The Role of East (Article 302)

In American mah jongg, East is the dealer in name only (aka DINO) and goes first. Although the position has special significance in some Asian versions of mah jongg, the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) follows different procedures.

East has specific responsibilities at the start of each game, but the position carries no special scoring privileges.

East’s Responsibilities

East is designated Player 1 and has three primary responsibilities:

1. Roll the dice. East rolls two dice to determine where to break the wall.
2. Break the wall. Beginning at the right end of their wall, East counts the stacks according to the dice total and breaks the wall at the designated point. Tile distribution begins there.
3. Begin the game. After the Charleston and any final courtesy pass, East makes the first discard, starting the pick-and-discard phase.

The dice roll is an important part of the preliminaries because it randomizes the starting point for tile distribution and helps protect the integrity of the game.

Related reading: Rolling the Dice to Break the Wall (Article 148)

East’s Perk

During the initial deal, East receives 14 tiles while the other three players receive 13. This additional tile serves a practical purpose: East begins the pick-and-discard phase by discarding a tile without first picking from the wall.

However, having 14 tiles also gives East a slight strategic advantage during the Charleston. With one additional tile to evaluate, East has a little more flexibility when considering potential hands and deciding which tiles to pass. This advantage is temporary because East must make the first discard, bringing their concealed hand to 13 tiles.

Unlike some Asian versions of mah jongg, East receives no special scoring privileges under NMJL rules. East gets no bonus points or payment multipliers for winning. The NMJL card and applicable payment rules determine a winning hand’s value, regardless of which player wins.

East’s only perk is the additional tile during the Charleston, not a financial advantage for winning.

East Rotation

Two procedures are sometimes confused: passing the East position and rotating players around the table.

Under NMJL rules, East does not retain the dice because they win or because the game ends in a wall game (a draw).

The East position advances to the player on the right for the next game, regardless of the outcome.

This differs from some Asian versions of mah jongg, where East may retain the dealer position after winning or when a game ends in a draw. In those versions, retaining East can affect scoring.

In American mah jongg, East advances to the right after every game.

Related reading: East Continues to the Right (Article 53)

The East position moves to the right after the game. The order of play follows the traditional wind sequence:

East — Player 1

South — Player 2

West — Player 3

North — Player 4

The wind designations identify seating relationships and turn order. They do not provide scoring advantages under NMJL rules.

East Pivot is a separate procedure that changes where participants sit during a playing session.

Learn more: Player Rotation (Article 71) and Seat Assignments and Turn Order (Article 170)