February 21st, 2025
Guest Contributor: Tim K
Simple and sophisticated at the same time, Mahjong’s rapid rise to global popularity has seen the spawning of many variations. If you’ve ever peeked over the shoulder of one engrossed in this tile-based classic hailing from 19th century China, you may have noticed that the rules aren’t always the same. But there’s no reason to be intimidated—Mahjong is much more straightforward than it may appear at first glance.
In this overview of the most popular iterations of Mahjong, we will cover the major differences and similarities between American, Chinese, and Japanese (Riichi) Mahjong. We’ll also open your eyes to an entirely new frontier of online Mahjong Solitaire games and other super popular twists on this beloved game. First things first, what is Mahjong anyway, and how does it work?
Because the finer details often differ according to which variation of Mahjong you’re playing, which we will expand upon below, we will first provide you with a very general overview of the game.
Basic Premise: Mahjong is a tile-based game, in which players take turns drawing and discarding tiles (1 drawn, 1 discarded with each turn) in the hopes of achieving a legal hand. Once a player achieves a hand, they call it out. If the hand is valid, the player wins.
Number of Players: Most variations of Mahjong stick to the original four-player setup, but it is possible to accommodate more or fewer players in some cases.
Tiles: Tiles feature suites (dots, bamboo, or characters), honors (winds and dragons), and bonuses (flowers and seasons), each of which has unique characteristics and applications.
A winning hand: Typically, a winning hand consists of four melds, which are specific sets of tiles (three identical tiles, three tiles of the same suit in numerical order, etc.) and a special pair of identical tiles called the “eyes,” totaling 14 tiles in most cases.
Scoring: Many Mahjong players set a minimum score required for a winning hand, even if it is legal, to actually win the game. The score is tabulated by factoring in the base points of the involved tiles, any multipliers that apply based on how the hand was won, and whether or not the winning player was the dealer. The player is then “paid” that amount of points, whether in real money or in points.
To reiterate, these are the very basics, and will vary based on which version you’re playing. With that in mind, let us officially begin our tour of the different versions of Mahjong, starting with its home country.
Chinese Mahjong is arguably the most similar version to the general format described above; it is considered “regular” or “standard” Mahjong by many who play the game. Hong Kong Old Style, a commonly played variation of Chinese Mahjong, is considered the easiest for beginners, as there are fewer restrictions on scoring and other key gameplay elements.
In Chinese Mahjong, there are four players, each of which is designated a direction (East, West, North, or South). East is always the first dealer, and with each round, the dealer position moves counter clockwise (from East to South, then to West, etc.). The rounds are labeled by their “prevailing wind,” matching the dealer’s designation, which may affect scoring.
Players have thirteen tiles in their hands, and always discard and draw at a 1:1 ratio, maintaining the 13 tiles until someone wins with the 14th tile. Winning conditions are exactly as those described above.
American Mahjong ranks very high in popularity among online Mahjong players, as does Riichi Mahjong. The American version is simpler than Chinese Mahjong in several ways, but contains at least 8 more tiles, thanks to the addition of “jokers,” which are not present in the Chinese version. This brings the grand total to 152, versus the 144 tiles of Chinese Mahjong. Other notable differences between American and Chinese Mahjong include:
Flower tiles can be used to make melds
More options for special hands
American Mahjong players use a card from the National Mahjong League to maintain rules, scoring standards, and more.
Finally, one particularly important change ushered in by the American version is called the Charleston. This maneuver gives players the ability to divide up their hand and distribute it evenly to their opponents. If all players agree, this move can be performed multiple times until at least one person declines.
Where American Mahjong uses 8 more tiles than the Chinese version, Riichi Mahjong uses 8 fewer tiles, totaling 136. Strategically speaking, some argue that Riichi Mahjong is actually more nuanced than Chinese Mahjong, as the latter gives you more opportunities to play defensively.
For example, furiten is a rule that, among other things, prevents a player from winning a hand using a tile that they previously discarded. This is just one of several restrictions on winning hands that makes the game more of a strategic give-and-take and less of a blind race to the finish. In addition to these game-changing elements, Japanese mahjong uses dora tiles that change on a round-by-round basis. Whoever holds the dora tile earns bonus points.
All this, and we’ve barely scratched the surface of all that Mahjong has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a pared down, yet equally addictive Mahjong Solitaire game or something that brings a fun and modern twist, Arkadium has all the no-download, completely free, and always fun Mahjong games you could ever want.
If you can dream it, we’ve probably got it. 3D Mahjong, candy-themed tiles, and much more are all waiting for you to jump in and play to your heart’s content. So, clear your schedule, grab a seat, and bask in the simple sound of click-clacking tiles.
