Meet the Table

Four players, one per side of a square table. A standard card table works perfectly — you do not need a special mahjong table.

Each player needs room for a rack and a row of tiles in front of it; the center stays open for tiles put down during play. With a rectangular table, two players can share each long side by angling their racks into a diamond.

A mat covers the table. It quiets the sound of heavy tiles, protects the table and the tile faces, defines the play area, and lets tiles slide smoothly during mixing. Some mats print beginner reminders like passing order right on the surface.

A mat is not required by the rules — but once you've played on one, bare tables feel loud and slippery.

One per player: a long, narrow holder that keeps your tiles upright, facing you, hidden from everyone else. Racks are one of the features that distinguish American Mahjong from other variants.

The flat top of the rack is a shelf where certain tiles are placed face up for everyone to see during play. Racks also guide the row of tiles each player builds — 19 tiles long — and are sized to match, commonly 18–20 inches. Large-format tiles generally need 19–20 inch racks.

Racks come in wood, acrylic, and plastic.

Long arms attached to the rack (often pinned or magnetic), also called extending arms or helping hands. They swing out to straighten your row of tiles and slide the whole row toward the center in one motion without it falling apart. Optional, but widely used.

152 tiles are used in play. Many sets ship with 160 or 166 — the extras are spare jokers or blanks, which is packaging, not a rules difference.

Tiles are the playing pieces, comparable to cards: players collect, trade, and arrange them to match a winning pattern. You'll see numbered tiles 1–9 in three designs, tiles with the letters N, E, W, S, three special bold designs, flower tiles, and tiles marked JOKER. American sets print Arabic numerals and English letters on the tiles.

A set without jokers (usually 144 tiles) is a Chinese set and can't be used for American Mahjong without adding jokers. An American set can play Chinese mahjong by removing the jokers.

Hands-on activity: dump the tiles out and sort them face up into identical groups. That's the whole exercise — and it works.

Two dice decide who goes first and where tile distribution begins. They're not used again until the next game.

A small folded card listing every winning hand for the year. Every player needs their own. The goal of every game is to collect tiles that match one line on the card.

The National Mah Jongg League publishes a new card each spring — same game, new winning patterns. It comes in standard and large print with identical hands; large print is easier to read at the table. For 2026, prices from the League are $14 standard and $15 large print, with an 8.5×11 Mega Card at $35.

Buy directly from the NMJL at nationalmahjonggleague.org or by mail. Doing so makes you a League member for the year and includes the annual bulletin with rules clarifications. Resellers charge $15–$20 for convenience, and counterfeit cards circulate on marketplaces — buy from the League or a clearly authorized seller.

Alternative cards exist (The Big Card, Marvelous Mah Jongg, AMJA, Mah Jongg Press), but leagues, lessons, and tournaments use the NMJL card.

A slim overlay or slider that highlights one line of the card, keeping a beginner's eye on the one hand they're working toward. Many are sized for both standard and large NMJL cards. Optional, but genuinely helpful in your first months.

Flat, stiff paddles (roughly 5.5 × 7 inches, used in pairs) that slide under the face-down tiles to lift and mix them. They make mixing faster and spare your fingernails. Optional — many tables mix by hand.

These track winnings. Small stakes are traditional (a 25-point hand pays 25 cents); many groups keep score on paper or play for no money at all. Ask your table.

A card holder keeps your card upright or protected; a case or bag handles storage and travel. Both optional.

Square mat on a card table. Four racks, one per side, each with a card nearby. Two dice and coins to the side. Tiles face down in the middle, ready to mix. That's everything — and now you know what all of it does.