Setup and players
How to Play Mahjong With 2 Players
Quick answer
Yes, you can play mahjong with 2 players. The National Mah Jongg League has simple 2-player rules. Sit across from each other and build 2 walls each. Skip the Charleston, the tile swap before play. East starts with 14 tiles and the other player with 13. Or try Siamese mahjong, where each player plays 2 hands.
At a glance
- Players: 2, sitting across from each other
- Charleston: skip it
- Walls: 2 each, so 4 in all
- Starting tiles: East 14, the other player 13
- Another option: Siamese mahjong, with 2 racks each
Can you play mahjong with 2 players?
Yes. Mahjong is made for 4, but 2 people can play American mahjong in two ways.
- The 2-player rules. These come from the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL). It is the normal game with a few changes.
- Siamese mahjong. Each player plays 2 hands at once, on 2 racks.
To see how other group sizes work, read how many players mahjong needs.
How do you play American mahjong with 2 players?
Play the normal game, but sit across from each other, build 2 walls each and skip the Charleston. Here are the steps.
- Sit across from each other. The seats on your left and right stay empty.
- Pick East. Both players roll the dice. The higher roll is East, the dealer.
- Build 4 walls. Each player builds their own wall plus the one on their right. Make each wall 19 stacks long and 2 tiles high. Push them into a square.
- Break the wall and deal. East rolls to break the wall, like in a 4-player game. East gets 14 tiles, and the other player gets 13.
- Skip the Charleston. There is no tile swap with 2 players.
- Take turns. East discards first. A discard is a tile you throw away. Then you take turns drawing and discarding.
- Win. Call "Mah Jongg" when your 14 tiles match a hand on the card. The card is the yearly list of winning hands.
Have a third player? Leave one seat empty instead. See mahjong with 3 players.
What is Siamese mahjong?
Siamese mahjong is a 2-player version of American mahjong. Each player plays 2 hands at once, on 2 racks. Gladys Grad created it in 2015.
- Each player takes 27 tiles. East then picks a 28th tile to start.
- There is no Charleston.
- Your goal is to call Mah Jongg twice.
- The game ends when one player has 2 Mah Jonggs, or when the wall runs out.
It is a bigger puzzle, since you build 2 hands at once. Read the full Siamese mahjong rules.
Which 2-player rules should you choose?
Choose the NMJL rules if you want a game that feels like the normal one. Choose Siamese if you want 2 hands to juggle.
| Rule | NMJL 2-player | Siamese |
|---|---|---|
| Racks per player | 1 | 2 |
| Hands per player | 1 | 2 |
| Starting tiles | 13 (East 14) | 27 (East 28) |
| Charleston | No | No |
| Goal | 1 Mah Jongg | 2 Mah Jonggs |
Want to practice between games? See our guide to ways to practice mahjong online.
Playing as a pair?
Our American sets come with jokers and spare tiles, and they work for 2, 3 or 4 players.
Questions people ask
Do you need a special set for 2-player mahjong?
No. Use a regular American set. You still build all 4 walls, so all 152 tiles are in play.
Do you still use the card with 2 players?
Yes. Use the current year's card, the same one 4 players use. Every winning hand must match it.
How does scoring work in Siamese mahjong?
Your first Mah Jongg is paid at the value on the card. Your second Mah Jongg is paid double.