Let’s Get Your Hands In Some
Tiles.
Private + Group Lessons
PRIVATE LESSON
1 Player
2 Hours
$150/Person
SEMI-PRIVATE LESSON
2 Players
2 Hours
$100/Person
TABLE LESSON
3-4 Players
2 Hours
$75/Person
GROUP LESSON
5-8 Players
2 Hours
$60/Person
Mahjong 101
This lesson is for first-time players or those who haven’t shuffled in for a while. Players who are already familiar with game setup and who are competent at recognizing tiles and reading the NMJL Card, should book Handsy Mahjong’s Mahjong 102 lesson.
Ready to finally understand what every it-girl (and her mom) is getting so excited about? Come and get the tea on your favorite new ladies’ night, beach day, game day—any day—social ritual. In Handsy Mahjong’s Mahjong 101 lesson, we’ll take you from “Wait… what’s happening?” to “Wait…one more game!” This isn’t your bubbe’s hushed card table (though we love her). It’s lively, a little cheeky, and designed to get you confidently in the game—fast. In this introductory course you’ll learn how to:
Identify all 152 tiles;
Decipher the language of the NMJL Card;
Set up gameplay and deal tiles with ease;
Understand the movements of the Charleston;
Identify compatible winning hands;
Confidently move through gameplay; and
Feel the rhythm, flow, and the intoxicating click-clack momentum of real play.
By the end of Handsy’ Mahjong’s Mahjong 101 lesson, you won’t just know Mahjong—you’ll feel it. The pace. The patterns. The thrill of a hand coming together.
Mahjong 102
This lesson is for players who already have an understanding of the basic rules of play, who recognize the tiles and are able to read the NMJL Card, and are able to navigate the Charleston. Players requiring a review of any of these aspects of play should book Handsy Mahjong’s Mahjong 101 lesson.
Okay. You’ve got the basics and you’re hooked! You’ve recently completed Handsy Mahjong’s Mahjong 101 lesson and you are itching to get to the table and start cultivating fluidity and strategy in your game. Here is where we start to do that—practice and strategy are what this lesson is all about. In this intermediate course, you will:
Nail the mechanics of the Charleston;
Begin to utilize pattern recognition;
Begin to integrate tile selection strategy;
Begin to integrate hand selection strategy; and
Engage in guided play of at least two games.
We will start demystifying the most complex aspects of the game. By the end of Handsy Mahjong’s Mahjong 102 lesson, you will feel more confident in knowing when to hold ‘em and when to throw ’em. No panic-passing here!
Mahjong 103
This lesson is for players who are comfortable with independent play but are seeking guidance in gameplay strategy and decision-making, or reinforcement of other areas of play. Players requiring a review of any of these aspects of play should book Handsy Mahjong’s Mahjong 101 lesson.
Practice makes progress!
Playing more Mahjong will create muscle memory, will deepen knowledge of the NMJL Card, and will reinforce rules and patterns, making them second-nature over time. Pattern recognition is everything in this game and the more you see the more you recognize.
Handsy Mahjong’s Mahjong 103 lesson aims to fortify what was covered in Mahjong 101 + 102, primarily through guided play. However, players may elect to focus this lesson on any particular aspect of gameplay, or may simply elect sideline guidance as they move through independent games. Additionally, though not an aspect of official NMJL Rules or League play, instruction may be given—at the player’s election—on how to play with blanks, according to the most common “house rules” or “table rules,” and strategy relating to blanks.
The BIG Card
This is a guided play session exploring The Big Card 2026—an exciting alternative (or addition!) to the NMJL Card, while still playing by NMJL Rules. This session is for players familiar with the game and capable of independent play. This session is for groups of four or more players only.
The rumors are true. The Big Card is here and it came to play!
The leading ladies over at the The Mahjong Line teamed up with the developers of the online Mahjong gaming platform, I Love Mahj, along with a host of other Mahjong experts, to create The Big Card—a rigorously tested collection of playing hands, scientifically shown to bring big surprises, big challenges, and big wins! The Big Card gives more, in every way.
It’s big.
It’s fun.
It’s beginner-friendly.
It’s accessible.
It’s philanthropic (30% of card sales are donated to charities!).
It’s research-backed.
(And..it’s just really pretty!)
Come and explore The Big Card in this two hour session of guided play and strategy discussion.
Learning Series
BEGINNERS GROUP SERIES
4 Players
4 Sessions
2 Hours Per Session
$300/Person
LIL’ MAHJ MOB
2-4 Players
4 Sessions
1.5 Hours per Session
$240/Person
Beginners Group Series
This is a series of 4 lessons for first time players, including: Handsy Mahjong’s Mahjong 101, Mahjong 102, and Mahjong 103, along with a guided play session for review and further instruction. Must have a four person group.
Let’s get into it! Take the dive with this four class series, which covers Handsy Mahjong’s Mahjong 101, Mahjong 102, and Mahjong 103 classes, as well as continued review and a guided play session. This series will get you firmly on your way to your local open play events and independent Mahj nights with your friends!
This series does require a four-class commitment from all four players in your group.
Lil’ Mahj Series
This is a series of 4 lessons is for players aged 12 and under. We do not have a minimum age requirement, but parents/caregivers are encouraged to consider whether their child is ready for complex gaming concepts and structured 1.5 hour lessons. Please note that a responsible adult is required to be present for the duration of each lesson.
Do you have kiddos who are lusting after your tiles, love a challenge, or just want to get in on the fun? Or, maybe you’re looking to get your mini-me mahjing, so you can get more practice in at home? (So were we!)
We’ve got the answer—Handsy Mahjong’s Lil’ Mahj Mob Series! With the Lil’ Mahj Card, developed by The Mahjong Line, we have taught kids as young as five years-old how to get in the game. Kids learn differently. Instruction in this series moves at a slower pace and the approach is different. Our aim is to have these younger players able to shuffle in with mom and aunties by the end of the fourth session.
After-School Enrichment Programming
Think young kids can’t grasp and love Mahjong? Think again! We’ve taught children as young as five years-old how to play American Mahjong on the NMJL Card–and they routinely beat their parents at the game!
On its surface, American Mahjong is a fun and deeply social strategy game. But, hidden among its engaging mechanics and the lively aesthetics of the game, Mahjong is also an extraordinary exercise in focus, strategy, pattern recognition, memory, people reading, and critical observation and thinking. WOW–right!? What a perfect children’s skill-building tool. We think so too! Beyond this, Mahjong demands engagement, respect for rules, and both game and social etiquette. Kindness + Fun–in a pile of tiles.
From a kid’s perspective, Mahjong is great because it feeds a need for social interaction and engagement, the game changes with every deal, you get to be a little bit sneaky (we call it “strategic”), and the suspense of not knowing what’s on that next tile is just SO exciting! (Pleeeeease be a Joker!)
Whether you’re looking to develop certain skills, expose your child to new challenges, or you’re just looking to have a Mahjong partner in your home, we can help!
Mahj Mob
Developed for elementary-aged children, this multi-week introductory series steadily walks kids through the game of American Mahjong, one concept at a time: the tiles, the playing card, game setup, the deal, the Charleston, and gameplay, all following standard National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) rules. Students will primarily engage with the NMJL rules and practices using the Lil’ Mahj playing card, developed by The Mahjong Line, but they will also reference and play using the official 2026 NMJL Card. We must emphasize that Mahj Mob students will not complete this series with comprehensive knowledge of all official NMJL rules. This program is intended to provide students with basic knowledge of the game’s mechanics and early strategy considerations.
Parents
Many of the covered concepts are complex and new players (young and old!) will experience frustration and disappointment during the learning process. Though generally aimed at children aged 7-12, we defer to parental judgment as to whether this program is appropriate for your child. Due to the sequential nature of the lesson plans, we are unable to offer refunds once classes have begun.
ASE Coordinators
We are pleased to offer on campus after-school enrichment classes to students of all ages at schools across the Santa Barbara region. Please contact us for more information.
Events
that you
will cancel other plans for.
LEARNING EVENTS
Looking for a party activity or team-building experience that’s a little unexpected—and a lot of fun? Mahjong learning events will give new life to your living room, common room, or boardroom, with laughter, camaraderie, and maybe even some friendly, competitive smack talk (depending on the crowd). Attendees will learn the basics of American Mahjong, working both individually and in small groups to achieve the highly-coveted first Mahjong!
Two to two and a half hour long learning events are available for groups of 9-12 players, in the Santa Barbara area, at a flat rate of $550. For larger groups, please contact us via email.
SOCIAL EVENTS
Visit www.RivieraMahjSociety.com to learn about regular social play and learning events across the Santa Barbara region. For more info contact Riviera Mahj Society via email.
