Setup and players
How to Play Mahjong With 3 Players
Quick answer
Yes, you can play mahjong with 3 players. In American mahjong, leave one seat empty and skip the Charleston, the tile swap before play. Build all 4 walls, but deal only to the 3 players. East starts with 14 tiles and discards first. Japanese riichi has its own 3-player game, called sanma.
At a glance
- Players: 3, with one seat empty
- Charleston: skip it
- Walls: build all 4
- Starting tiles: East 14, the others 13
- Riichi 3-player game: 108 tiles
Can you play mahjong with 3 players?
Yes. Mahjong is made for 4, but several styles have rules for 3.
- American mahjong. The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) has 3-player rules.
- Japanese riichi. Its 3-player game is called sanma.
- Other styles. Malaysia has a 3-player game, and Korean mahjong is often played by 3.
To compare every group size, read how many players mahjong needs.
How do you play American mahjong with 3 players?
Play the normal game, but leave one seat empty, skip the Charleston and deal to only 3 players. Here are the steps.
- Sit at 3 sides of the table. Leave the fourth seat empty.
- Pick East. Everyone rolls the dice. The highest roll is East, the dealer.
- Build all 4 walls. Build a wall at the empty seat, too. Each wall is 19 stacks long and 2 tiles high.
- Break the wall and deal. East rolls to break the wall. Deal only to the 3 players. East gets 14 tiles, and the others get 13.
- Skip the Charleston. Do not pass any tiles.
- Start play. East discards first. A discard is a tile you throw away. Play moves to the right and skips the empty seat.
Only 2 of you? Sit across from each other instead. See mahjong with 2 players.
What changes with 3 players?
Only a few things change. You still win with a hand from the card, the yearly list of winning hands.
| Rule | 4 players | 3 players |
|---|---|---|
| Seats used | 4 | 3 |
| Walls built | 4 | 4 |
| Charleston | Yes | No |
| East starts with | 14 tiles | 14 tiles |
New to the game? Start with how to play American mahjong.
How does 3-player riichi mahjong work?
Japanese riichi players use a 3-player game called sanma. It uses 108 tiles instead of 136.
- The 2 to 8 craks are taken out. Craks are the suit with Chinese characters.
- You cannot call a tile to make a chow, which is 3 in a row.
To call a tile means to take another player's discard. Learn the basics in riichi mahjong.
Three at the table?
Our American sets come with jokers and spare tiles, ready for 3 or 4 players.
Questions people ask
Can you do the Charleston with 3 players?
Not under NMJL rules. Some groups do one anyway, using a house rule called a ghost player. Agree on it before you start.
Do you need a special set for 3 players?
Not for American mahjong. You use the usual 152 tiles and build all 4 walls. Sanma uses a riichi set with some tiles taken out.
What happens to the wall at the empty seat?
You still build it. It is part of the square that everyone draws from.