On this page
  1. Start with community institutions
  2. Online groups for offline games
  3. Finding a teacher
  4. Tournaments
  5. Your first meetup

Start with community institutions

American Mahjong has deep roots in a few kinds of places, and they are the easiest way in for a beginner.

  • Jewish Community Centers and synagogues. American Mahjong became a staple of Jewish-American community life in the mid-20th century, and many JCCs and synagogues still run weekly games and beginner classes, often open to non-members for a small fee.
  • Public libraries and senior centers. Many libraries host game days or a standing Mahjong afternoon. These tend to be relaxed, free and welcoming to newcomers.
  • YMCAs, parks departments and recreation centers. Look at the adult program schedule; Mahjong often sits next to bridge and canasta.
  • Country clubs and clubhouses. If you or a friend belongs to one, check the social calendar. Card rooms frequently have a regular table.

Beginner tipCall ahead and ask which rules the group plays. If they say "the card" or "NMJL", it is American Mahjong. If they mention Riichi or Hong Kong scoring, it is a different game (see Chinese vs. American).

Online groups for offline games

  • Facebook groups. Search "Mahjong" plus your city or state. There are also large national American Mahjong groups where a post like "Beginner in [town], any open tables?" often gets answers within a day.
  • Meetup. Search "American Mahjong". Groups commonly meet at coffee shops, community rooms and food halls, and most list whether beginners are welcome.
  • Nextdoor. Mahjong is hyper-local. A short post asking whether anyone hosts a beginner-friendly game nearby can lead straight to a home game.
  • Online-play communities. Some American Mahjong platforms include tools for finding players in your area. See playing online.

Finding a teacher

If you would rather learn with structure than on the fly, a teacher is worth it, and many will come to your home if you have three friends who also want to learn.

  • Teacher directories. Several modern Mahjong brands maintain searchable directories of instructors by state. Check that a listing has been updated recently before you rely on it.
  • Adult education. Community colleges, continuing-education programs and community centers run "Intro to American Mahjong" courses, typically four to six sessions.
  • Game stores. Board game shops often know the local instructors for bridge, chess, Go and Mahjong.

Can't find a class near you? Consider starting one: see how to teach Mahjong lessons.

Tournaments

Once you can play a full hand without help, tournaments are a fun next step and a good way to meet a lot of players at once. Organizers run everything from one-day local events to multi-day cruises and resort weekends. Search for "American Mahjong tournament" plus your region, and check the organizer's own calendar for current dates. NMJL members also receive a newsletter with a directory of sanctioned tournaments.

Your first meetup

  • Bring your own current NMJL card.
  • Ask about house rules before the first hand: stakes, time limits, how they handle the Charleston.
  • Say you're a beginner. Almost every group has a patient regular who enjoys teaching.
  • Read the beginner's guide the night before so the vocabulary is fresh.