HOW TO LEARN MAHJONG

My DMs have been blowing up lately with questions about mahjong, mostly about how to learn, so I thought I’d do a quick write-up of my experience!

First, a little background: my grandma has been playing mahjong for decades (and decades!). She’s turning 98 this September and still plays! Growing up, I always loved hearing her stories, but I sort of assumed it was something I’d maybe pick up later in life.

Fast forward to now: suddenly, I was seeing mahjong everywhere. All my friends in Dallas were playing, it was creeping into my social feeds, and little by little, my curiosity grew. It felt intimidating, though… it’s a lot to take in if you don’t know where to start.

In January, my sister-in-law put together a little group to learn how to play, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Now that I’ve learned, I can confirm that mahjong is surprisingly approachable; once you get into it, it actually reminds me a lot of learning Catan. (Mike and I love Catan. We get way too excited when we meet another couple who plays!) Just like Catan, you can learn mahjong on your own, but it’s so much easier — and more fun — when someone teaches you in person and you get to practice by playing.

Quick disclaimer: I’m still pretty new to mahjong myself! I learned just a few months ago, so I’m definitely not an expert. But honestly, I think that’s important to mention — it feels intimidating at first, but you can absolutely pick it up quickly. And the more you play, the more confident you’ll feel.

One of the things I love most about mahjong is that it’s a lifelong game. I’m sure there will be seasons of life when I play more often and seasons when I hardly play at all, but I’m so happy I took the time to learn.

For context, I learned American Mahjong, which is a version adapted from the traditional Chinese game. Mahjong started to gain popularity in the U.S. in the 1920s and was eventually standardized into the version we now call American Mahjong by a group of Jewish women in the late 1930s.

In a nutshell: it’s a tile-based game that mixes strategy and luck. Each year, a new “card” is released with a set of specific hands you can build. During the game, you pass tiles, draw tiles, call tiles, all while working toward completing one of the hands on the card.

It’s fun, social, and endlessly satisfying. And once you start, you’ll wonder why you didn’t learn sooner! Especially post-pandemic and in the trenches of motherhood right now, my brain has felt like mush. Playing mahjong feels like sweeping the dust out of the corners of my brain. I can’t get enough.

My mahjong tiles from Oh My Mahjong (c/o CARLY10 for 10% off)!

FINDING AN INSTRUCTOR

I highly recommend finding an instructor local to you. I’m sure there are great online resources, but nothing beats learning in person. It’s just so much easier to grasp when you’re physically at a table.

If you’re local to northern NJ, my friend Annie teaches small groups, and Mix and Mahj hosts 101s for larger groups or private parties! You can also search online (here’s a list from Oh My Mahjong and The Mahjong Line) or ask around locally.

Libraries, temples, and community centers often host lessons. I actually found some instructors about a year before I finally learned just by posting in my town’s Facebook group, so don’t be afraid to ask around!

BUYING A CARD

As I mentioned earlier, a new card is released each year by the National Mah Jongg League. (Yes, the website looks like it’s stuck in the dark ages, but it’s legit!)

Important: Only buy your card directly from the National Mah Jongg League. Cards on Amazon and elsewhere are often fraudulent and full of errors… even if they look official. (Someone loaned me a fake one while I waited for my real card to arrive, and there were mistakes! I learned the hard way!)

Fair warning: even the 2025 official card had a few errors, which has been a huge source of drama among players this year, ha.

The card is honestly the most intimidating part for beginners in my opinion. It’s written in different colors, codes, and symbols that feel like a different language at first, but once you learn how to read it, it becomes second nature.

LEARNING HOW TO PLAY

I’ll be honest: I almost cried during my first lesson.

When I opened the card and Annie started explaining everything… the tiles, the card, the flow of the game… I had this sinking feeling like, “This is too much. I should just walk out now and cut my losses.” The only reason I stayed was because I didn’t want to mess up the table numbers (you need four players!) and… I didn’t want to be embarrassed.

But… I’m SO glad I stuck with it.

There’s usually a moment in the first lesson when it clicks, when suddenly, it all starts making sense. It didn’t happen right away, but it did happen. I even got my first mahjong that day! So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, hang in there. You are not alone, and it will make sense if you’re open minded and excited to learn.

PRACTICING

Once you know the basics, the best way to get better is simply to play.

Practice, practice, practice.

If you can, play with experienced, patient people who are happy to answer questions and let you make mistakes. (I’m so grateful to the women who were so kind to me when I was learning!)

You can also practice online! I use Mahjong 4 Friends (free) on my iPad. I mostly play against bots, but every once in a while, a friend and I will log on at the same time and play with two bots. It’s audio and video enabled, so we can chat while we play. Such a fun way to stay connected without needing babysitters.

That said, nothing beats playing in person. Try putting together a group and you may not realize it yet, but there are mahjong games happening all around you. Once you start looking, you’ll start hearing about them through the grapevine.

Libraries, temples, community centers, and local Facebook groups are great places to start.

I LOVE IT!

If you’ve been thinking about learning, consider this your sign. Yes, it’s a little overwhelming at first, but I promise, it’s so worth it. You’ll be playing before you know it!