I found American Mahjong five years ago, when a friend waved me into an open seat "just for one game." I stayed the whole afternoon—and I really haven't left the table since. What started as a favor turned into a standing part of my week: the steady rhythm of building a hand, reading the discards, planning a few moves ahead, all wrapped in the kind of conversation and laughter that makes an afternoon disappear. Five years in, I still light up when a hand I've been quietly working toward finally comes together.
These days I'm one of the people who tries to make new players feel like they belong, because I remember exactly what it's like to sit down unsure of the rules. So if you're nervous about a first lesson, my advice is simple: come anyway—nobody remembers who won their first game, they just remember that you showed up. Whether I'm driving in from Loveland or meeting people from all over Fort Collins, what keeps me coming back is the feeling that there's always room at the table, and that everyone who pulls up a chair is treated like they've been part of it all along.
The best player stories sound like the people telling them.
A friend invited me to fill an empty seat at her table about five years ago. I told her I'd only stay for one game so I didn't hold everybody up—and then I didn't leave. I drove home to Loveland that night already thinking about the next one.
It's the mix of quiet strategy and loud laughter. You're reading the wall, watching discards, planning three moves ahead—and at the same time you're catching up on everyone's week. Five years in, I still get a little thrill when a hand I've been building finally comes together.
How welcoming everyone was. I expected to feel behind, and instead people were rooting for me to pick it up. I also didn't expect how much the card changes the game every year—just when you think you know it, there's a whole new set of hands to fall in love with.
Come anyway. Nobody at the table remembers who won their first game—they remember that you showed up. You don't need to memorize anything beforehand. Bring your curiosity and let the rest happen.
It feels like being let in on something. Whether I'm coming from Loveland or meeting people from all over Fort Collins, the table treats you like you've always had a seat there. That's rare, and it's why I keep coming back.
Start with a beginner lesson, or find your next Fort Collins game.