The ugly truth about American Mahjongg

American Mahjongg is a knockoff of a Chinese original with ridiculous rules, branded associations and leagues, too many intense players and unqualified teachers selling overpriced lessons and fancy tiles. Yes, I said it.

American Mahjongg is a knockoff of Chinese mahjong

This tile game originated in the 1800s in China. Sometime in the 1920s, Joseph Babcock brought the tile game to the United States with a few “adaptations.”  

Through the years, table rules, different American names and even the spelling changed the game over and over again.

The National Mahjongg League

A group of American mahjongg players decided to standardize the game and for The National Mahjong League in 1937. As the self-appointed authority, the NMJL decided to issue an annual card, including the rules and the sequences needed to win the game.

The NMJL continued to make their own adaptations… which means they made up their own rules along the way. For example, jokers were added in the 1960s. They named themselves the official authority of mahjong including only using Babcock's trademarked spelling of mahjong with the “gg” at the end.

Unlike the rules that were always changing, the NMJL doesn’t really change. In fact, the website looks like it is from 1997 and you can still mail in a check to pay for your cards. You read that right- a real paper check.

Intense players

Repeat after me: Mahjong is a game.

If you have ever been to a library to play a game of tiles for three hours, you have seen these intense players in action. I’m talking about the player that has been playing since the beginning of time and doesn’t smile.

Rules Ruth refuses to play with modern tiles, insists that we use dice because she is worried Stealin’ Suzy is going to cheat, and doesn’t like chit chat.

There are even players that learned like yesterday that insist their teacher taught them the law and they are now tasked with enforcing it. If I hear “Well my teacher said..” one more time I am going to just flip the whole table over and walk out of the room like I’m a Real Housewife. Which brings me to my next point…

Unqualified teachers selling overpriced lessons and fancy tiles

Do you need a mahjong teacher? No. But you also didn’t need a kindergarten teacher to read. I taught my kids phonics during the pandemic and they can read just fine. Although I recommend a mahjong teacher to get started, there are a lot of bad teachers out there.

Beware of the teachers trying to sell packages of lessons and league membership before you have even finished the first Charleston. You need to know the basics, and then you need to practice online and in friendly free open plays.

If a teacher comes around with an order form or affiliate code, this is also a bad sign. It is essentially like the Tupperware or Mary Kay representative trying to close a deal at the end of the party. This is the worst when the teacher is someone you know. It really gives you the “ick” to see this.

The real surprise? I still love this game!

There are so many fun twists to the American versions of mahjong. I love the fun tiles, mats, tablescapes, cards and table rules.

I am looking for fun games. My purpose at the table is to challenge my brain, meet some new friends and have a few laughs. I personally don’t add blanks or extra jokers, but if I’m invited to a table offering mahjong mulligans, I’ll happily take a seat!

Love my hot take? Disagree with me? Tell me about it! Let's connect via email at missymahjong@gmail.com