Siamese Mahjong

2 players, 2 hands each — a completely different kind of game

Goal: Learn how to play Siamese Mahjong — the most popular 2-player American Mahjong format, where each player builds two winning hands at the same time

Estimated time: 8–11 minutes

Prerequisite: Lesson 15

Why it matters: Only two of you? This is how you play. Same card, same tiles — completely different challenge.

Step 1 of 9

🀄 Two Players. Two Hands Each.

Siamese Mahjong is the standard way to play American Mahjong with two people. Instead of one hand, each player builds two winning hands simultaneously — using two racks, one in front of the other.

What's the same

NMJL® card, tile set, joker rules, calling, exposures, scoring

What's different

27 tiles each, 2 racks per player, no Charleston, must win both hands