| American | Chinese | Japanese (riichi) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jokers | Yes, 8 | No | No |
| Winning hands | Must match a hand on that year's card | Any standard pattern of sets plus a pair | Sets plus a pair, with at least one scoring element |
| Tile passing | The Charleston before play | No | No |
| Calling tiles | Only for groups of 3+ or to win | Allowed for sets, including runs | Allowed, but changes scoring |
| Runs (1-2-3) | Only as printed on the card | Yes | Yes |
American
Played from a card the National Mah Jongg League publishes every year. Your hand has to match a printed hand exactly. Jokers fill groups of three or more. The Charleston (passing tiles before play) is unique to American mahjong.
Chinese
No jokers and no card. A winning hand is four sets plus a pair, built from runs and matching groups. Scoring systems vary a lot by region and house rules.
Japanese (riichi)
No jokers. A detailed scoring system rewards specific patterns, and declaring "riichi" (one tile from winning, with a closed hand) is a central bet. It's popular online and in video games.
If you're switching to American: the hardest habit to break is building runs freely. In American mahjong, a run only counts if the card prints it.
Questions
Is American mahjong the same as Chinese mahjong?
No. American mahjong adds jokers, uses a yearly card of winning hands, and has the Charleston tile-passing round. Chinese mahjong has none of those.
Is American mahjong harder than Chinese mahjong?
It's different rather than harder. American mahjong is easier to start (the card tells you which hands win), and the strategy lives in the Charleston and in reading the card.
Can I play Riichi with an American set?
Riichi uses 136 tiles with no jokers or flowers, so you can set those aside. Many riichi players prefer a set made for the game.