The Journal
Notes from the table
Buying guides, beginner lessons, and editorial notes on the game we love — from heirloom sets to the rules that hold them together.
Buying Guide · 7 min
Where to Buy an Authentic Mahjong Set
The market is crowded. The honest sets are not. Here is how to tell them apart.
Learn · 9 min
How to Play Mahjong: A Beginner's Guide
Eight short steps from sitting down to calling mahjong. Everything else, you learn at the table.
Learn · 7 min
How Mahjong Is Played: Turn Order, Charleston, Winning
The rhythm of a round, in plain language — what happens, in what order, and why.
Buying Guide · 8 min
How to Choose a Mahjong Set: Tiles, Racks, Case
Three pieces decide whether a set becomes an heirloom. The tiles, the racks, and the case it travels in.
Learn · 7 min
Mahjong Tiles Explained: Suits, Honors, Flowers, Jokers
A walking tour of the 152 tiles in an American set, in the order you will meet them at the table.
Compared · 6 min
American vs Chinese Mahjong Tiles, Compared
Same heritage. Different tables. What changes between an American set and a Chinese one — and what to choose.
Tools · 7 min
The Best Apps to Learn Mahjong Strategy
Apps will not replace a real table, but a good one will get you to the table faster.
Buying Guide · 6 min
The Best Mahjong Set for Beginners
A first set should welcome you in, not test you. What to look for, and what to ignore.
Compared · 5 min
Mahjong Solitaire vs Real Mahjong: The Difference
They share the tiles. They share nothing else. A short clarification.
Play · 5 min
Where to Play Mahjong Online Free
Free, browser, no signup — and the catch with each one.
Play · 6 min
The Best Mahjong Video Games, Ranked
Six games that play actual four-player mahjong — and one that finally feels like the family table.
Play · 4 min
What Is Mahjong 247? And Better Alternatives
A short note on the site that owns the search box, and where to look once you're past it.