Introduction to Taiwanese Mahjong (FREE, registration required)

Name: Introduction to Taiwanese Mahjong (FREE, registration required)
Start: 2025-09-10T18:30:00-04:00
End: 2025-09-10T20:30:00-04:00
Location: Watertown Free Public Library

Schedule

Wed Sep 10 2025 at 06:30 pm to 08:30 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Watertown Free Public Library | Watertown, MA

The Chinese American Association of Watertown invites you to learn Taiwanese Mahjong – a tile-based game of skill, strategy, and luck that is quite different from the tile matching game you may have encountered in computer games. Instead, 4 players gather around a table and compete to outwit their opponents and be the first to make a winning hand of 17 tiles.
If you are already familiar with Chinese Mahjong (144 tiles), you may or may not be playing the version taught at this event! Taiwanese Mahjong differs from American Mahjong (166 tiles) and does not use jokers or wilds. It is also distinct from Hong Kong style Mahjong that uses 13 tiles as base and wins with 14 tiles. Scoring, therefore, also differs from Hong Kong style.
A favorite pastime of many, we will learn the basics of the game by playing a demonstration hand where each player's titles are revealed (face up) and discuss strategy when deciding whether to pick up or discard tiles. The tiles we will use will have numbers carved into the corner so you do not need to know how to read Chinese characters to play!
Since 4 players are required for each table, this session can guarantee the first 12 players a seat at the table. Waitlisted attendees are welcome to come watch the demonstration and learn even if no seat is available.
The Chinese American Association of Watertown is a newly formed cultural group dedicated to fostering cultural unity, community empowerment, and social integration for individuals of Chinese heritage in the Watertown area.
Note: Chinese Mahjong is a game of patterns and strategy and requires quick thinking, motor dexterity, and arm reach for drawing and discarding physical tiles on a square table. This session is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Registration opens August 20, 9 AM.