"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”)
• Real hands-on gameplay with live feedback
  

Once you’ve got that down, you can move on to Hong Kong Strategy and Scoring, where we get into:

• Scoring using “faan” points
• Smarter hand-building
• 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
• 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
• 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 Strategy and Scoring

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.