About a year ago, I first met the Mahjongg Ladies at my favorite local pizza joint. They play every Monday, and since I frequent that place– sometimes eating lunch there three or more times in a week– I see them often. I chat with them briefly and then get on with whatever I’m doing, which is typically playing board games with a friend or two, or hanging out with Pepper.
Well, I didn’t have any board-gaming friends to join me today, so I sat down with the ladies and learned to play Mahjongg. The mechanics of the game are really quite simple, but they play “American” Mahjongg, which has about fifty different hands you need to know (some of which have multiple ways to make them). I’m pretty sure I spent most of the time staring at my cheat sheet, which is a list of all the hands, as I picked up and discarded tiles in a vain attempt to make a winning hand.
After getting walloped in three or four games, I finished with a glorious victory. The ladies were very gracious, and asked if I’d be back. Apparently this time it was free, but next time it’s for money. Yep, they play for quarters. I suppose if I get good enough, I can win pizza money off them and pay for my lunch every week…
