Hosting goes far beyond seasonal dinner parties. Game nights are a wonderful way to bring people together, create a sense of community, and give everyone something to look forward to. Founder Kelly Gaudreau has a personal connection to this kind of gathering. Her mother, Mary Ann, played a game of Mahjong with her community every single week, without fail.
That consistency was important. It was a standing date on the calendar, a familiar rhythm that brought the same group of people together week after week. It was about the game, of course, but it was also about friendship, conversation, and having a reason to gather. There was something special about knowing that every week you would find the same familiar faces.
There was such a focus on community back then, and Kelly wants to bring some of that feeling back. She is continuing the tradition with Mary Ann’s Mahjong Club, creating a place where people can come together regularly, learn the game, and enjoy the simple pleasure of gathering and playing an ancient game.
Inspired by tradition, friendship, and the kind of table people always came back to, Mary Ann’s Mahjong Club is a weekly membership experience at HOSTED.
If your interest is piqued, consider this your introduction to the timeless game.
What Is Mahjong and Why Is It So Special?
Mahjong is a tile-based game of skill, strategy, and luck that developed in China during the 19th century. Traditionally played by four people around a square table, the game combines thoughtful decision-making with an element of chance. Its tactile nature is part of the appeal: tiles are shuffled, drawn, arranged, and discarded.
Mahjong became popular in Asia before making its first major wave in America in the 1920s. It experienced another surge of popularity in the middle of the 20th century, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s. During this time, Mahjong became closely associated with social gatherings, particularly among women.
The game was often played as a way to bring friends together, and Mahjong sets became part of a growing culture around entertaining. Female-owned businesses sold tiles, cases, and accessories, including beautifully made and monogrammed Mahjong bags. The game developed its own traditions and language, but the social aspect remained at its heart.
Of course, anyone can play Mahjong. But there is a particular sense of sisterhood that has long surrounded the game, and that spirit is part of what makes it so special. It is a game you learn together, play together, and return to together. And perhaps that is why the game feels so relevant today.
Your Secret to Decoding the Mahjong Tiles
The first time you look at an American Mahjong set, 152 tiles can feel like a lot to take in. But once you know the families, the system starts to make sense.
There are three numbered suits: Bams, Craks, and Dots. Each suit runs from one through nine, with four of each number. Bams represent bamboo, Dots are circles, and Craks are the character tiles. If you are just starting out, think of these as the foundation of the set.
Then come the Winds: North, East, South, and West, with four of each. There are also three Dragons: Red, Green, and White. Each Dragon is associated with one of the numbered suits: Green with Bams, Red with Craks, and White with Dots.
Next are the Flowers. An American Mahjong set has eight of them, and the artwork can vary from one set to another. You may see flowers, seasons, or other decorative motifs.
And then there are the Jokers, perhaps the most recognizable feature of American Mahjong. There are eight in a standard set, and they can act as wild tiles in certain combinations.
Once you stop looking at the set as 152 individual tiles and start seeing these distinct families, it becomes much easier to understand. The tiles may look intricate, but there is a logic to them.
Like so much of entertaining, it is often easier once someone shows you where to begin.
How to Win
This is where the annual Mahjong card comes in.
In American Mahjong, players are not simply trying to collect any combination of tiles that looks promising. Instead, they are working toward one of the winning hands shown on the current card published by the National Mah Jongg League. Each line on the card represents a possible winning hand, and the groupings of numbers, suits, Winds, Dragons, Flowers, and Jokers tell you what you are trying to build.
At the beginning of a game, each player receives tiles and begins drawing and discarding as they work toward one of the hands on the card. Along the way, players read the table, watch what others are discarding, and adjust their strategy as their own tiles change.
The goal is to be the first player to complete a hand that matches one of the combinations on the card. When you do, you call “Mahjong!”
Sounds complicated? Don't worry. You will get the hang of it over time. The best way to understand Mahjong is to sit down, pick up the tiles, and start playing. After a few rounds, what first looked like a sea of symbols begins to feel much more familiar.
The Official Hosted Mahjong Cheat Sheet
We created our Mahjong Cheat Sheet to help you get a head start on your Mahjong journey. Think of it as your little table-side guide to the tiles, terms, and basics you will want to know before your first game.
Once you get the hang of the tiles, the card, and the rhythm of the game, everything starts to fall into place.
Why Is Mahjong Making a Comeback?
We’re not the only ones who have fallen in love with this classic gathering game.
Mahjong is having a huge comeback, and game nights are starting to skyrocket in popularity. Across the country, people are rediscovering the game and creating new communities around it.
People are clearly craving the things that Mahjong has always offered: connection, consistency, conversation, and a reason to put down the phone and sit around a table with other people. In a world where so much of our social interaction happens digitally, the simple act of sitting across from someone at a table feels meaningful.
And perhaps that is why Mahjong feels so relevant right now. It gives us a reason to gather, and sometimes, that is all the reason we need.
Ready to Learn? Start With a Lesson or Join the Club
If you’re new to Mahjong, lessons are a wonderful way to get comfortable with the tiles, strategies, and rhythm of the game. HOSTED offers private group lessons for four to five people, with expert instruction tailored to your level and a variety of days and times available.
Gather a group of friends and learn together, or if you’re an individual looking to join a group, let us know through our contact form and we’ll add you to our waitlist. We’ll be in touch when a group opens up.
Lessons take place at HOSTED by Kelly Gaudreau, our shop at 23 The Plaza in Locust Valley, NY. It’s a welcoming place to learn the game, ask questions, and get comfortable around the table before joining in for regular play.
Join Mary Ann's Mahjong Club up to two times per week. Membership includes:
• Weekly club nights every Thursday at HOSTED
• Priority access to special Mahjong events
• 15% off all Mahjong products
• A dedicated community of players
• A beautiful place to gather
• Mary Ann's Notes, our members-only newsletter
Whether you are already a seasoned player or have never held a Mahjong tile before, you are always welcome at the table.
