American mahjong
Mahjong Jokers: How Many and How They Work
Quick answer
An American mahjong set has 8 jokers. A joker is a wild tile. It can take the place of any tile, but only in a group of 3 or more of the same tile. You can never use a joker in a pair or as a single tile. Chinese sets have no jokers.
At a glance
- Jokers in an American set: 8
- Jokers in a Chinese set: none
- Use them in: groups of 3 or more of the same tile
- Never use them in: a pair or a single
- A thrown-away joker: is dead, so no one can take it
How many jokers are in mahjong?
An American mahjong set has 8 jokers. They are part of the 152 tiles you play with. Some sets come with a few spare jokers. You still play with 8.
Chinese, Hong Kong and Japanese sets have no jokers. So how many jokers are in mahjong depends on the style you play. See how many tiles are in a mahjong set.
What does a joker do?
A joker is a wild tile. It can stand in for a tile you need. Say you need three 7 bams, but you only have two. A joker can be the third one.
Joker tiles are easy to spot. Most say JOKER in big letters.
What are the joker rules?
These are the main joker rules from the National Mah Jongg League.
- Use jokers in big groups. A joker can go in a pung, which is 3 of the same tile. It can also go in a kong (4), a quint (5) or a sextet (6).
- Never in a pair or a single. A pair must be two real tiles.
- Never in a mixed group. A group of different tiles, like N E W S, cannot use a joker.
- You may swap for a joker. On your turn, find a joker in a group that is face up. If you have the real tile, trade it for the joker. It can be your group or another player's.
- A thrown-away joker is dead. If someone discards a joker, no one can call it.
- No jokers in the Charleston. You may never pass a joker to another player.
Tip: Hold on to your jokers. They are the most useful tiles in the game.
Want the full list of rules? Read our guide to American mahjong rules.
Is a hand with no jokers worth more?
Yes. A winning hand with no jokers is called jokerless. It pays double. This bonus does not count for Singles and Pairs hands, since they can never use jokers.
Need a set with jokers?
Our American sets come with all 8 jokers, plus extra tiles.
Questions people ask
Can a joker be used in a pair?
No. In American mahjong, a joker can never be part of a pair. Pairs must be two real tiles.
Can you pick up a discarded joker?
No. A joker that someone throws away is dead. No one can call it.
Can you take a joker from another player?
Only from a group that is face up on top of their rack. On your turn, give them the real tile and take the joker.
Are flowers jokers?
No. Flowers are their own tiles. An American set has 8 flowers and 8 jokers. See mahjong flower tiles.