If you haven’t heard about Mahjong yet, I have a feeling you will soon! Played with just four people, but bringing in 8-12 people a day, this game of skill and chance has been steadily gaining more and more members at Mid-County and now has four time slots a week in The Garden Room: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 12pm-3pm.

What is Mahjong?

Each player has “The Card” placed in front of them, which outlines the winning combinations for that specific year. One thing that sets Mahjong apart is that “The Card” is updated every year, creating a sense of novelty and challenge for even experienced players. Lan Yong, a member since 2021, says “The Unknown” is one of her favorite parts of the game, and that even though she plays most days at Mid-County, she enjoys that “You never know what you’re gonna get” or who will be playing at the table with you. That versatility makes the game fun and always challenging.

The aim is to be the first to finish one of the long combinations outlined on “The Card” and while it may take a few times observing to fully grasp, the structured approach and rituals of the game can be picked up quickly with a good teacher.

What are the benefits of Mahjong?

Mahjong may be a seated game, but players experience many health benefits from the mental workout. Using the same brain power as a game like chess, the ability to solve, respond to other players, and recall keeps your brain healthy. In fact, a 2024 review in The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease confirms that regular Mahjong players demonstrated “improved memory, cognitive flexibility, and slower rates of cognitive decline.” It was found that in the short term, playing Mahjong is associated with better hand-eye coordination, and in long term, reduces your risk of cognitive impairment or dementia. Even better? You don’t have to play every day to reap the benefits – findings show these health benefits are present in individuals who play at least once a month!

Another benefit of Mahjong is the social aspect – especially at Mid-County Center! “I have built so many strong friendships” says Pat Fullerton, member since 2023. As a bonus, their friendships extend outside of Mid-County as well! Just this past November, regular player Kathy Zdrojewski had gathered some of the members to create a “Mid-County Center Tree” to support Delaware Hospice. In support, many of the Mahjong crew drove together to the event! Lan credits the people specifically at Mid-County has one of her reasons for coming, “There are a lot of other senior centers that offer Mahjong, but not all of them have these connections or are as welcoming to new players.”

Can I play at Mid-County without any experience?

Yes! This welcoming group is always excited to teach new players, and have even dedicated Fridays 12-3 as their “Beginner” day where new players can either play alongside an experienced player or even have a table just for newer players learning together with an experienced member. Whether you’ve been playing online and want to take the jump, never played before, or played decades ago and want to restart “You can always pick it up, no matter where you started”, says Marsha Orlov. Many credit member Judy Katz – who has become a beloved designated teacher of the game at Mid-County and over 30 years of expertise – with teaching them. Her patience and kindness is something that has brought many new players returning regularly. Many have mentioned, “Looking at the game, I never thought I would be playing!” but their confidence grows over time with this supportive group.

To learn more, come by the Garden Room Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 12-3pm to join in!