Your First Mahjong Night: A Host's Checklist and How to Choose a Set
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A good mahjong night is mostly about a ready table and relaxed players. Here is a checklist for hosts, followed by what to look for if you are choosing your first set.
The host's checklist
On the table
- A complete set of tiles, counted once before guests arrive (152 for standard play).
- Four racks with pushers.
- Two dice, and a dice tray so they don't scatter the wall.
- A card for every player. Newer players appreciate having their own.
- A table mat to soften the noise and keep tiles from sliding.
For new players
- Seat each new player next to someone experienced who can glance at their rack.
- Keep a Charleston board or passing strip in the middle of the table.
- Play the first game "open hands", with racks turned so everyone can learn from each other.
- Send the beginner guide a day ahead, so everyone arrives knowing the tiles.
Comfort
- Plan two to three hours. Games get faster as everyone learns.
- Drinks on a side table, away from the wall. A mahjong mug never hurts.
- Agree house rules before the first game: blanks, extra jokers, the second Charleston and scoring.
How to choose an American mahjong set
1. Make sure it is an American set
American mahjong needs jokers and 152 tiles. Many sets sold online are for Chinese or other styles and have no jokers. Check the tile count and the joker count before you buy.
2. Look at the extras
Sets with more than 152 tiles add spares: extra jokers, blank tiles or both. Spares are useful if a tile goes missing. Every Tilory set has 160 tiles, including 10 jokers.
3. Check how easy the tiles are to read
Themed and designer sets are beautiful, but you play with them every week, so check that you can read them across the table:
- A clear number on every suit tile.
- Dragons labeled with their suit, or clearly colored.
- Jokers that stand out.
- Flowers you can recognize as flowers.
Look at real photos of every tile, not only styled shots. Our product pages show the real trays: see the Red Christmas set, tray by tray.
4. Check how the faces are made
Ask whether the artwork is engraved or only printed on the surface. On our Red Christmas set the faces are engraved, then UV printed.
5. Know what is included
Many sets, including ours, are tiles only: racks, dice and the card are separate. Price them in from the start.
6. Pick a set you love looking at
You will see it every week. Our sets have glitter-filled backs: red or green for the holidays, and ocean blue for the rest of the year. See all sets.
