Philly's Mah-Jawn Mahjong Club takes the game to new levels

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- Thanks to movies like Crazy Rich Asians, video games like Final Fantasy XIV, and clubs like the Philly Mah-Jawn Mahjong Club, the centuries old tile-based strategy game Mahjong is rising in popularity.

At the Mah-Jawn clubhouse in Old City, they welcome members, veterans, newcomers, and players of all levels. They hold lessons and support club members on tournaments. Here, they play the Japanese variant riichi.

The club was founded in 2019. Mike Lee is the president and one of the original founders.

"My goal for this space is just for people to come and play Mahjong. We are lucky to have volunteers to help teach and help out. We have 15 to 20 members that meet weekly and brand new visitors being taught the game."

Mahjong originated in the 19th century in China. It is a game of skill, strategy and luck. Japanese Mahjong usually has 136 tiles, with 34 different kinds of tiles and four of each kind.

Leeya Davis of Queen Village stopped by the club one afternoon for a lesson. "The league games can get intense with how fast people go. I'm not going to lie. But it's a really fun group."

What does it take to get good? Leeya says, "Awareness. Keeping track of the discards and the hands that you can make. One word is complex from playing to scoring."

Mike Lee says the Japanese version is a bit more fun competitively. The automatic tables come straight from Japan.
"It's kind of drawn people in because it's kind of a foreign concept to Americans. A lot of Americans are poker, familiar with those kind of games, but it seemed like something that is intriguing at first. But once you start playing, it's not different than any other board game. It's something that you can either play with your friends, or just really sink your teeth into."

"I think it 's a great way to do something that doesn't require too much energy, doesn't require too much input. And it's just fun."

It's screen-free, strategic social fun from a centuries based tile game right in the heart of Philly.

Their clubhouse is located at 2nd and Chestnut Streets in Old City Philadelphia.

To get lessons or learn more about Mahjong, you can check out the club at https://www.phillymahjong.com.