Let’s talk Mah Jong!

Parent Cafe
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I learned last summer along with 3 other friends. We try to play together once a week, and I also go play from time to time at our country club open play. I’m having a lot of fun with it, but never take it very seriously. My girlfriend group is in complete agreement that we’re doing this purely for fun and socialization and would not enjoy it if it gets too serious or competitive. We usually gather for around 3 hours and on average play 3 rounds. We are chatting, eating and taking all the time we need to read the card.

I’ve had varied experiences at our club’s open play. Recently an older, more experienced player accused a more novice player of playing a hand incorrectly and it got a little tense. It really rattled the newer player who didn’t let the elder player forget what she’d said. I’m really not interested in that kind of afternoon so focus on finding games with my friends.

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@Colorado_mom Mahjong is very popular all over. It’s definitely having a moment!

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We had one person join our group…one time. She criticized all of us for not playing fast enough. Keep in mind, two of us had been playing less than a year. At the end of the time, we all help clean up, putting tiles away, etc. She picked up her purse and just walked out. The others of us politely suggested she not be invited back. But I think she wouldn’t have come anyway.

All of us were beginners at some point, and we need to all remember that.

Our group is a just for fun group too. Lots of cheerful chatting and laughter.

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From weekend WSJ

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You can also play on mahjongo.com It’s free and they have several versions (I play Chinese Mahjong so no passing tiles, no cards, no jokers.

I was playing 2x week at the Y and enjoyed it. We usually had two tables, one that played for points (not money) and for points you need 8 points (they aren’t called that but that’s all I can think of) and one table played to win, sort of like gin rummy with 4 groups of 3of a kind/run of 3 and then a pair to win, no matter how many points the hand totaled. I preferred to play the ‘no points’ table but if they needed someone to play at the other table I could be drafted. There were a few people I didn’t like but I let their comments go. Well, one day I had to play with a person I don’t like. She kept making ‘under her breath’ comments and I was getting sick of it. I got a call from a doctor’s office and I said “I have to take this.” It took 2 minutes. Really 2 minutes. When I looked up they said “it’s your turn” but they’d played a round without me and of course the tile I needed for mahjong had been played. The person I didn’t like said “You missed it, too bad.”

Last straw. I left (and then they didn’t have enough to play so too bad for them) and haven’t been back. I didn’t care about winning, I did care about the rudeness of not waiting for me when I HAD waited for the mean one to take a call just a few minutes earlier.

My daughter is now hooked on it and she’s been teaching her friends and I bet we are all playing wrong but who cares, we all are having fun. Even my non-math daughter liked it.

On Mahjongo.com, I do have to play for points and the computer won’t let you override it, but it is fun and you DO get points for hands I never would have thought of (something called a half flush, special hands with terminals, seated winds, prevailing winds, more points for kongs) but you do play fast so can play a lot. Also, since you are always playing bots, you lose a lot because the bots never play the wrong tiles (I do, by hitting the computer wrong), know which tiles have been played (I don’t), etc. Still fun.

So play to have fun. Play whatever style of Mahjong you like, let your friends take a phone call from their doctor, and DON’T mumble under your breath.

Oh, if you need a 4th (or even a 3rd) Finn the wonder dog is pretty good. He even won a game. His bed time is 8 pm so he can’t play all night.

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Not sure if this link will work, but if you have access to WSJ, you can look it up

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/american-mahjong-obsession-6bae4ca9?st=gbkYuF&reflink=article_copyURL_share

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So I will apparently be teaching mahjong at the family reunion in July. Several relatives want to learn, one has a set ( but doesn’t know how to play). Should be fun. I’m planning to order some additional cards now.

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Might want to check that it is an American set. I have two Chinese sets (bought in China) and they do not have jokers or other extra tiles (144 in a chinese set, 166 in the american sets I’ve seen).

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One of the people I play with taught her daughter and her friends.

She asked people she plays with for old cards to teach. Maybe some of the people you play with now would let you use their old cards since we just got new cards.

That way no investment until people know they will play. I also heard that amazon has cards for sale, the mahjong league ones.

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Good suggestions @twoinanddone and @deb922 . Thanks!

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I had my last beginner class this morning and teacher mentioned Amazon cards. Evidently, you can get 4 cards for slightly over the price of one legit one. However, she said that she bought a set and 2 lines on the card were reproduced incorrectly. That wouldn’t be a problem if all 4 players were using the same card, but could be problematic eventually.

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The mahjong league claimed they have an Amazon store but if they do, it’s hidden.

Sorry for that advice. Too many counterfeits to be sure which is the official card and which isn’t.

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I won’t buy cards from Amazon( a person in our group did and there were differences), and I try to avoid Amazon anyway.

I do like the idea of borrowing last years cards from my Mahjong friends.

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I’m so excited to find this thread! I took my first MJ lesson with a friend last weekend (I’d never touched a tile) and had a lot of fun. I’m now trying to play online and as others have said, it helps to be able to take my time and think about what I want to do. @2VU0609 are you by any chance in Denver? I’m an OLLI member, too, and really wanted to take the MJ class they offered, but it is during the weekday and it was just too much given my work schedule. I’m hoping they offer it again so that I can participate. Anyway, if you’re in Denver, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the OLLI class and other local MJ groups (feel free to message me privately).

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If you buy your card from the maj jong league (or whatever it’s called), you will get a reminder order form to order the new card the following year. If you buy your card anywhere else…you don’t get this little reminder, which is good to get.

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I’m in Nashville. The MJ class through OLLI started here last fall and filled within hours of the registration opening, so I had to wait until spring to jump in. They are now offering a MJ 102 and I hope to be able to join that in the fall to learn more. OLLI classes are great!

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Can we talk about tiles, mats, racks, tables, etc?

Where have you purchased yours? What characteristics about these things do you like or dislike?

Dh and I played last Friday with another couple. Once we move to our new house, I should have space to reciprocate. These friends had bought a set at Sam’s Club when it was marked down. The tiles were fine (though they seemed smallish to me - is there a standard size?), but the mat was terrible. Pretty, but too much texture to it - it was very difficult to shuffle the tiles. I also didn’t care for the hard/sided case which seemed to require great precision to get all the tiles to fit.

So, please tell me about your mahjong, “stuff,” and set up. I’d have to get a table and chairs as our dining table is a non-convertible rectangle. I’d like ones I could fold up.

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I bought a oh my mahjong set when it was half off one time.

It’s so pretty! I get compliments every time I bring it.

Unfortunately the set confuses people because it’s “different”. They all have sets from amazon, they are uniform. People aren’t asking what is this? It’s a flower that looks like a flower but it’s different

Mats. I have opinions. Mine is thick and has directions. Says the order of the Charleston and what dragons go with what. It’s pretty helpful. A friend bought one from amazon that is similar.

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I haven’t bought a set yet but plan to soon. I like the sets from Yellow Mountain Imports (I try to avoid Amazon). Just make sure that if you play American Mahjong, you get a set that indicates that (Chinese Mahjong does not use jokers, etc).

I prefer plain mats. Less distracting when looking at the tiles.

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I bought my tiles from Oh My Mahjong but racks and mat from local shop then won a bag for tile storage at an event.

Several of my friends have sets from Alibaba. Took some time to get them but great price and they have quite a few to choose from.