American mahjong
What Is Wright-Patterson Mahjong?
Quick answer
Wright-Patterson mahjong is a Western style of mahjong, usually played by 4 people. It began in the 1940s at an officers' spouses club at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. It uses 144 tiles and no jokers. Players follow its own rule book, not the yearly American card.
At a glance
- Players: usually 4
- Tiles: 144
- Jokers: none
- Hand size: 13 tiles, and you win with 14
- Rules: its own rule book
- Began: in the 1940s, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio
What is Wright-Patterson mahjong?
Wright-Patterson mahjong is a Western style of mahjong with its own rules. It is also called WP for short.
It began in the 1940s at an officers' spouses club. The club was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio. Military spouses still play it today.
WP is not the same as American mahjong. It has no jokers. It also does not use the yearly card from the National Mah Jongg League.
How do you play Wright-Patterson mahjong?
You play with 144 tiles and no jokers. Each player holds 13 tiles and wins with 14.
A set of 144 tiles is the same count as a Chinese set. See how sets differ in American vs Chinese mahjong.
- No jokers. A joker is a wild tile in American mahjong. WP does not use them.
- A Charleston. Before play, players swap tiles: right, across, then left. A blind pass is allowed. That means passing tiles on without looking at them.
- Flowers. They count as bonus tiles.
- Special hands. The rule book lists many, about 70 to 80.
- Everyone scores. All players score, not just the winner.
How is it different from American mahjong?
The biggest difference is jokers. WP has none, and American mahjong has 8.
| Feature | Wright-Patterson | American |
|---|---|---|
| Tiles | 144 | 152 |
| Jokers | None | 8 |
| Rules | Own rule book | New card every year |
| Who scores | Every player | Only the winner |
| Flowers | Bonus tiles | Used in hands |
To learn the American game, see how to play American mahjong. For more styles, see types of mahjong.
Need a set for WP play?
Our Chinese sets have 144 tiles and no jokers, the same count Wright-Patterson play uses.
Questions people ask
Where can I get the Wright-Patterson rule book?
The Wright-Patterson Officers' Spouses' Club sells it. See the club's mah jongg page. The book is updated every 5 to 10 years, and the current edition is from 2022.
Can you play Wright-Patterson mahjong with an American set?
Yes. An American set is a 144-tile set plus 8 jokers. Set the jokers and any spare tiles aside, and you have 144 tiles.
Is Wright-Patterson mahjong the same as Western classical mahjong?
Mostly, yes. Wikipedia says "Western classical" mahjong today mostly means the Wright-Patterson rules used in the US military.