Introduction
If I had to explain American Mahjong in as few words as possible, I would say, “It’s like Gin Rummy, but with tiles.” It IS like Gin Rummy, in that players are trying to get sets of numbers like 3 or kind, 4 of a kind, and sequences. But it’s so much more than that. And it has JOKERS!
The objective of the game is complete a set of 14 tiles that matches a hand on the current year's official National Mah Jongg League card.
Is it Mahjong, Mah Jong or Mah Jongg?
The name was translated from Mandarin Chinese in the 1920s, so the people who coined the variations were all guessing at the spelling. Today, all the variations are considered okay. Spell check prefers Mahjong, so that’s what I go with, unless I’m referring to something by name with a different spelling. For example, the National Mah Jongg League is always spelled with the two separate words and two g’s.
The History of Mahjong
- 19th Century: Mahjong originates in China and spreads throughout Asia, with variations found in Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.
- 1920: Mahjong is introduced to the United States
- 1923: An American importing the game published new rules to increase interest in the game. This became the American standard and was similar to the original Chinese rules.
- Over the next several years, many Mahjong sets are imported into the United States for sale, each manufacturer had their own version of the rules they included. This led to a lot of confusion when people played with others.
- 1935: When a new the group publishes "Official American Rules" in 1935, the American style further morphed into a very distinct form.
- 1937: The group of women that published the rules in 1937 officially founds the National Mah Jongg League.
- TODAY: Mahjong is the most popular game in Asia (and each country has their own version) and is becoming increasingly more popular in the U.S. The National Mah Jongg League publishes a new “Official Standard Hands and Rules” on a yearly basis.
Why is Mahjong “Having a Moment”?
I think the momentum started with the pandemic. People had a lot of time on their hands and wanted to learn something that was a little more complex than the average game. I also think people like what a tactile game it is. You touch the tiles, hear the clicking of the tiles and need to be fully present during the game. It’s an opportunity to step away from your phone and from your troubles, if you have any. And yet, instead of distracting yourself with shopping or doomscrolling on your phone, you are engaging your brain and engaging with other people and their brains!
I see a lot of expensive tile sets and mats online. Is Mahjong expensive?
You don’t even need to buy tiles right away. Once you learn the basics, you can play online. When you’re ready to buy a set, the cheapest way to start is to buy a set off Facebook Marketplace. The expense comes when you start buying stuff thanks to social media. Once you like even one post related to Mahjong, your entire feed will be flooded with ads for expensive tile sets, Mahjong-themed wine glasses and charcuterie boards, and even Mahjong Pajamas. You’ll even see posts for Mahjong-related travel, including cruises! Kind of like the Pickleball craze, but with fewer ACL injuries.
How long does it take to learn Mahjong?
You can learn the basics in 2-4 hours. I first learned in 3 two-hour lessons. A lot depends on your learning style. The best way to learn is to hear the basics and be walked through a game, then by playing guided by an instructor and playing with other people.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your Mahjong game won’t be either.
Here is an overview of getting to be a decent new player:
Level 1: Learn the basics
- History
- Tiles & Melds
- The Card/Hands
- The Table/Deal
- The Charleston
- Basic Play
Level 2: Focus on your own game (Offense)
- Picking categories
- Charleston strategy
- Putting hands together
- Pivoting
Level 3: Defensive Strategy
- Table awareness
- Scoring
- Dead hands
- Preventing others from winning
Level 4: Competitive Playing
Even more strategy
Tournaments
As you play at higher and higher levels, the rules become more and more important. It’s really key to learn the proper way to do things from the beginning, so it becomes muscle memory and automatic, rather than just one more thing you need to actively remember while participating in a high stress game or tournament.
You may get through Level 1 and 2 quickly and take more time on Level 3. You may get to Level 4 quickly but if you do, I would say you are an exception rather than the norm. It can take a while to wrap your head around the "card" so don't expect to be an expert on Day One.
Conclusion
American Mahjong is growing in popularity and is a great way to build community. It's not easy, but given patience and persistence, you will be a competent Mahjong player making new friends (and reconnecting with old friends over a game) before you know it!
To go to the next lesson, click here: Lesson 1 - The Tiles – Mahjong for Makindu
