Mahjong Tiles and Accessories
The following items are necessary to play Mahjong:

Mahjong tiles
2 Dice, optional
4 National Mah Jongg League Cards
4 Racks & Pushers
Mahjong mat, optional
Mahjong Tiles
Mahjong sets come with varying amounts of tiles. There are 152 core tiles, however, sets may include extra tiles such as blanks and seasons (to be played as flowers) and extra jokers. Players can establish table rules for whether or not to play with extra tiles.

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - Mahjong Tile Set

Dots (36 tiles, 4 of each number 1-9)

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - Mahjong Tiles Dots

Bams (36 tiles, 4 of each number 1-9)

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - Mahjong Tiles Bam

Cracks (36 tiles, 4 of each number 1-9)

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - Mahjong Tiles Crack

Winds (16 tiles, 4 of each wind, North/East/South/West)

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - Mahjong Tiles Winds

Dragons (12 tiles, 4 of each, Red/White or Soap/Green)

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - mahjong tiles dragon

Flowers (8 tiles)

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - Mahjong Tiles Set - Flowers

Jokers (8 tiles)

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - Mahjong Tiles Jokers

Blanks (4 tiles, optional)

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - Blank Mahjong Tiles
Dice
Players use two dice to determine the dealer and where the dealer will break the wall. If playing without dice, the player sitting in the east chair is the dealer.

National Mah Jongg League Card
The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) publishes a playing card annually with new Mahjong hands and scores. The back of the card contains a summary of the rules.

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - mahjong playing card - mahjong hand

Mahjong Tile Racks and Pushers
Each player has a Mahjong rack and pusher to hold tiles. The pusher sits against the back of the rack and will curtsy the tiles when ready to play.

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - mahjong wooden rack - playing mat - mahjong tile set

Mahjong Mat
A playing mat adds life to any game, and players often use it on glass tables, card tables, and for outdoor play to muffle the sounds of tiles hitting the table.

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The Set-Up
To set-up to play, players:

Place mat on table.
Position rack with the pusher away from each player.
Place mahjong tiles in the middle of the table, face down, and shuffle.
Each player builds a wall against a pusher, creating a row of two tiles, facedown and stacked.
Each wall has roughly the same quantity of tiles. (Quantity of tiles vary based on table rules.)

How to play mahjong - learn to mahjong rules - the set up