Hosting the game is half the fun of American mahjong. Here's the Parlor & Tile checklist — what you actually need, what you can skip, and a few things the best hosts do.
The table
- A 32"–35" square table. Four players, one on each side. A standard folding card table is perfect.
- A mat. A non-slip mat keeps tiles from sliding, quiets the shuffle (your downstairs neighbors will thank you) and protects the table. See our mats & table covers.
- Four chairs that match in height. Nothing ruins a game like one person staring up at the wall.
- Light. Overhead light, not candles. Tiles are small and people are squinting at the card.
The equipment
- A 166-tile American set with 8 jokers. Check that no one has wandered off with a flower.
- Four racks with pushers. Everyone should have their own. Built-in pushers make building and pushing the wall faster. See racks & pushers.
- This year's card for each player, from the National Mah Jongg League. A card stand keeps it upright and off the tiles — see the folding card stand.
- Two dice and a wind indicator (or a coin for East). Keep them in a little dish so they don't roll into the wall.
- A score sheet. Ours is free and already has the wind rotation filled in — print as many as you like.
The food (keep it tile-safe)
The rule: nothing greasy, nothing that leaves crumbs in the wall. Good: cut fruit, veggie trays, cheese cubes with toothpicks, pretzel rods, grapes, chocolate-covered anything. Risky: chips, buttery popcorn, anything dipped. Drinks go on a side table, never at the player's elbow. Cocktail napkins at each seat are a nice touch and save your mat.
The flow
- Arrive, settle, snack — 15 minutes.
- Roll for East, build walls, deal. If someone is new, the experienced player sits to their left and talks them through the Charleston.
- Play 3–4 hours with a break at the halfway point. Most groups play for quarters or for nothing at all — decide before the first game.
- Rotate hosting weekly so no one burns out.
Free: the score sheet we use at our own table
Sixteen hands, the East–South–West–North rotation already filled in, and a running total column for each player, so nobody has to add it up at the end. One page. Print a stack and leave them with the set.
Get the score sheetHosting a game for beginners
- Start with one full game using an open hand — everyone plays face-up and talks through what they're building.
- Print a cheat sheet of the suits and winds, and a score sheet for each table.
- Pick two or three easy hands from the card and have everyone aim for them.
- Keep a sense of humor. Everyone passes the wrong tile in the Charleston the first time.
Hostess gift ideas (under $50)
If you're the guest: a tile keychain, a card stand, a "Joker Fuel" mug. See everything in Gifts Under $50.
Want to learn the rules? Start with a local teacher or club — the American Mahjong Association and Mahjong 4 Friends both keep directories — and buy the current card from the National Mah Jongg League.