Beginner guide
Mahjong Rules for Beginners
This lesson uses Mahjong Competition Rules (MCR) whenever a precise rule is needed. Other Chinese and regional tables may differ.
Context: MCRDeal 13 tiles to each player, let East begin with 14, then repeat draw-one and discard-one turns until a legal win or exhausted wall.
Core idea
Choose seats, build the wall, deal, and keep concealed tiles hidden.
- Confirm the ruleset before dealing.
- Use one person as the scoring guide during a teaching game.
Use it at the table
Say claims clearly and expose completed sets immediately.
- Do not retract a discard after the next action.
- Check tile count, structure, then official scoring.
Ruleset boundary
Structure, procedure, and scoring are separate checks. Use the official MCR text for competition decisions and confirm another tableβs rules before transferring advice.
Key takeaways
- Choose seats, build the wall, deal, and keep concealed tiles hidden.
- Say claims clearly and expose completed sets immediately.
- Name the ruleset before applying the lesson.
Lesson checkpoint
Finish lesson & practice Turn the explanation into recall.
Source notes
Reviewed references
- Mahjong Competition RulesWorld Mahjong Organization / European Mahjong Association Β· Reviewed 2026-10-14
MCR structure, play sequence, 81 scoring elements, and the 8-point minimum.