Not quite. The two share the same roots and look similar, but American Mahjong has its own rules. It adds Joker tiles, a pre-game tile swap called the Charleston, and a yearly card of winning hands. If you’ve played another style, you’ll recognize a lot, but there’s still plenty to learn.

No. Beginners are welcome, and most people are playing real games after their first lesson. You don’t need to memorize anything ahead of time, because you can look at the card while you play.

The card is an essential part of American Mahjong. There are a few options, but the current standard is the card offered every year by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL). It lists the hands that can win that year, and the list changes annually. You keep it next to you while you play, so there’s nothing to memorize. You’ll just get faster at spotting which hands your tiles might build toward.

The Charleston is a round of tile passing at the start of each game. You pass unwanted tiles to the other players and receive new ones in return, which helps you shape your hand before play begins. It’s the part that confuses most new players, but it becomes second nature after a few games. <3

Four players make a full table. If you’re missing a player, you can usually still practice with three. Beginners often learn well in small groups, where there’s time to ask questions.

Both. The tiles you draw are luck, but skill matters: choosing which hand to aim for, deciding what to keep or discard, and tracking what other players are collecting. That mix keeps the game fun for beginners and experienced players alike.

No, you don’t have to have Mahjong each game. If no one completes a hand, then you’ve got yourself a WALL GAME.