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Beginners' Workshop

Four mornings. You'll walk in knowing nothing and walk out playing a full game.

What you'll learn

DayTopicYou'll be able to
Day 1The Tiles and the ShapeName any tile, and build a pair, chow and pung
Day 2The Full Chinese GamePlay a complete hand and win one
Day 3Passport and GoulashRecognise a Passport and play through a Goulash
Day 4Indian PlayPlay a full session unaided

How we teach it

Tiles in your hands from the first ten minutes. You won't sit through a lecture. Every session is mostly playing, with explanation woven in as it becomes necessary.

Nothing is hidden on Day 1. Everyone's tiles stay face-up on the table, in full public view. You can see what everyone is doing, and so can we — which means help arrives before you get stuck, not after. (Day 2, the tiles go under cover. That's when it starts feeling like actual Mahjong.)

No scoring this week. Scoring is the thing that puts beginners off Mahjong, so we've left it out entirely — you'll learn hand shapes instead, no math required. Points, tallies and bragging rights are strictly an Advanced Workshop problem.

What's included