How to play mahjong with 2 players

The official two-player rules

As summarised by mahjong teacher Tom Sloper from the National Mah Jongg League's rulebook and newsletters:

1. Sit across from each other.
2. Shuffle all 152 tiles and build four walls as usual, 19 tiles long and two high.
3. Deal only to the two players. The dealer ends up with 14 tiles, the other player with 13.
4. Skip the Charleston. The dealer starts by discarding.
5. Play as normal: draw, discard, call discards for exposures or Mah Jongg, swap jokers, win with a hand from the current card.

What feels different

• More tiles per player. With only two of you drawing, you see far more of the wall, so hands come together faster and calling matters less.
• No passing. Without the Charleston you keep the hand you are dealt, so pick a target hand early and stay flexible.
• Discards are easy to read. You know every discard came from one person, so you can guess their hand quickly. They can guess yours too.
• Payment. Use the normal values from the card. With one opponent there is no "other players" share, so most pairs simply score points or skip money.

Popular two-player variations

These are table rules, not official ones. Agree on them before you start.

• A short Charleston. Swap three tiles with each other once or twice before play.
• Siamese mahjong. A separate two-player game with its own rules, played with a card published for it. It is popular but different from the standard game.

Tips for practising as a pair

• Play with your hands open for the first few games and talk through which hands on the card you are aiming for.
• Practise joker swaps: they come up often with two players because exposures sit on the table longer.
• For the Charleston, use our Charleston trainer. It simulates the other three players.
• When you are ready for four, look for open play near you.

Common questions

Can 2 people play mahjong?

Yes. The National Mah Jongg League has an official way for two players: build four walls, deal 14 tiles to the dealer and 13 to the other player, skip the Charleston and play as normal.

Is there a Charleston with 2 players?

Not in the official two-player rules. Play starts with the dealer's first discard. Some pairs add their own swap at the start; agree on it beforehand.

Do you use all the tiles with 2 players?

Yes. You build all four walls with the full 152 tiles, but only deal to the two players. The extra walls simply make the game last longer.

What is Siamese mahjong?

A separate two-player game, popular in some groups, with its own rules and its own card. It is not the National Mah Jongg League's official two-player method.

Is 2-player mahjong good practice?

It is good for learning the card, calling and joker swaps. It is less good for practising defence and the Charleston, which only really work with four.

Three of you? See how to play with 3 players.

Source: Tom Sloper, FAQ 13A: American mah-jongg with fewer than four players, citing the National Mah Jongg League rulebook and newsletters. House rules vary.