Here is a step-by-step guide on how to play American Mahjong:
1. Setup: Gather four players and a set of 152 tiles, which includes suits (dots, bams, and cracks), dragons, winds, and special flowers.
2. The Wall: Build a square wall with all the tiles facedown. Connect the ends to form a ring.
3. Hand Distribution: Each player randomly chooses tiles from the wall to form a hand of 13 tiles. The dealer receives 14 tiles.
4. Game Turns: The game proceeds in turns, starting with the dealer and moving counterclockwise.
5. Picking and Discarding Tiles: On a turn, a player can either pick a tile from the wall or claim a tile discarded by another player.
6. Creating Melds: Players create melds by combining tiles in specific combinations, such as Pongs (three identical tiles), Kongs (four identical tiles), or Chows (three consecutive tiles of the same suit). Melds are placed face-up in front of the player.
7. Winning Hand: To win, a player must form a winning hand, which typically consists of four melds and a pair (two identical tiles). There are also special hands with specific scoring requirements.
8. Declare Mahjong: When a player has a winning hand, they declare "Mahjong" to end the game, and the winning hand is revealed.
9. Scoring: The winner accumulates points based on the value of their hand and additional factors, like flowers and bonuses for winning on specific tiles.
10. Rotate Deal: After a game ends, the next player in turn becomes the new dealer, and a new round begins. Remember, these are just the basic rules of American Mahjong. There are various additional rules, variations, and strategies that players can explore for more advanced gameplay.