The Lucky Sparrow

Girls night ❤️

Amidst the chaos of finalizing tournament plans last week, I stepped out to teach this lovely group how to play. We had to undo some table rules (no blanks allowed!) but it was such a fun evening. I’m going to pull up a chair, glass of wine, and just play next time!

Even if you don’t call Mahjong, you can still gain ground on the scoreboard at our tournament!

Players who are “one tile away” from a winning hand when the game ends receive a +2 point bonus. To claim these points, your hand must be verified and signed off by East at the end of the game.

When someone calls Mahjong, resist the urge to mash your tiles together; keep them on your rack so you can prove you were just one tile away from victory.

Where you put your tiles is just as important as which ones you play.

When you call a discard for an exposure, it must be placed on the flat part of your rack. If you accidentally place a called tile on the sloped part—where your hidden hand lives—your hand can be declared dead for the remainder of the game.

Developing the muscle memory to always use the flat top for exposures will protect your hand from being disqualified.

In the heat of the game, don’t forget to speak up!

You must verbally call for any discarded tile you wish to claim for an exposure or Mahjong. Clear communication keeps the game fair for everyone and prevents confusion at the table, especially when multiple people may be eyeing the same discard.

In our format, the first Charleston is required, but the second is entirely optional. While the second round can help you build a stronger hand, remember that it also eats into your 60-minute round time. BUT a better-built hand at the beginning can make for a faster win overall.

If your initial tiles are strong, consider skipping the second Charleston to get to the “pick-and-discard” phase faster. Evaluate the trade-off between hand development and the clock for every game!

We are officially using the 2026 NMJL Card for this event!

Every player needs to have a valid card present and on display throughout all three rounds of the tournament. While we hope everyone receives theirs in time, please reach out if you haven’t yet received yours - a limited amount is available through The Lucky Sparrow. Familiarizing yourself with the new hand patterns now will prevent game hesitation and lead to tournament confidence!

Time management is the secret to a successful tournament!

Each round at our upcoming mahjong tournament consists of four games that must be completed within a 60-minute window. This timeframe includes everything from washing and shuffling tiles to the final discard of the fourth game (but not the wall setup for the first game!).

If the timer sounds and a game is still in progress, that game is considered incomplete, and all players at the table will receive zero points for it. Focusing on quick decision-making ensures your table finishes on time and stays in the running for the leaderboard.

More tips to come as we count down the days to the tournament! If you’re not registered yet, now is the time!! Link in bio!

“Wait, did I really get Mahjong?!”

This group was a so much fun! The excitement was palpable - a few were neck and neck with getting their last tile for Mahj! Thanks for inviting me to come teach your group ❤️

Also, shout-out for the beautiful table setup!