In case you haven’t heard, mahjong is having a moment. The Americanized version (with Jewish roots) of the Chinese tile game is trending, but the original game has similarly been entertaining groups for centuries prior.
As a Chinese and Jewish kid, I grew up learning the original Chinese version, the rules of which are a little like gin rummy. The most basic objective is to draw tiles to try and get pungs (sets of three of a kind) or chows (three consecutive-numbered tiles in the same suit), as well as a pair of identical tiles known as the “eyes” of your winning hand. The American version differs both in the necessary tiles (their sets include Jokers, for example) and in the rules and accepted standard hands, which change annually according to the cards distributed by the National Mahjongg League.
Playing mahjong with my parents, brother, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends has gotten me through everything from holiday evenings to power outages where we played by flashlight. This four-player game, no matter which version you learn, is great for families, friend groups and anyone who likes to collect tabletop games. It’s a conversation starter and good for kids and adults to play together.
If you’ve been hearing about mahjong and want to give it a go at your next game night, keep reading to discover a few beginner-friendly sets, as well as the benefits of learning to play.