Social • October 1, 2024

Beyond the Book Club: Mahjong 

I think it’s time we “get our Mahj on”. If you, like me, haven’t yet been swept up in the current Mahjong wave, it’s probably time to get going before we are left behind and there are no more seats left at the Mahjong table! 

This “parlor” game originated in China over 1,000 years ago. It’s a game of strategy, skill and luck played with tiles. The objective is to get Mahjong before your opponents do. Easier said than done. I won’t get into the details –mainly because I find them confusing- but it involves 4 players, 144 tiles, 2 dice and fun terms like dots, bams and cracks! 

Besides being a social game, it’s also a mental workout. American Mahjong uses a card that describes the winning combinations of tiles (called "hands") which changes every year. The goal of the game is to match your tiles with one of these combinations.  So, just when you think you've mastered the card, you have to start over and learn a new one! Talk about keeping you on your toes! 

The rise of Mahjong’s popularity has a lot to do with the fact that the internet has made it easier to learn the game – as well as offering many online opportunities to play.  If you want a more personal learning experience, there are plenty of teachers around the country that make house calls! This is a great way to start playing with a group – find a teacher near you and learn all at the same time. These are some great resources to find Mahjong teachers and supplies: ohmymahjong.com and myfairmahjong.com. 

Aside from the strategic prowess that goes along with Mahjong, there are a lot of cute accessories. Aside from some beautiful, colorful Mahjong sets, there are plenty of party goodies to be gotten. We found some great stuff on Etsy!