Practice American mahjong
Short drills and a complete computer game for new American mahjong players. Name the tiles, practise calls and jokers, or play a full hand. No account needed, and progress stays in this browser.
Practice drills
- Mahjong tile names practice
This drill is for new players learning the names heard at an American mahjong table.
- Calls and jokers practice
This drill asks whether you can call a discard for a stated group or exchange a matching natural tile for an exposed joker.
Choose a short drill
Tile names begins with recognition. You look at one face, choose its everyday table name, and get a visual tip if you need it. The sorting round then asks you to organize a mixed rack by family and number. Start here if a full set still looks like one busy pile.
Calls and jokers gives you one small table situation at a time. The prompt names the isolated group you are collecting. You decide whether the shown discard can be called or whether a natural tile can replace an exposed joker. It does not ask you to read or reproduce an annual card.
Ready to play a hand?
Play the computer takes you through a complete hand against Gentle, Steady and Sharp. You will do the Charleston, draw and discard in two steps, decide whether to call, build exposures and exchange jokers. Guided mode keeps the nearest hands from the Joker & Bloom Practice Card beside your rack; Hints and Off let you do more on your own.
The full game uses our original practice card. It is not the National Mah Jongg League card and does not reproduce an annual card.
Progress stays with you
Your completed questions and practice milestones stay in this browser. You do not need an account, and nothing is sent to a public leaderboard. If browser storage is cleared or unavailable, the drills still work, but the saved progress may disappear.
Take your time. There are no hearts or speed bonuses. A hint changes how the attempt is recorded, but it never blocks the explanation.
What comes later
More focused Charleston and joker-exchange puzzles are planned. For now, repeat either short drill or play another complete hand until the names and decisions feel familiar.
Common questions
How can I practice American Mahjong by myself?
Start with skills you can practice from visible tiles. Name one face at a time, then sort a mixed rack by family and put each numbered suit in order. Next, use small examples to compare a discard with a stated group or a natural tile with an exposed joker. You do not need an annual card for these exercises, and they never ask you to build a complete hand. Learn more in Shuffle and build four walls.