Dice Roll

The roll of two dice by the dealer at the start of each game to determine where the wall is broken and dealing begins. The total of the two dice sets the break point.

What Is the Dice Roll?

The dice roll is a brief but essential ceremony that begins every game of American Mah Jongg. After all four players have built the wall and pushed their sections together to form a square, the dealer rolls two standard six-sided dice. The total of the two dice (ranging from 2 to 12) determines where the wall is broken, the exact point from which tiles will be dealt.

The dice roll serves a purely randomizing function. It ensures that the starting point for dealing changes every game, which means different sections of the wall are accessed first in each game. This prevents any pattern or predictability in which tiles are dealt to which player.

In physical Mahjong, the dealer picks up two dice, shakes them, and rolls them onto the table inside the wall's square perimeter. The result is announced, and the wall is broken accordingly. In digital Mahjong, the dice roll is typically automated and displayed briefly on screen before tiles are dealt.

How the Break Point Is Determined

Once the dice are rolled, the total determines both which player's wall section is used and where within that section the break occurs:

Finding the wall section: Starting with the dealer and counting counterclockwise, the dealer counts the dice total to identify whose wall is broken. For example, if the dealer rolls a 5, they count: 1 (self), 2 (player to the right), 3 (across), 4 (player to the left), 5 (back to self), so the dealer's own wall is broken.

Finding the exact break point: Within the selected wall section, the dealer counts that many stacks from the right end of the wall. The wall is then separated at that point, tiles to the right of the break become the last tiles dealt (or remain unused), and dealing begins from the left side of the break.

The break ensures randomness in tile distribution. Different dice totals mean different sections and positions of the wall are accessed first, contributing to the game's element of chance.

Some groups simplify the dice roll process, particularly in casual play. A few groups skip the dice entirely and simply break the wall at a random point chosen by the dealer. However, the dice roll is the standard and traditional method in American Mahjong, and it is required in tournament play.