Colorful tiles, chic sets and themed cards: Mah Jongg carves out time with friends while inviting careful attention to the patterns before you. Though its roots date to 19th-century China, Mah Jongg is finding a modern resurgence throughout the United States. In Tampa Bay, the game is growing more popular through tournaments, classes and philanthropy.
Judy Serrapica and Bonnie Wise, who met playing Mah Jongg in Tampa, are the duo behind the nonprofit Dragons on the Green, which has welcomed more than 1,000 students from all walks of life to learn the game of skill and chance. The game is played with four people to a table, and American Mah Jongg in particular includes additional tiles like the joker and an annually shifting card of standard hands. No two games are the same, offering a screen-free way to escape daily demands while sharpening your mind and connecting with others.
Dragons on the Green hosts classes over four two-hour sessions at Shanna & Bryan Glazer JCC, helping beginners learn the rules, basic playing skills and etiquette of the game while allowing experienced players to refine their skills. The group also offers private classes to teach Mah Jongg in your home. While you would need to start with a table of four, you can expand to include as many tables as you want. Fees from tournaments and lessons support local charities such as Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Moffitt Cancer Center, Faces of Courage and more.
“Like any other game,” Wise said, “the more you play, the better you become.”
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