Learn American Mahjong, then play
MAHJ takes you from never-played to confident at a real table.
Most ways to learn American Mahjong are a book or a video — you read, you watch, and then you sit down at a real table and freeze. MAHJ is built the other way around: you learn by doing.
Why I built MAHJ
Hi, I'm Sara. I learned American Mahjong when I was about eight, sitting at the table with my mom, my aunts, and my grandmother. I learned by playing, with someone beside me explaining things as they came up.
Most beginners don't have that. American Mahjong can feel like a lot when there isn't someone next to you helping it make sense.
That's why I built MAHJ. I wanted to create the kind of calm, step-by-step way into the game that I was lucky enough to have: learn a little, try it yourself, and build confidence before you sit down at a real table.
Go at your own pace. Nobody is waiting on your turn.
MAHJ is an independent app operated by Welcome2Mahj LLC, a Texas limited liability company.
How it works
Short lessons teach one piece at a time. Bite-size drills sharpen the real skills — naming tiles, reading the card, the Charleston, smart discards, defense, and calling. Then you play a full hand against the bots— Charleston, calling, declaring Mahjong — so the first time you play with people isn't the first time you've played. A built-in coach answers your rules questions along the way.
What's free, and what the app adds
Lessons 1–3 are free — on this website and in the app, with no sign-up. The website is a free preview: those lessons, the tile games, the cheat sheet, the glossary, and the guides. One purchase in the MAHJ app for iPhone, iPad, or Android unlocks all 18 lessons, games against the bots, the Coach, and the tools — US$4.99 in the U.S. (local store pricing may vary). No subscription.
Built on the real rules
Everything follows National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) rules. The coach is grounded in the lessons and designed not to invent rules — when something isn't covered, it tells you instead of guessing. MAHJ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Mah Jongg League® (NMJL®), and you'll always need the current year's card to play.