THE GAME & HOW TO PLAYAncient. Addictive.
Easier than you think.
Mahjong has captivated players for over 150 years. Here's why we're obsessed — and everything you need to sit down confidently at your first table.
ABOUT THE GAMEA tile game with a thousand layers.
Mahjong is a strategy tile game played with 144 tiles. It combines skill, memory, a little luck, and a lot of personality. Originally from China, it's played worldwide in dozens of variations — we focus on American Mahjong, the beloved version popularized in the US in the 20th century.
It's the kind of game that takes an afternoon to learn and a lifetime to master — and every hand feels genuinely different.
WHY WE’RE OBSESSEDWhat makes mahjong unlike anything else.
SHARPENS YOUR MIND
Pattern recognition, memory, strategy. Your brain will thank you.
BUILDS FRIENDSHIPS
The best conversations happen around a mahjong table. Always.
DEEPLY SATISFYING
Winning your first hand is a feeling you'll chase for years to come.
SURPRISINGLY TACTILE
There's just something about the weight and click of a tile.
AMERICAN MAHJONGThe version we play– and teach.
American Mahjong uses a card (the National Mah Jongg League card) updated annually. It's got its own rhythm, its own culture, and a devoted following of players who take it seriously. It's the version you've likely seen your mother or grandmother play — and it's the one The Bamboo Room celebrates.
144 Tiles
Pattern recognition, memory, strategy. Your brain will thank you.
4 Players
The classic configuration. Play with friends or we'll fill your table.
Annual Card
New winning hands each year keep the game fresh and competitive.
THE BASICSMahjong has a reputation for being complicated. We're here to fix that.
Here's everything you need to know to sit down confidently at your first table.
-
The Tiles
144 tiles across suits (Bam, Crak, Dot), honors (Winds, Dragons), and Flowers/Jokers. Each set is unique.
-
The Setup
4 players, each seated at a side of the table. Tiles are shuffled, walls built, and 13 tiles dealt to each player.
-
The Card
The NMJL card lists all valid winning hands for the year. New card, new strategy, every year.
How a Game Works
01
Build the Wall
All tiles are turned face-down and shuffled. Players stack them into a "wall" of two layers — 18 tiles per side.
03
Draw & Discard
Players take turns drawing from the wall and discarding a tile. The goal is to complete a winning hand from the card.
Words you’ll hear at the table:
02
Deal the Tiles
East player deals 13 tiles to each player (14 for themselves). Players rack their tiles and study their hand.
04
Call Mahjong!
When a player completes a valid hand from the card, they call "Mahjong!" and win the round. Points are tallied, tiles shuffled, and a new hand begins.
Joker
A wild tile that can substitute for any other tile in a matching set.
Exposure
When you pick up a discarded tile and show your partial hand — a bold move that limits your options.
Charleston
The unique American Mahjong tile-passing ritual at the start of each hand. Strategic and fun.