While teaching a class, Katie Duffy, founder of the KC Mahjong Club, watched one of her students carefully study her tiles before jumping up to blurt out a triumphant cry of “Mahjong!” The woman then did a little celebratory dance around the table as the rest of the players erupted in laughter, their loss quickly forgotten.
The word that echoed through the room—Mahjong—is also the name of the game, and the laughter that followed captures its true draw: friendship and connection.
“I lived in Kansas City almost 40 years, and it’s very easy to become isolated in your small world,” says Duffy. “This has opened a whole new world for me.”
The game originated in 19th-century China before arriving in the United States in the 1920s, where it became a popular pastime for wealthy women. Now experiencing a resurgence across the country, Mahjong groups, parties, open play nights and classes have become a frequent sight in KC.
The most widely played version in KC is American Mahjong, which requires four players and a set of 144 tiles marked with Chinese characters and symbols. Players take turns drawing and discarding tiles to build a 14-tile hand of matching pairs and sets. To win, a player’s hand must match one of the National Mah Jonngg League’s cards, which list all permissible winning combinations and change each year. The first player to complete a winning hand yells out “Mahjong!’”to signal their victory.
The game shares similarities with rummy-style games like Rummikub, Gin Rummy and Canasta, but strategy is only part of the appeal. What keeps players coming back to the table is the social experience.
“I really think why Mahjong is so popular boils down to community, fellowship and meeting new people,” Duffy says. “I just think it’s a way for people to connect in a fun, organized way.”
That social element has fueled the growth of KC’s Mahjong community, luring players who are looking to make new friends, reconnect with old ones or simply pick up a hobby. The game is proving to have a multi-generational draw, with most classes attracting young adults through retirees. Duffy recently taught her youngest student, a 9-year-old.
Other factors that may have contributed to the game’s recent popularity include the accessibility of online Mahjong and its cameo in films like Crazy Rich Asians.
Understanding the strategy and lingo of Mahjong takes time, which has created a steady demand for teachers.
Duffy has become one of the city’s leading instructors since her start in 2020. She partners with local businesses such as Olive Tree and Blair and Blythe to host group lessons and open play while also organizing private group sessions for those who want to learn with friends.
But she is far from the only one. Other local teachers run classes in community centers, cafes, small businesses and from their homes, and groups organize social games that bring together both longtime friends and newcomers.
“I hear of people wanting to learn, so there are new teachers all the time,” Duffy says. “I’m just one of many in town, and it always amazes me that there are new people wanting to play.”
With a simple online search, everyone can find their place to play. And with so many options available, Mahjong’s resurgence in KC shows no signs of slowing.
Where to play
Check out these open play sessions and lessons
Kansas City Riichi Mahjong Club
Meets every Thursday from 6–9 pm at Cardboard Corner Cafe inside Lenexa Public Market. kcriichi.com.
Johnson County Parks and Recreation
Offers introductory classes for those over 50 on the first Monday of each month from 10 am–12 pm. jcprd.com.
Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City
Hosts Mahjong lessons for those over 55 on Wednesdays at 12:30 pm. thejkc.org.
KC Mahjong Club at Olive Tree
Hosts “Learn to Play” sessions the second Tuesday of the month and “Guided Play” the last Tuesday of the month, both from 6–8 pm. mahjongclubkc.com.
KC Mahjong at Blair and Blythe
Offers “Moonlight Mahjong” the first Tuesday of the month from 6–8 pm. mahjongclubkc.com.
The Bam Bam Room
The metro’s first Mahjong only club. Open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. thebambamroomkc.com.
