Lesson 7 of 12
Taking a turn
On your turn, take the next tile from the wall, decide whether it helps, then discard one tile face up in the middle and say its name out loud ("three Crak", "flower"). You always end your turn with 13 tiles. Play then moves to the player on your right.
Step by step
- East starts by discarding. East holds 14 tiles, so East begins by discarding one tile with no pick.
- Pick from the wall. Take the next tile from the wall in order. Don't show it.
- Discard and name it. Choose one tile to throw, place it face up in the middle of the table and say its name clearly. Naming it gives everyone the chance to call it.
- Wait a beat. Give the other players a moment to call your discard before the next player picks.
- Play passes to the right. The next player picks, discards and names a tile, and so on until someone declares mahjong or the wall runs out.
Common mistakes
- Picking before the previous discard has had a chance to be called.
- Discarding silently. Every discard must be named.
Words from this lesson
Questions people ask
How many tiles do you hold in American mahjong?
13 tiles at the end of your turn, and 14 for the moment after you pick and before you discard.
What happens if the wall runs out?
It's a wall game: nobody wins, nobody pays, and the next game starts with a new East.
Do you have to name your discard?
Yes. Naming each discard is part of the rules so every player can decide whether to call it.