DEALING THE TILES (ARTICLE 272)

In American mah jongg, the process of mixing, building, and dealing the tiles is more than a formality—it is part of the rules and helps ensure fairness at the table. Although the East player is traditionally called the “dealer,” their role is limited compared to other tile games worldwide.

In American mah jongg, East is often referred to as the “dealer,” but this title is ceremonial. East does not shuffle or deal tiles to others. Their true responsibilities are:

• Rolling the dice to break the wall.
• Taking their tiles in proper order.
• Maintaining their seat until a new East is determined by the outcome of play.

Thus, East is best understood as a Dealer in Name Only (DINO).

• Mixing the tiles (washing the tiles face-down).
• Building the walls (each player creating a row of 19 tiles, two high).
• Breaking the wall (East rolls the dice, counts, and separates the wall).
• Dealing the tiles (players take their tiles in rounds as described below).

These steps are not optional. They are part of the official setup, and following them consistently ensures both fairness and efficiency.

Preliminaries as Rules

Before play begins, several steps are required:

League Guidance

“East breaks the wall. Each player picks four tiles for three rounds. East picks first and third top tile and the other players one tile each.”

Back of the NMJL card, panel 1

“We recommend that each player pick their own tiles and that these tiles be left in stacks as shown above until all of the tiles are picked.”

Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024 page 10-11)

This means that East should not pass tiles out to the other players. Instead, each player takes their own tiles in turn.

Why It Matters

If East (or anyone else) were to distribute tiles, mistakes can occur. Tiles might be tipped, exposed, or handed incorrectly, which creates an unfair disadvantage to the receiving player. By taking your own tiles, you eliminate the risk of “butterfingered” errors.

This method is also consistent with how mah jongg is played worldwide—in every major version of the game, players collect their own tiles directly from the wall.

Best Practice

• Each player should pick their own tiles from the wall.
• Tiles should be kept in stacks until all dealing rounds are complete.
• Avoid passing tiles to others to prevent accidental exposure.

In American mah jongg, each player must pick their own tiles after East breaks the wall, keeping them stacked until all are drawn. This is recommended to avoid tipped or exposed tiles, ensuring fairness. East is a “Dealer in Name Only” (DINO), with no role in handing out tiles.

The zen is in the wall, the flow is in the play, the magic is in the tiles. Each player should take their own tiles in turn, keeping them stacked until all are drawn. This honors both fairness and the rhythm of the game—protecting the calm, balanced flow that makes mah jongg more than just play-it’s an artform.