Mahjong Mania: Learn How to Play Mahjong

by Lauren Mack
Lauren Mack is a journalist who covers Chinese culture and history. She studied Mandarin Chinese in Beijing and Taipei and has written for Newsweek International, Elle Girl, and the Chicago Tribune.
Updated March 17, 2017

While the origin of mahjong (麻將, má jiàng), a game called mah-jongg in the US, is unknown, the fast-paced four-player game is popular throughout Asia. The game was first sold in the US in the 1920s and has become popular in the last decade. Mahjong is often played as a gambling game; therefore, mahjong was banned after 1949 in China but reintroduced after the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).

How To Play Mahjong: Simple Instructions for How To Play Mahjong

6th Graders Play Mah Jongg During Lunch Break
Alex Wong/Getty Images News/Getty Images

There are variations in mahjong gameplay from country to country. Many mahjong sets contain 136 or 144 tiles. There are 16 rounds in a game with a winner after each round. Learn how to play one common version (based on 136 tiles).

Where to Play Mahjong Online

Mahjong: Set up
After each player has drawn 16 tiles, the tiles are placed in a rack. Lauren Mack / About.com

Check out these websites to play mahjong for free.

Mahjong Game Sets and Books

Chinese Games: Mahjong
Mahjong is a four-player game that often involves gambling, but it is also played for fun. Photo courtesy of PriceGrabber

Once you've learned how to play mahjong, get a mahjong game set. Mahjong has many regional variations, Mahjong books will help you learn American mahjong, Shanghainese mahjong, Taiwanese mahjong and more.