Sarasota - Mah Jong American Style

Rather, How America Ruined a Great Game
Jean and I were curious.  It simply didn't make sense what Dad was saying about the American version of Mah Jong.  We decided to try out his local parlor, which is in a strip mall a few miles away.  We went for a one hour lesson and received it from the owner herself.  Dad was right - the American game is loopy.

Rather than try to get hands of triples, pairs, melds, etc - in the American version there is a card showing you the possible hands.  Strange, senseless combinations like four 4's, four 6's two flowers, two dragons and two 3's.  The card of possible hands changes every year.  If you don't know these hands by heart, forget it.  You can study it and study it during the game but it's too late.

I wasn't close to making a hand once, not by a long shot.  I simply went through the motions once I learned how the game works.  On the bright side, the place doubled as a cafe, service Asian and Eastern European plates.

I had a really nice warm berry crumble which took the edge off of staring at this befuddling card.  "Why did the Americans do this to Mah Jong?" Jean asked.  There's no good answer, is there?  Arrogance?  Anti-Asian bias?  Dad thinks it's so they can sell these cards once a year at $7.50 a pop.  Maybe it's all three.