Ready To Learn Mahjong? Here's Your Starter Guide

By Author: SoBamFunLLC
Total Articles: 1
Comment this article

Chicago is a city with a deep love for games that create community. From casual card games at bars to competitive trivia leagues, from the card cafes cropping up in neighborhoods to friendly board game meetups, Chicagoans engage in a thriving hobby scene. It's no surprise, then, that the city is seeing an explosion of interest in mahjong, a game that offers something uniquely rewarding. Whether you're a complete novice or a long-time fan of the game who learned from your non-English-speaking relatives and want to understand the rules properly, the city has plenty of options to learn the game. Here's an overview of how to learn mahjong in Chicago for players of all skill levels.
Starting From Scratch: Beginner Classes
If you're totally new to mahjong and want to start learning the game, the best place to start is with a beginner class. It's important to get a good foundation of knowledge when first learning the game, rather than trying to work through an online tutorial or rulebook on your own. Though it may seem daunting at first, mahjong is much easier to pick up than many other tabletop games, especially when you ...
... have an instructor guide you through the fundamentals.
Many game lounges and casual hobby stores offer beginner classes designed to teach the basic rules and skills needed for playing the game. Most are between two and three hours long, and focus on teaching the fundamentals of one particular variant of the game. Most Chicago-based classes lean towards American mahjong, as it's the most popular version of the game in the city. If you take a beginner class, expect to learn the basics of tile classification, the card of hands, and the basic flow of the game before participating in a practice round with your instructor's help.
Moving Up: Intermediate Classes and More Strategic Play
Once you've learned the basic rules and are starting to understand how the game is played, the next step is to gain experience and practice using your knowledge in an actual match. In order to play strategically in mahjong, you need to understand how to use the information available to you to make educated guesses about what hands your opponents might have, when to break up a good hand to take advantage of a better one, and how to manage your resources across the different rounds, among other skills. If you're happy with how you're progressing, or find a new one if you're looking to challenge yourself. These classes will be less about introducing new concepts and more about applying the skills you've developed in a social setting. Many are held in the form of a game night, where the instructor plays along with their students. If you're looking for a more direct learning experience, some local mahjong instructors also offer home game club sessions meant to help their students practice their skills.
Looking For a Competitive Edge
Though it's a relatively new pursuit in the city, organized tournaments are starting to crop up in Chicago and are a great way to test your skills against other serious players. If you're looking to move up to the next level and get serious about the game, keep an eye out for when and where these events will be held. Local clubs or enthusiasts run some, and local game cafes and similar businesses host others. These tournaments are usually highly competitive and require a good understanding of the rules and strategies of the game to do well in, so consider them a challenge if you think you're ready. Some advanced players decide to learn a second set of rules once they've mastered one.
Finding the Right Class or Club for You
Now that you have an idea of the different ways you can learn mahjong, here are a few pointers to help you find the right fit.
If you're a complete beginner, look for classes listed as "beginner-friendly", as joining a standard class that assumes students have prior experience will only frustrate you and slow down your learning process. Most classes for new players also provide the equipment you need to play, so save your money until you've had an actual session.
If you haven't touched the game in a while or learned from your non-English-speaking relatives, you may want to take a refresher class to bring your knowledge up to date. There are plenty of rules that change across different sets of guidelines, so this will help you keep up if you want to compete at a higher level.
If you're already confident in your skills and looking to get more competitive, skip the classes and sign up for a local group or tournament instead. The different social clubs around the city are always looking for new people to join their game nights.
Sticking With a Group Makes It Easier to Continue Playing
As stated above, most players who stick with the game have found a group or club to play with regularly that helps them continue improving with each new session. The city has plenty of casual mahjong gatherings, so you should have no problem finding one that suits your needs. Take it slow and see how you feel after you've played a few times in the same place before committing to one, as many people who try it are surprised how easy it is to fall in love with the game.