"What Style of Mahjong Should I Learn First?"
What Style of Mahjong Should I Learn First?
Short answer: Hong Kong style.
Longer answer: There’s no such thing as “just mahjong.” There’s Hong Kong, Japanese Riichi, Filipino, Chinese Classical, American, MCR... and the list keeps going.
So if you're wondering where to start — or how to switch — here's the breakdown.
Hong Kong Style: The Starting Point We Recommend
If you’re new to the game entirely, Hong Kong style is where we suggest starting.
- It’s the most popular variant to play no matter what group you encounter
- It teaches you the fundamental concepts that exist across most versions
- It’s the style we use for most of our tables and lessons
- And best of all, you’ll actually get to play at the table, not just sit through a PowerPoint
In our Hong Kong Beginner class, you’ll cover:
- Tile types
- Basic game flow
- Building your first legal winning hand (the famous “chicken hand”)
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Real hands-on gameplay with live feedback
Once you’ve got that down, you can move on to Hong Kong Advanced, where we get into:
- Scoring using “faan” points
- Smarter hand-building
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And some light etiquette so you don’t offend anyone's ancestors
Want to improve without feeling like you’re in class? That’s what our Guided Play sessions are for — think of them as open play with a built-in coach.
Japanese Riichi: For the Strategist (or the Anime Nerd)
If Hong Kong is clean and straightforward, Riichi is moody and dramatic — the kind of game where a single discard can flip everything. It’s the version featured in anime like Akagi and Saki, or games like Yakuza Games and Final Fantasy.
Our five-session Riichi course covers:
- How it’s different from Hong Kong
- All 30+ yaku (winning hands)
- Scoring breakdowns: han, fu, penalties, and all that fun stuff
- Table etiquette
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Real games with real feedback
Note: You’ll need to take the Hong Kong Beginner class first, just so you have a solid foundation.
Filipino Mahjong: Fast, Fun, No Math
Want something casual and fast-paced? Filipino mahjong is the easiest of the bunch to learn and great for friend groups who want to play without studying.
We teach it by request for groups of 3 or more. (Weeknight availability only.)
American Mahjong: Very Popular, Very Different
If you’ve heard about mahjong through a book club or your stylish aunt who plays in Buckhead, odds are she’s playing American-style.
- It uses jokers and a National Mah Jongg League card
- The mechanics are different — more structured and less about reading the table
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It’s especially popular in Atlanta, and growing fast
We don’t teach American-style in-house — but we proudly refer players to our friend Shawn, who does. If you're looking for American-style lessons, she's our go-to. Just ask us and we’ll point you in the right direction.
And if you're coming from American-style and want to try something new? This guide still applies. Starting with Hong Kong gives you a great foundation to branch out into Asian formats.
TL;DR
If you're...
Brand new to mahjong ----> Hong Kong Beginner
Already played a little ----> Hong Kong Advanced
Want to practice with help ----> Guided Play – Hong Kong
Want something fast and casual ----> Filipino Mahjong
A big fan of anime/game strategy ----> Japanese Riichi
Coming from American-style ----> Start with Hong Kong Beginner
Looking to learn American-style ----> Ask us about Shawn’s classes
Still not sure? Drop us a message or come by the studio. We’ll help you find the right fit — or at least teach you what a chicken hand is before you go.
