 2 Bam, 4 Bam, 3 Bam
Pass: Red Dragon, South, West
Drill 29
Hand: 2 Bam · 3 Bam · 5 Crak · 5 Crak · 6 Bam · 6 Bam · 8 Dot · 9 Bam · 9 Bam · 9 Dot · Red Dragon · Joker · Joker
Show the read
Going for: Like Numbers
Keep (your spine): 9 Bam, 9 Bam, 9 Dot, 5 Crak, 5 Crak
Pass: 2 Bam, 8 Dot, Red Dragon
Drill 30
Hand: 1 Bam · 1 Crak · 3 Crak · 4 Dot · 5 Dot · 6 Dot · 7 Crak · 8 Bam · 8 Crak · 9 Dot · 9 Dot · Joker · West
Show the read
Going for: Odd Numbers (1·3·5·7·9)
Keep (your spine): 9 Dot, 9 Dot, 5 Dot, 1 Bam, 1 Crak
Pass: West, 8 Bam, 8 Crak
School of Mahjong · Sit Down & Win Game-Night Kit. Teaches strategy and structure; not affiliated with the National Mah Jongg League.