Mahjong clubs & lessons by city

Mahjong 101 courses for groups

Teaches a three-hour beginner course for groups and travels to bookings around the region.

Beginner series and social play

Runs beginner sessions and social games in Austin, including seasonal Mahjong 101 series.

Multi-week introductory courses each term

South Florida's adult and community education programmes regularly offer introductory American Mah Jongg courses; students bring the current League card.

Parties, private lessons and monthly classes

Teaches American Mah Jongg in Boca Raton and the Palm Beaches, including classes hosted at local restaurants and clubs.

Four-week group or private lessons

The city recreation department, just south of Boca Raton, has offered American Mah Jongg lessons at a community centre.

Student club on the Waltham campus

A university riichi club at Brandeis, just west of Boston.

Check library calendars and meetup groups

Greater Boston's public libraries, Jewish community centres and Chinatown community organisations host games and classes from time to time; university clubs play riichi.

Mahjong 101 and follow-up guided play

Teaches American Mah Jongg with the official League card and standard rules in Chicago's western suburbs.

Mahjong 101 beginner classes at partner venues

Teaches beginner classes at shops and restaurants around the city, with all materials provided.

Four-week beginner classes, leagues and open play

A studio in west-suburban Westmont offering step-by-step classes followed by leagues and open play.

Lessons, private parties, pop-ups and open play nights

Runs American Mah Jongg experiences across Chicago, including relaxed open-play nights for people who already know the game.

Beginner lessons, weekly leagues, in-home private lessons

An American Mah Jongg community based in Glenview serving Chicago's North Shore and suburbs.

Monthly lessons and events

One of several Dallas groups riding the American Mah Jongg revival, with regular beginner lessons and social events.

Weekly sessions and beginner group lessons

Holds regular sessions and beginner lessons at a dedicated mahjong venue in Dallas.

Lessons and open play

A Houston company, launched in 2023, that teaches lessons designed to help people start their own neighbourhood groups and hosts open plays.

Classes, private teachers and social clubs

Los Angeles has private teachers who run small-group American lessons across the city, Jewish community centres with regular games, and Chinatown community groups that introduce Cantonese-style mahjong.

Organised through an online meetup group

A Twin Cities group for American Mah Jongg players that organises games through a public meetup page.

Multi-week beginner courses and supervised play

The Upper East Side cultural centre has run American Mah Jongg courses for beginners, with follow-up supervised play for students who know the basics. Check its adult-education listings for new terms.

Publishes the annual card and official rules

The authority on American Mah Jongg since 1937. It issues the yearly card of hands that American players use, and its rules are the standard at clubs and tournaments nationwide.

Beginner series, refresher classes and social play

Many New York synagogues and Jewish community centres teach American Mah Jongg in short course series, often open to non-members for a fee. Look in their adult-learning calendars.

Regular learn-and-play meetups with a beginner jumpstart

A riichi organisation that runs beginner-friendly learn-and-play sessions in Midtown Manhattan, with teachers on hand for newcomers, and structured classes. A founding member of the North American riichi federation.

Weekly club meetings, lessons and tournaments

Founded in 2019, this riichi club meets in Old City, teaches newcomers and supports members in competition. It hosts the Philadelphia Riichi Open.

Two-session beginner series and open social play

Offers American Mah Jongg beginner series with sets and cards provided, plus open social play sessions.

Beginner lessons, coached play, social events and tournaments

A Bay Area group teaching American Mah Jongg and organising social play and tournaments.

Public tables at community night markets

Seattle's Chinatown-International District night markets in Hing Hay Park have featured public mahjong tables. Community centres and game cafés host regular games.

Casual and competitive play

Arizona State University's student club for riichi players of all levels.

Beginner lessons with a follow-up practice table

The museum has hosted American Mah Jongg beginner lessons connected to the game's place in Jewish American life, with a practice 'support table' afterwards. Sessions often sell out.

Lessons, parties and public play sessions

One of the groups behind Washington's mahjong boom, teaching American Mah Jongg and hosting public play and private events.

Free weekly sessions for all levels

Branches including the central Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and Cleveland Park have offered free weekly tables for American or Hong Kong-style play, with help for beginners.

Learn-to-play events, including at Northern Virginia libraries

A riichi group that has introduced Japanese mahjong at public library events in the Northern Virginia suburbs.

Restaurant with mahjong tables

A restaurant near Chinatown known for its mahjong room with Chinese-style tables, popular with groups of friends.

Hong Kong-style games and lessons

A Toronto group focused on Hong Kong-style mahjong.

In-person and online games, strategy study

A student club teaching riichi strategy, with game reviews and a friendly environment for all levels.

Beginner course series

Community recreation centres in North Vancouver have offered beginner courses in Hong Kong-style mahjong covering tiles, walls, dealing and winning hands.

Weekday play during the school year; annual open tournament

Hosts the Vancouver Open Riichi Tournament for the North American west coast as a member of the North American riichi federation.

Riichi nights; novices welcome

A Surrey club running riichi evenings that welcome complete beginners as well as experienced players.

Two-hour beginner workshops for small groups

Small-group workshops in East London introducing tiles, sets, winning hands and basic riichi rules.

Two-hour sessions for experienced players

Regular weekend sessions in East London for players who already know Chinese styles, with riichi tables as well.

National federation; tournaments and demonstrations

France's national body promoting both competition Chinese rules and riichi, with tournaments and appearances at cultural festivals.

Introductory sessions in both rule sets

A long-established central Paris club that teaches both of the rule sets played in France and works with the national federation at public events.

National association; clubs and tournaments

Founded in 2000, beginning in a café in eastern Copenhagen, Denmark's national association is a member of the European Mahjong Association.

Fast table play for experienced players, house rules on the wall

Licensed halls in districts such as Yau Ma Tei, Jordan, Mong Kok and Kwun Tong. Best for confident players; beginners usually learn elsewhere first.

Personalised group lessons with printed guides

Independent teachers offer short private courses in Hong Kong/Cantonese style — and sometimes Hong Kong-Taiwanese style — for visitors and residents.

Rental tables and free play rooms

Osaka has parlours offering rental tables for groups (kashi-taku) and rooms for play with strangers.

From beginner-friendly rooms to 'free' tables with strangers

Districts such as Akihabara, Ikebukuro and Shinjuku have many parlours. Some cater to beginners; 'free mahjong' rooms seat strangers together. Rules vary by parlour — ask before you sit.

Community mahjong halls without gambling

Promotes mahjong as a healthy social activity for older people, with community halls such as one in Wanhua District.

Beginner and intermediate evening classes

Teaches Singapore mahjong and its point system to complete beginners, with no Chinese-reading knowledge needed, and an intermediate follow-up course.

Occasional beginner workshops

The cultural centre has run beginner mahjong workshops as part of its programme of Chinese Singaporean culture.

Free weekly evening sessions at a community centre

A free, social riichi group open to all levels.

Casual riichi sessions; beginners taught

Casual riichi games at game shops and venues around Melbourne, with teaching available for newcomers.

Membership with coaching, workshops and study sessions

A state association offering coaching, workshops, study sessions and online game-log reviews for members.

Check meetup pages and community centres

Sydney's Chinese community associations, RSL and community clubs and online riichi communities are the best places to find tables.