Mah Jongg Accessories

Beyond the tiles, three accessories do the real work of an American Mah Jongg game: racks and pushers to hold your hand and build the wall, a case to carry the set, and a holder for the card. If you bought a complete set they may already be in the box; if you bought a tiles-only designer set, these are what you still need.

Racks and pushers

A rack holds your hand of tiles upright and angled toward you; a pusher is the long bar that shoves the built wall into the center so everyone can reach it. American play really does want both, and most designer sets leave them out. Look for racks that hold a full hand, about 19 tiles across, and combined rack-and-pusher units if you want fewer pieces on the table. Several tile makers sell matching racks alongside their sets, and there are plenty of standalone rack-and-pusher sets in the $30 to $90 range.

Cases and bags

A good bag turns a boxed set into something you can carry to a friend's table without the tiles rattling loose. The premium option is a purpose-made tote like My Fair Mahjong's zippered tote (around $100), which is sized to hold four full-length racks plus a set, accessories, and a rolled mat. If you just need the tiles to travel, a padded carrying case does the job for far less.

Card holders

The National Mah Jongg League card is a folded paper card, and it takes a beating over a season of being propped against a rack. A simple stand or a slim card holder keeps it upright and readable and saves it from creases and spills. It is the cheapest accessory here and the one players most often forget.

What you cannot buy as an accessory

The card itself. It is reissued every year and sold only by the National Mah Jongg League, not bundled with sets or accessories, so order it from the League each spring.