The Beginner Bamboo League at The Bamboo Society. 

Beginner - newer to the game, but you know the rules & can make decisions in a timely manner

The goal of league is to provide a fun way to improve your game and meet other players in a relaxed, social atmosphere. While this is a competition, we hope all players will maintain a friendly and positive attitude and enjoy this league in the spirit it is intended!

Thursday evenings | 5:30–8:00 PM | 7-week season

Ready to build your mahjong confidence in a welcoming, social setting? The Bamboo Society Beginner Mahjong League is designed for newer players who want to learn, practice, and enjoy the game while becoming part of a friendly mahjong community.

This individual league combines guided learning with friendly competition. Each week begins with a short teaching focus before players settle in for four timed games. You’ll build your understanding of the Charleston, learn how to choose a hand, become more comfortable with exposures and jokers, and develop the confidence to read the table and make decisions during play.

Players remain at their assigned table for all four games each evening and rotate table groups from week to week. This gives you the opportunity to play with different members of the Bamboo Society community throughout the season.

The first six weeks are the regular season, with individual scores recorded on a weekly leaderboard. Week 7 is an individual tournament night where everyone plays four final scored games.

Beginner League details

• Seven-week season.

• Thursdays from 5:30–8:00 PM, beginning SEPTEMBER 24TH

• Weeks 1–6: regular-season play.

• Week 7: individual tournament.

• Four 30-minute games each week.
  

• Seven tables of four players.

• Individual registration and individual standings.

• Beginner-friendly instruction and weekly teaching focus.

• Season price: $195 for non-members and $145 for members.

Weekly teaching focuses

• Week 1: Charleston and tile organization.

• Week 2: Choosing a hand.

• Week 3: Exposures and jokers.

• Week 4: Reading the table.

• Week 5: Defensive play.

• Week 6: Tournament etiquette and confidence.

Who should join?

This league is a great fit for players who:

• Are learning American mahjong.

• Have completed lessons or played casually but want more practice.

• Want structured play without an intimidating atmosphere.

• Enjoy meeting new people while improving their game.

• Are ready to commit to all seven league nights.

Come learn the game, find your rhythm, and grow your confidence one hand at a time.

Ready to learn, practice, and play with confidence? Reserve your individual seat in The Bamboo Society Beginner Mahjong League and join us for seven Thursday evenings of instruction, friendly competition, and community.

How League Nights Work

Each league night follows the same schedule:

Players remain at the same assigned table for all four games that evening. Table assignments rotate each week so members have the opportunity to play with different people throughout the season.

Each game has a 30-minute limit. When time is called, players finish the hand currently in progress.

Registration and Attendance Rules

Individual registration

Each player purchases one individual seat for the complete seven-week season.

At registration, each player must provide:

• Full name.

• Email address and mobile number.
  

• Confirmation that they can attend all seven weeks.

• Name, phone number, and email address for one preferred alternate.

• Confirmation that you understand the attendance and substitute policy.

• Agreement to the league rules.

Attendance policy

Your league seat is reserved for the full seven-week season. Players are expected to attend every league night. If you are unable to attend, you are responsible for providing an approved alternate and notifying The Bamboo Society of your alternate.

An alternate may play in your assigned seat to keep tables full; however, alternate scores do not count toward the registered player’s individual league standing. The registered player receives zero points for the week missed.

Alternate rules

• Each player may name one preferred alternate during registration.

• The Bamboo Society may also maintain an alternate list of interested players.

• An alternate must be appropriate for the league level.

• An alternate may not be currently registered in the same league.

• Alternates play at no additional charge because the registered player has already paid for the season seat.

• The substitute’s score is recorded as SUB for that night.

• Alternate scores do not appear on the registered player’s individual leaderboard.

• If a player misses without an alternate or adequate notice, she receives zero points for that week.

• After a second unexcused absence, a player may lose her league seat or eligibility for future league participation.

The Bamboo Society may approve or decline an alternate to ensure that the player is appropriate for the league and that table play remains balanced.

Scoring and Standings

Individual scoring

All points belong to the individual player. There are no team scores.

For each game:

• A player who declares Mahjong earns the value printed on the current NMJL card.

• Add 10 points for a self-pick.

• Add 10 points for a no-joker hand, except for Singles & Pairs hands.

• A wall game earns zero points for all players.

• When the 30-minute time limit is reached, players finish the hand in progress.

At the end of each league night, each player’s points from all four games are added together for that week’s total.

Example weekly scorecard

Laura’s 90 points are added to her personal season total. After Week 6, each player’s individual scores are combined to create the regular-season leaderboard.

Regular-season ranking

Players are ranked using the following tiebreakers:

1. Total individual Mahjong points from Weeks 1–6.

2. Total number of Mahjongs declared.

3. Highest single-game score during the regular season.

4. Highest Week 6 score.

5. League director’s decision, only if needed.

Week 7 Tournament

Week 7 is an individual tournament night. Every registered player is eligible to participate.

Players are recognized for two primary honors:

• Regular-Season Champion: Highest cumulative individual score after Weeks 1–6.

• League Tournament Champion: Highest individual score during Week 7.

Tournament format

1. All players are seeded according to regular-season standings.

2. All tables are created using a balanced mix of high, middle, and lower seeds.

3. Players complete four scored games using the same scoring rules and 30-minute time limits.

4. Each player’s four tournament-game scores are added together.

5. The highest Week 7 total is named League Tournament Champion.

Tournament tiebreakers

If two or more players finish with the same tournament total:

1. Most Mahjongs declared during the tournament.

2. Highest single-game tournament score.

3. Higher regular-season seed.

League Member Expectations

The Bamboo Society leagues are intended to be competitive, social, and welcoming. Every member agrees to help create an environment where players can learn, improve, and enjoy the game.

Members are expected to:

• Arrive on time and be ready to play at 5:30 PM.

• Treat fellow players, staff, instructors, and guests with courtesy.

• Follow the published league format and scoring procedures.

• Keep accurate scorecards and confirm scores with the table before submission.

• Ask questions when a rule or procedure is unclear.

• Accept wins and losses graciously.

• Encourage newer players without coaching or criticizing during a hand.

• Avoid discussing another player’s strategy, tiles, or mistakes in a way that could make her uncomfortable.

• Keep phones silenced and limit phone use during games.

• Remain at the assigned table unless a staff member approves a change.

• Keep food and beverages away from tiles and equipment.

• Treat The Bamboo Society’s tables, tiles, racks, and supplies with care.

Rules questions and rulings

Players should raise questions before play begins whenever possible. During a game, the league director or designated league administrator may pause play to address a rules question.

The league director has final authority regarding:

• Rules interpretations.

• Scoring questions.

• Table assignments.

• Alternate approvals.

• Attendance records.

• Standings and tiebreakers.

• Administrative corrections.

If an error is discovered in scoring or recordkeeping, The Bamboo Society may correct the affected standings.

Conduct policy

The Bamboo Society does not permit harassment, intimidation, discriminatory behavior, repeated disruption, aggressive conduct, or disrespect toward another player, staff member, instructor, or guest.

Depending on the circumstances, a conduct violation may result in:

• A private conversation or warning.

• Removal from the evening’s play.

• Loss of league eligibility.

• Dismissal from the season without a refund.

• Restriction from future Bamboo Society events.

The goal is to preserve a league atmosphere that is gracious, enjoyable, and welcoming to everyone.