About Us
Background and Approach
Hi, I'm Nicole Good, and I'm so glad you're here!
My Mahjong journey began just 10 months ago when a few of my pickleball girlfriends invited me to take a lesson at a local boutique. I had no idea then that one invitation would turn into a new passion — I was hooked almost immediately!
I've always loved playing games and grew up around the table playing cards with my family. Mahjong felt like a natural fit. I was looking for something fun that would challenge my brain and help keep my mental acuity sharp. I began reading about the cognitive benefits of mahjong and how organizations like the Alzheimer's Association highlight mentally engaging games as powerful support for long-term brain health. With a strong family history of memory loss, I was sold.
I love the strategy, the laughter, and most of all, the connections that happen around the Mahjong table. There's something special about bringing people together, learning from one another, sharing a few laughs, and enjoying a little friendly competition.
Mahjong has quickly become one of my favorite ways to connect with friends, meet new people, and keep my mind engaged. I created this Mahjong space to share that experience with others and build a fun, welcoming community where everyone can learn, play, and enjoy the game together.
If you are like me craving connection, laughter, and a place to gather, come grab a seat at the table — there's always room for one more!
History of Mahjong
By the early 20th century, Mahjong had become a beloved pastime, associated with family gatherings, social occasions, and celebrations.Mahjong holds a deep cultural value in Chinese communities around the world. It’s a symbol of tradition, connection, and mental agility. It's more than a pastime — it’s part of a shared heritage.
In the 1920s, Mahjong was introduced to the United States and quickly became a trend. Jewish-American communities, in particular, embraced the game, developing their own version with specific rules and a standardized
National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card updated each year in April.
While American Mahjong is distinct, it pays homage to its Chinese roots and has created a vibrant, intergenerational
community of players in its own right.
Mahjong literally translates from Chinese as “sparrow.”
The name reflects the chattering sound of the tiles when they are shuffled, which sounds like a flock of birds, or honors the bird designs found on traditional game pieces.
Mahjong is a tile-based game that originated in China during the Qing Dynasty, likely in the mid-to-late 1800s. Its exact origins are somewhat mysterious, with various theories suggesting it evolved from earlier card or domino games played in Chinese court and society.
It's a sneaky-good homeschool subject
A veteran fourth-grade teacher in Chicago now teaches math through Mahjong, using it to cover evens and odds, addition and subtraction, sequencing, patterns, and organizing. Because the game scales, kids can start with simple number and pattern recognition and grow into strategic play as they get older — plus turn-taking, patience, and reading the table. One game set, a lot of subjects.
It's mindfulness that doesn't feel like mindfulness
You can't check your phone and pick up a tile at the same time. The game asks for sustained attention on one thing in the present moment, which is the same muscle meditation trains — just with more laughing.
The social part may matter as much as the strategy.
A 2024 review of more than 50 studies found that Mahjong, used as an intervention, was associated with improved general cognitive ability and short-term memory, as well as relief from depressive symptoms. Four people, one table, a couple of hours of real conversation — it turns out that's a big part of the benefit.
Your brain gets a full workout, not just a warm-up.
A single hand of Mahjong asks you to hold a plan in your head, track what everyone else is discarding, do quick math, and change course when the tile you needed disappears. In one study, older adults with mild cognitive impairment who played Mahjong three times a week for 12 weeks showed improvement in executive function — the mental skills we use to plan, organize, and follow through.
Fun Facts About Mahjong
Have Questions? We've Got Answers!