Sarah Griesbach 
Many people might associate the game of Mah Jongg with older generations, but younger players, who have no history with the complex game of tiles, luck, and concentration, are racking their tiles too. Mah Jongg is definitely having a moment, and teachers of the game can attest. American Mah Jongg has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years with new interest among a broader audience. Read on to learn all about the history + the current local landscape of American Mah Jongg, as well as where to play it in Hoboken and Jersey City.
Two Traditions, Two Ways to Play
The first thing new Mah Jongg players learn is that American Mah Jongg differs significantly from the traditional Chinese version of Mah Jongg. The American version uses a card with specific hands and National Mah Jongg League scoring rules. Each player must purchase a Mah Jongg card to win hands annually and participate in games. The Chinese version has a complex set of rules and a scoring system that is consistent and does not require adopting new scoring criteria each year. The traditional game is played with a set of 144 tiles based on Chinese characters and symbols, while American sets add special joker tiles to the mix.
Photo Credit: Anel Laurens
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Mah Jongg was developed in China in the 19th century, where it was originally called Máquè, meaning sparrow, due to the clacking sound made by the tiles during shuffling. The traditional form of the game is played widely throughout China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. There are variations of the game within this traditional format: Cantonese style is regarded as the easiest for beginners, while Taiwanese style is more complicated. The traditional game gained popularity within Chinese-American communities in the 1920s, particularly in San Francisco and New York.
Photo Credit: Anel Laurens
The game of American Mah Jongg was born in 1923 when Joseph Park Babcock, a representative of Standard Oil in Shanghai, included a publication of new, simpler rules in sets that he imported into the US. Those rules morphed further toward a unique game variant when, in 1935, a group of Jewish women met in New York City and formed the National Mah Jongg League and published its first volume of “Official American Rules.” Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, American Mah Jongg was largely spread through Jewish women’s networks, becoming associated with leisure activities in vacation spots like the Catskills. In 1951, Dorothy Meyerson, one of the founders of the League, even hosted a television program to explain the game and boost its popularity.
How to Play
A typical game requires four players, though three-player variations are possible. Only one member of the group needs a Mah Jongg set. American Mah Jongg and Chinese Mah Jongg sets are not interchangeable. American Mah Jongg players need to each have a copy of the same year’s rules and hand cards to play together. Even experienced players run into questions about what to do if the play gets complicated. The National League provides a dedicated hotline with experts ready to resolve those sticky issues.
Photo Credit: Anel Laurens
Most of the online gaming apps that have Mah Jongg in their titles are actually versions of concentration or tile matching. So, you shouldn’t rely on those for instruction. There are apps available to practice a real game online. Two recommended platforms are Myjongg.net and RealMahjongg.com. But the best way to learn the game is with other people.
Opportunities to learn are abundant at the moment. Tiles are clack-clacking all around New Jersey, as new groups form in libraries, community centers, game cafes, and at brunch tables. Meetup groups exist for players of Chinese Mah Jongg and American Mah Jongg, as do clubs and tournaments. Super players might even enter weekend travel tournaments with ticketed entry and cash prizes.
Where to Play Mah Jongg in Hoboken + Jersey City
Hoboken Public Library | 500 Park Avenue, Hoboken
The American Mahjong Club meets at the Hoboken Public Library and hosts a bi-weekly session on Tuesdays from 2PM to 4:30PM. These sessions are geared towards adults ages 18 and older.
Play! Hoboken | 1012 Grand Street, 3rd Floor, Hoboken
Play! Hoboken boasts pool tables, ping pong tables, air hockey, arcade games, and, of course, Mah Jongg. Locals can meet up and play “Hong Kong Mahjong” at this spot. Play! Hoboken hosts various sessions throughout the year. For upcoming events, see here.
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MOJO Coffee Company | 230 Willow Avenue + 801 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken + 159 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
Coffee drinks and sweet treats aren’t the only things found at MOJO. The coffee shop has occasionally hosted Mah Jongg meet-ups for both beginners and those at an intermediate level. For any future events, visit the spot’s Instagram.
