Lesson 3 of 12
Setting up the table
Shuffle the tiles face down and each player builds a wall 19 tiles long and 2 tiles high in front of their rack. East rolls the dice to break the wall, then tiles are dealt four at a time until everyone has 12, then one more each. East takes one extra, so East starts with 14 tiles and everyone else with 13.
Step by step
- Shuffle face down. Turn every tile face down in the middle of the table and mix them. Everyone helps.
- Build four walls. Each player builds a row 19 tiles long and 2 tiles high (38 tiles) and pushes it forward in front of their rack. Together the four walls hold all 152 tiles.
- Pick East. Roll the dice; the highest roll is East, the dealer. The other seats are South, West and North going to East's right.
- Break the wall. East rolls the dice and counts that many stacks from the right end of their own wall, then separates the wall there.
- Deal. Starting with East and going to the right, each player takes four tiles at a time until everyone has 12, then one more each. East takes one extra: East has 14, the others 13. Everyone sets their tiles on their rack facing themselves.
Common mistakes
- Building walls that aren't exactly 19 × 2, which leaves someone short at the end.
- Letting tiles show while shuffling or building.
Words from this lesson
Wall · Rack · Pusher · East · Breaking the wall
Questions people ask
Who goes first in American mahjong?
East. East starts with 14 tiles and begins by discarding one, with no draw.
Which way does play go?
To the right (counterclockwise): East, then South, then West, then North.
Does the dealer change?
Yes. After each game the East position passes to the player on the right.