How to play 3-player mahjong

With three players, the National Mah Jongg League way is simple: deal to the three of you as usual, skip the Charleston and the courtesy pass entirely, and East discards to start. Many groups prefer a ghost player instead, so they can keep the Charleston. Everything else is the same as a four-player game.

The official way

Deal to three players, skip every Charleston pass including the courtesy pass, and East opens by discarding. Calling, jokers, winning and paying work exactly as in a four-player game.

The ghost-player way

Set out tiles for an imaginary fourth player. Whenever a pass would go to the ghost, your three tiles go into the ghost's pile and you take three fresh tiles from it instead.

Pick one before you start

Agree as a table which method you're using before the first deal, so nobody passes tiles in a no-Charleston game.

2-player (Siamese) rules · How the Charleston works · How many players do you need?