You offered to host, and now the group is coming to your house. Hosting American mahjong is mostly a matter of having the right things on the table before the doorbell rings. This guide covers one table for four players or two tables for eight: what to set out, where everyone sits, how to keep score and how to time the evening.
What you need for each table
American mahjong is played four to a table. For each table, set out:
- One full American mahjong set. The game uses 152 tiles, counting 8 jokers and 8 flowers.
- Four racks, one per player, with pushers if you have them.
- Two dice.
- A square table and four chairs. A mat quiets the tiles and keeps them from sliding.
- Good light. Four people will be reading tiles all evening.
Count a new set the day it arrives, and count again a day or two before you host. If a tile is missing on game night, a blank can stand in for it. Our promise on an Invitanda set: Missing or chipped tile? Email us a photo within 3 days of delivery and we send a matching replacement at no charge.
Pairing new tiles with racks you already own? Compare sizes first. Melamine tiles come in three sizes, from 24 mm Mini to 36 mm Large; the Classic is 1.18 x 0.87 x 0.55 in (30 x 22 x 14 mm). A set is 160 tiles, not a full kit. Racks, pushers, a mat, dice and this year's card aren't included. We carry a mat and dice.
The card
American mahjong is played from the annual card, which lists the hands and changes every year. The card is sold separately by its publisher. Each player needs her own, so put "bring your card" in the invitation. Everyone at the table should play from the same year's card.
How to set up one table
- Put a rack on each side of the table.
- Turn all the tiles face down in the middle and mix them.
- Each player builds a wall in front of her rack: 19 stacks, two tiles high.
- Roll the dice to choose East. High roll is East for the first hand.
- East rolls again and breaks her wall at that number. Players take tiles in turn until each has 13 and East has 14.
- Do the Charleston, then play.
If your set has blanks or spare jokers that your group does not use, pull them out before you mix, so each wall comes out to 19 stacks.
How to set up two tables
Eight players means doing all of that twice: two sets, eight racks, four dice.
- Leave room to walk. A chair should push back without bumping the other table.
- Label the tables. A sign on each table saves you from directing traffic all night.
- Decide how people will mix. One common way: East passes to the right after every hand, so after four hands each player has been East once. Take a break then, and have two players from each table trade places.
- Keep the two sets apart. A tile that wanders to the other table is hard to spot when both sets look alike. Two different back colors, or two different designs, fix that.
Need a second set? Our mahjong sets are printed to order in the back color you pick. Put any two tile sets in your cart and the second set is discounted at checkout. It's applied automatically, once per order, and can't be combined with discount codes. The two can be different designs.
Seating and place cards
Place cards let you settle the seating ahead of time, not at the front door.
- Seat a newer player beside a patient, experienced one.
- With two tables, split your fastest players so both tables keep about the same pace.
- With five at a table, one player sits out each hand and rotates back in.
- Three can play too. Many groups skip the Charleston with three, so agree on that before you start.
Is a guest new to our themed sets? The Tile Key names every tile in 8 designs.
The free printables: score sheet, place cards and table signs
Our free printables come as a 3-page PDF on US Letter paper:
- A score sheet for 4 players and 16 hands, with a total row.
- 4 place cards, each with a flower tile and a line for a name.
- 2 table signs, Table 1 and Table 2, to fold and stand up.
The kit comes in four designs: Halloween, Gothic Halloween, Cozy Christmas and Classic Christmas. Enter your email on the printables page and the download links appear there. You also join our email list, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Keeping score
Decide before the first hand how your group keeps score. The card lists a value for every hand. Some groups settle up with coins or scoring chips after each hand, and others keep only a paper tally.
On the printable score sheet, fill in one row after each hand and add up the total row at the end. Sixteen rows cover four times around the table, with each player as East four times. The hands from this year's card are not printed on the sheet, so you still need your card to see what a hand is worth.
Snacks that are kind to the tiles
- Choose food you can eat with one hand: grapes, pretzels, cut vegetables, small cookies.
- Skip anything greasy, sticky or dusted with powder. It ends up on the tiles.
- Keep food and drinks on a side table or a tray beside each chair, not on the playing table.
Timing the evening
- The first 20 to 30 minutes: arrivals, drinks and a bite to eat.
- First round: four hands. For planning, allow 15 to 20 minutes a hand, and more with newer players.
- Break: ten or fifteen minutes to stretch, refill and, with two tables, trade seats.
- Second round: four more hands.
- Last hand: say it out loud before you deal, so no one feels rushed out or kept late.
Put a start time and an end time in the invitation.
Hosting for Christmas or another holiday?
Order with your date in mind: our shipping policy shows how long printing and delivery take. A swapped design takes a few extra days for your proof.
We ship to the 50 states and Washington, DC.
The Host Set comes on every design: the tiles, a knit bag with your name, matching trinkets, rack birds and a pair of matching dice. See the Host Set on Cozy Christmas.
Type your name on the set page, up to 20 characters. We stitch it exactly as you type it. The Host Set includes a design swap: we draw up to 5 of the tile designs. After checkout, reply to your order confirmation within 24 hours with a photo or just an idea. Stitched bags and swapped sets are final sale. A melamine set and its bags ship together in one package, with one tracking link.
The day-before checklist
- Count the tiles. Check that each table has four racks and two dice.
- Print our free printables: a score sheet for each table, a place card for each guest, a sign for each table.
- Remind everyone to bring this year's card.
- Write the names on the place cards and set them at the seats.
Then turn on the light, set out the racks and open the door.