American Mah Jongg · For beginners and improving players
Finally, mahj that makes sense.
One clear path instead of a pile of confusing videos. A big-print guide, a practice workbook, table cards and a trainer that coaches your Charleston. Every rule is checked against the League’s own rulings, with sources listed.
$39 · one-time · instant download
Get the Method — $39- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Works with any year’s card
- Secure checkout
If mahj hasn’t clicked yet, it’s not you.
Most people learn American Mah Jongg in pieces: a lesson here, a video there, a friend explaining the Charleston while the table waits. So the card looks like code, everyone seems to move too fast, and when your tiles come in you can’t tell which two or three hands are even possible.
The game isn’t too hard. It’s just rarely taught in order.
Everything you need, in the order you need it
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The Method guide
70 big-print pages, illustrated with real tiles: tiles → setup → reading the card → the Charleston → play → your first real table. Every rule is checked and every house rule labeled.
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The Practice Workbook
107 exercises, and every answer explains why: read racks, choose hands, plan passes, call or wait, joker decisions, payments.
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Table Cards
8 half-letter cards, laminate-ready, in standard and big print: jokers, calling and exposing, the Charleston, reading the card, payments, the Clear Read.
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The Practice Card
35 original practice hands across every section of a real card, so you can drill with confidence. You’ll still buy your real card from the League. (Please do.)
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The Trainer
Practice on your phone, iPad or computer: learn the tiles, read card lines, get coached on your Charleston, and play a full hand solo. Hints only when you ask.
Instant download. Print what you like and read the rest on any screen. One payment, no subscription.
Try one drill right now
Where on the card should you look first?
Your rack, sorted: 13 tiles from our practice card.
Not the best first look
Odds. Only one of your 13 tiles has an odd number, the 5 Dot. The Odds section is built from 1s, 3s, 5s, 7s and 9s.
Best first look
Evens. You have 2s, 4s, 6s and 8s in two suits, so start with the 2-4-6-8 section.
Not the best first look
Runs. A run needs numbers in a row, like 3-4-5. Most of your tiles skip by twos: 2, 4, 6, 8.
That’s step 2 of the Clear Read. The Method teaches all five.
The Clear Read: five steps for every deal
Don’t read the card line by line. Read your rack first, then go straight to the part of the card that fits.
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Sort
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Count
What do you have most of?
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Find your family
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Pick two
A Plan A and a Plan B.
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Pass with purpose
In play, commit to Plan A, check in at three moments to see whether to switch, and play safe late in the game.
It works on any year’s card, including the new one every April.
Look inside
Real pages from the files you download. Tap one to enlarge it.
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Is this for you?
For you if
- You’ve never played and want to learn it properly.
- You’ve had a lesson or two but the card still feels like code.
- You play, but want to choose hands and switch with more confidence.
- You’re starting a group with friends.
Not for you if
- You want this year’s card hands. We never copy the card; buy it from the National Mah Jongg League.
- You’re a tournament player looking for advanced strategy.
Checked, not guessed
Some mahj products online have been called out for getting rules wrong. We did the opposite. Every rule in the Method is checked against the National Mah Jongg League’s January 2026 bulletin and page-cited references to its rulebook, Mah Jongg Made Easy (through published, page-cited quotes), then cross-checked with expert FAQs. Every common house rule is clearly labeled as one. Our sources are listed at the back of the guide.
Who made this
Mahj Clearly is an independent publisher of American Mah Jongg learning materials, with every rule checked against the League’s own rulings. We’re not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Mah Jongg League.
Questions? Email support@mahjclearly.com. We answer every email within one business day.
30-day money-back guarantee
If the Method doesn’t help you, email support@mahjclearly.com within 30 days of purchase and we’ll refund you in full. No forms. You don’t need to send anything back.
Get the Mahj Clearly Method
Includes:
- guide
- workbook
- table cards (standard and big print)
- practice card
- trainer
$39 · one-time payment
Subtotal $39
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Frequently asked questions
Is this the National Mah Jongg League card?
No. We never copy the card. Buy the current card directly from the League; cards sold elsewhere may be counterfeit. The Method teaches you to read any year’s card, and the practice card gives you original hands to drill with.
Will it work with this year’s card?
Yes, and with next April’s. It teaches how cards work, not one year’s hands.
I’ve never played. Is that OK?
Yes. It starts at the very first tile and goes in order.
Do I need a set?
A set helps for the hands-on parts. The trainer and the printed practice card let you start without one.
How do I get it?
Download buttons appear right after checkout, and we email them to you. Keep that email: it’s your library card.
Can I print it?
Yes. Everything prints well on a home printer, even in black and white. Table cards are half-letter size for laminating.
Will it work on my iPad or phone?
Yes. The PDFs open on any device, and the trainer runs in your browser. Nothing to install.
Is the print big enough?
The guide is set in large type, and the table cards also come in a big-print set.
Is it a subscription?
No. One payment of $39, and the files are yours to keep.
Can I give it as a gift?
Yes. Add a gift copy at checkout and we’ll send you a printable gift card with its own download link.
What if it’s not for me?
Email us within 30 days for a full refund.
How do I reach you?
support@mahjclearly.com. We reply within one business day.