Organize Your Playgroup

Play with a goal to meet the world! Start playing mahjong by the International Mahjong Rules today and soon you'll find yourself the ability of meeting players around the world with the same understanding of rules and every aspect of the game!

Organize your playgroup from within your own proximity, ask your relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbours and anyone you know if they would like to form a mahjong group and play regularly (or occasionally). Use the ready-to-use "Info Sheet #2" as your invitation for them to join and as a guideline how they could view and download the IMJ Rules from this site - Visit "Online Resources" section to view these files. Use your existing mahjong facilities if you have, or that available from the public, and start having fun!

The following are some suggestions on how you could organize your games:

Equipment And Facilities Of Your Own

1. The following items are necessary to start your mahjong group:
   • Mahjong set (set of 144 pieces, inclusive of 8 Flowers);
   • Game table;
   • Chips: 10 x green (10 scores each), 9 x red (100 scores each), 9 x yellow (1000 scores each) and 2 x purple (5000 scores each), for a total of 20,000 scores per player, x 4 players;
   • Printed copy of IMJ Rules for handy reference among players;
   • Record of events and scores; Record of expenses and contributions (where applicable).
2. Equip yourself at your own costs and keep all facilities to yourself forever, OR discuss with your group members to see if they'd like to share the costs for all equipment and facilities.
3. Decide on some "group rules":
   • How often shall the group meet?
   • Where to meet?
   • How costs/expenses are shared?
   • How and by whom shall the records of accounts be kept?
   • (Hints: Meet once a week or once a month. Choose the home of members, in turn, for the gatherings. Play 3~4 hours in a no-work afternoon then eat out after the event! Each player (and visitor as well) pays a sum to cover costs/expenses of all refreshments and the dinner. Set a prize: The player who gets the highest scores in the event gets his share back. Keep the balance for the next event!)

Play At Public Facilities

1. If allowed by laws, many Chinese restaurants in your local area may offer "special packages" that allow your group to play mahjong in the restaurant and have dinner after the game, as long as your game does not involve gambling. The restaurants will provide you with mahjong facilities (tiles, chips, game table with table lighting), and tea and food may also be served. After the game you shall have dinner in the restaurant. Call your local Chinese restaurants and find out if they offer this type of "special packages" and how much they charge it for.
2. Your group of four players may play mahjong in the restaurant and save the cost for the facilities. Try several restaurants first and eventually choose a good restaurant you are satisfied with (service and food quality, etc) and use the restaurant as the place for your regular gatherings.
3. Members to fill one or two tables may join. Friends can also join the meeting and watch the game only without playing. Finally, those who stay and have the dinner shall share the costs.
4. Play 3~4 hours in a no-work afternoon and gather as often as possible! Each player (and visitor as well) pays a sum to cover costs/expenses of all snacks and the dinner. Set a prize: The player who gets the highest scores in the event eats free!