Other styles
Mahjong vs Rummikub: What Is the Difference?
Quick answer
Mahjong and Rummikub are both tile games where you build sets and runs. One big difference in mahjong vs Rummikub is the discard. In mahjong, you take a tile and throw one away each turn. Rummikub has no discards. Players lay tiles on a shared table, and the first to empty their rack wins.
At a glance
- Mahjong tiles: 144 (Chinese) or 152 (American)
- Rummikub tiles: 106
- Mahjong players: 4, with versions for 2 or 3
- Rummikub players: 2 to 4
- Discards: every turn in mahjong, never in Rummikub
What is the difference between mahjong and Rummikub?
The two games use different tiles and different turns. Most Rummikub tiles show a number in one of 4 colors. Mahjong tiles show suits, winds, dragons and flowers.
The suits are dots, bams and craks. Each suit runs from 1 to 9.
| Feature | Mahjong | Rummikub |
|---|---|---|
| Tiles | 144 (Chinese) or 152 (American) | 106 |
| What tiles show | Suits, winds, dragons and flowers | Numbers 1 to 13 in 4 colors |
| Jokers | 8 in American, none in Chinese | 2 |
| Players | 4 (2 or 3 can play too) | 2 to 4 |
| Tiles to start | 13 (the dealer gets 14) | 14 |
| Discards | One every turn | None |
| Where sets go | In your own hand | On a shared table |
| How you win | Finish a 14-tile hand | Empty your rack first |
| Where it began | China, mid-1800s | Romania, 1940s |
Want the basics first? Read what is mahjong.
How are mahjong and Rummikub alike?
Both are tile games where you build groups of tiles, called sets and runs. A run is numbers in a row, like 3, 4, 5.
In mahjong, a set of 3 of the same tile is a pung. A run of 3 in one suit is a chow. Chinese styles and Japanese riichi use chows. American mahjong does not. It uses a yearly card of hands instead.
Both games can also have jokers. A joker is a wild tile that stands in for a tile you need. Rummikub has 2 jokers. American mahjong has 8, and Chinese mahjong has none.
How does a turn work in each game?
In mahjong, you take a tile and then throw one away. In Rummikub, you never throw a tile away.
A mahjong turn
- Take a tile. Draw from the wall, the stacked tiles in the middle. Or take the tile the last player just threw away.
- Check your hand. See if the new tile helps.
- Discard. Throw one tile away and say its name. Then the player on your right goes.
A Rummikub turn
You play tiles from your rack onto the shared table. Your very first play must add up to at least 30. There are no discards. The first player to empty their rack wins.
Is mahjong like rummy?
Yes, in some ways. Mahjong is often compared to the card game rummy.
In both games, you build sets and runs. Rummy uses playing cards. Mahjong uses tiles. Mahjong is a game of skill, planning and luck.
Which game should you play?
Both are good games. Pick the one that fits your group.
- Pick Rummikub if you want simple number tiles for 2 to 4 players.
- Pick mahjong if you have 4 players and want more kinds of tiles and hands to learn.
If you know Rummikub, sets and runs will already make sense to you. When you are ready, learn how to play mahjong. Mahjong also comes in many styles, so see the types of mahjong.
Ready to try mahjong?
Our American and Chinese sets give your group a new tile game to learn together.
Questions people ask
Is Rummikub a type of mahjong?
No. Rummikub is a different game, with its own tiles and rules. Both are tile games, so people often compare them.
Who invented Rummikub?
Ephraim Hertzano invented it in Romania in the 1940s. It was made in Israel from the 1950s. It won the Spiel des Jahres award in 1980.
Can you play Rummikub with mahjong tiles?
Not with a standard set. Rummikub needs numbers 1 to 13 in 4 colors. Mahjong suits only run from 1 to 9.