Learning Resources
Best Mahjong Books
Several different games can be played with the standard Mah Jongg set and the game has evolved over the years and taken on differing national characteristics. So there are many ways to play! Below are our favorite mahjong books (in no particular order), along with our reviews. These books will help you to familiarize yourself with the main styles of Mah Jongg and improve your skills.
Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg
Author: Elaine Sandberg
Style: American Mah Jongg
Format: Paperback and Kindle
Our review:
This excellent book for beginners is specifically geared toward American Mahjong (Mah Jongg) and follows the official National Mah Jongg League rules. It's an easy-to-follow guide to this complex game and includes simple instructions and clear diagrams. You'll learn how to select a hand, how to play and how to develop winning strategies. It includes exercises, tips and quizzes to aid the learning process. Although this book has been written with the beginner in mind, this is the perfect guide for all skill levels and a great refresher for those who are picking up the game again after a break. A must-have for new Mah Jongg players!
The Red Dragon and The West Wind: The Winning Guide to Official Chinese and American Mah-Jongg
Author: Tom Sloper
Style: American and Chinese Mah Jongg
Format: Paperback and Kindle
Our review:
This is the perfect read for those who have a basic understanding of Mah Jongg and are now ready to dive into the intricacies of the game. It covers all aspects of the two most common varieties of Mah Jongg, American and Chinese, along with an overview of other global approaches. The book begins with the history of the game and moves on to rules, ways to win, avoiding errors as well as game etiquette. It includes everything from clear instructions on dealing, building, and distributing tiles to a look at the history and future of the game. The book's focus on the rules of the game is sure to help any player to become more skillful, once they have mastered the basics. It's no wonder that some refer to this as their Mah Jongg Bible!
The Little Book of Mahjong: Learn How to Play, Score, and Win
Author: Seth Brown
Style: American and International Mah Jongg
Format: Hardback and Kindle
Our review:
This wonderful “little” book is chock full of valuable information to help you easily learn the complex game of mahjong. It's a comprehensive and well-organized guide that includes all the basics of the game, tips and techniques on how to play, and strategies to win both international and American versions of mahjong. Whether you are a complete beginner or a casual player looking to brush up on your skills and techniques, this book can help you get ahead. It includes a comprehensive breakdown of the various tiles involved in the different versions of mahjong, explanations of what each tile means, detailed information on scoring, tips on how to improve your skills, and strategies for winning. This is the perfect guide for mahjong players both new and old. The brief history of the game and its significance is very interesting, as well as the full-color photos of game pieces and game objectives. You'll become a mahjong master in no time!
Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player - Learn the "Secrets of Success" to Strategize, Excel and Win at Mah Jongg
Author: Elaine Sandberg
Style: American Mah Jongg
Format: Paperback and Kindle
Our review:
A fantastic read for those who have mastered the basics and want to take the next step in their Mah Jongg journey. An easy to follow and comprehensive guide to game strategy. Learn which hand to choose and why, which tiles to discard and when, whether to expose or not and much, much more. The practice exercises and quizzes are an invaluable tool to fast track your strategic and defensive gameplay. We'd recommend this book after reading Elaine Sandberg's Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg. Elevate your game, sharpen your skills and play to win!
Unlocking the Secrets of American Mah Jongg: A step-by-step guide on how to play American Mah Jongg
Author: Debbie Barnett
Style: American Mah Jongg
Format: Paperback and Kindle
Our review:
A must-have for anyone wanting to learn American Mah Jongg or improve their game. Concise, informative and easy to read with great illustrations. Topics covered include rules, understanding the tiles, playing the game, forming hands, betting, strategies and more. The end of chapter quizzes reinforce learning and the tips for playing are very helpful. This book is based on hands used in the 2019 National Mah Jongg League card, though once a new card is published by the National Mah Jongg League, an updated version or supplement will be available
American Mah Jongg for Everyone: The Complete Beginner's Guide
Author: Gregg Swain and Toby Salk
Style: American and International Mah Jongg
Format: Hardcover and Kindle
Our review:
This book was released in August 2020. Whether you're an American Mah Jongg newbie or an intermediate player looking to gain an edge over your opponents, this book looks to be the perfect companion. Experienced international Mah Jongg instructors Gregg Swain and Toby Salk walk you through the basics - introducing readers to the tiles, rituals, history, rules and winning strategies of the game. In addition to writing the foreward, National Mah Jongg tournament director Gladys Grad contributes a chapter that outlines the rules of Siamese Mah Jongg, a fun two-person game she created that can't be found in any other Mah Jongg book! This book has something for anyone interested in this fascinating game and comes with everything you need to get started playing.
American Mah Jongg Primer Series (3 book series): Everything you need to know to play with confidence
Author: Michele Frizzell
Style: American Mah Jongg
Format: Paperback and Kindle
Our review:
This series of books, by renowned teacher Michele Frizzell (known for her very helpful youtube channel), are the perfect American Mah Jongg primer. They teach all the fundamentals and provide strategy tips to make the most of the game. We love the skill-builder exercises designed to help players practice what they've learned.
How to Play Mah Jongg: The Quick and Easy Guide to the American Game
Author: Mary Anne Puleio, Ph.D
Style: American Mah Jongg
Format: Paperback
Our review:
A practical and fun guide to American Mah Jongg for the absolute beginner. Information is presented in an easy-to-learn format and illustrated in full color to aid understanding and recall of the key points. This is a perfect quick reference guide and is extremely easy to understand - short, sweet and to the point. This guide gives new players the basics, so don't expect much on strategy, but if you're an absolute beginner it will have you playing the wonderful game of Mah Jongg in no time!
Play and Win Mah Jongg: Teach Yourself
Author: David Pritchard
Style: American and International Mah Jongg
Format: Paperback and Kindle
Our review:
This book will appeal to those who are interested in all styles of Mahjong and is an essential handbook for anyone new to the game. It takes you from the very beginning - learning the rules, choosing a set (or playing online) to advanced advice on strategy and gamesmanship. Each stage of play is clearly explained with diagrams and instructions and with plenty of practical examples to help you learn. Full coverage of the basics of scoring, settlements and penalties will help you become a true master of the game.
The Complete Book of Mah Jongg: An Illustrated Guide to the Asian, American and International Styles of Play
Author: Amy Lo
Style: Asian, American and International Mah Jongg
Format: Paperback and Kindle
Our review:
If you have an interest in learning about the many variations of the game of Mah Jongg, then it's highly likely that you'll enjoy this book! This is a great guide for learning the fundamentals of the game of Mah Jongg and covers most of the various styles of play both American and Oriental (including the Cantonese or "old rules" game). It also includes all of the most popular variations, such as the Shanghai game, the 16-tile or Taiwanese game, and the 12-tile game. Included are the rules, tactics, techniques, strategy and the rituals. Many of the traditions are referred to and some of the rich culture explained. It's a great reference guide for all skill levels.
Mah Jong Handbook: How to Play, Score, and Win
Author: Eleanor Noss Whitney
Style: Classic Chinese, Western, and Japanese Mah Jongg
Format: Paperback, Hardback and Kindle
Our review:
This book was first published in 1964 and it's still going strong! This is a comprehensive and straight-forward introduction to the game of Mah Jongg, with its focus mainly on the classical oriental versions of the game. It presents the complex rules in a clear format and explores the fundamentals of successful strategy. There is certainly valuable information to be found for all levels of play and the exercises it contains help to solidify the concepts taught. This book is geared towards those who wish to learn more about the origins and rules of the Classical versions of Mah Jongg, although it contains notes on how other variants are played. If you are only interested in the American version of Mah Jongg, this book isn't for you.
Riichi Mahjong: The Ultimate Guide to the Japanese Game Taking the World By Storm
Author: Scott D. Miller
Style: Riichi Mahjong (Japanese Mahjong)
Format: Paperback
Our review:
This book is highly recommended for anyone wishing to take a deep dive into the intricacies of Japanese mahjong. Although this book may not be as aesthetically pleasing as many others (the pictures are black and white and the text a little densely packed at times), it is an excellent reference guide for Riichi Mahjong. It provides plenty of details about how to play, sprinkled with memorable anecdotes to help players get to grips with the rules of the game. Its guide to hands is invaluable for any beginner, as is its helpful basic strategy advice. This is a well-written book, brimming with advice for anyone who has an interest in learning the Riichi style of mahjong. Are you up to the challenge?
Mah-Jong (Know the Game)
Author: Gwyn Headley
Style: British Mahjong
Format: Paperback
Our review:
This is an excellent little booklet for those who already have a good understanding of the game and want to learn how to play mah-jong the way the British do. The illustrations are clear, large, and colorful. It's a well-presented, short and easy read. This book does a great job of covering the rules and is written and endorsed by the game's professional body in the UK (British Mah-Jong Association), so you can be sure that you are getting the best information available. This is a good basic introduction to the British version of the game and gives clear and concise instructions for playing the complex game of Mah Jong, using the British rules.
Mah Jongg Made Easy (2020 New Edition)
Author: National Mah Jongg League (NMJL)
Style: American Mah Jongg
Format: Paperback
This is the National Mah Jongg League's official rule book for American Mah Jongg.
Order on NMJL website
Visual Companion Guide: for American Mah Jongg
Author: Dara Mosher Collins & Donna Miller Kassman
Style: American Mahjong
Format: Paperback
Our review:
This book, written by the admins of the Mahjong Community Facebook group, is full of interesting visuals illustrating official NMJL rules. It is intended as a supplement to learning from other rule books, classes, and videos and will help players at every level.
American Mah Jongg 2024: The Analysis
Author: Robyn Wilson
Style: American Mahjong
Format: Paperback
Our review:
In "The Analysis," the author presents a comprehensive method for mastering Mah Jongg strategy. While the book offers valuable insights and could be beneficial for some players, it's important to recognize that not everyone learns the same way. The complexity of the method and the extensive memorization of patterns required may prove overwhelming for many, even those who consider themselves advanced players.