"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 regular table time 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.