Zung Jung Movement

Club-in-a-Box

Introduction

Building a Mahjong club can be daunting! The Zung Jung Movement seeks to support Mahjong enthusiasts and the wider Mahjong community by publishing a guide on how to put together a well organized Mahjong club. This effort is inspired by the American Riichi Association’s Tournament-in-a-Box guide which the Zung Jung Movement recommends interested tournament organizers to read. The practices here are based off of the experiences organizing the San Diego Mahjong Club which, at time of writing, has been a successful club! This document will cover the four player archetypes, choosing a Mahjong variant, making your club discoverable, and structuring the club and organizing events. It is my genuine hope that this guide is helpful to Mahjong enthusiasts around the world!

— Nathanael J. Reynolds, Founder of the San Diego Mahjong Club and the Zung Jung Movement, March 11, 2026

Four player archetypes

There are really only four primary types of Mahjong players: social players, enthusiasts, competitive players, and gamblers. Each category reflects a different primary motivation for engaging with the game. Understanding these player types can help organizers think more clearly about the kind of club, community, or ecosystem they want to build.

This framework should be understood as a heuristic rather than a rigid classification system. In practice, many players occupy more than one category. A player may enjoy the social atmosphere of casual play while also studying strategy, or may participate in tournaments while occasionally playing for stakes. The categories therefore describe dominant motivations rather than mutually exclusive identities.

For organizers, the value of this framework lies in strategic clarity. Different player types tend to prefer different rulesets, event structures, and social environments. By identifying which population a club is best positioned to serve, organizers can make more deliberate decisions about formats, events, and organizational priorities.

Social Players

Social players approach Mahjong primarily as a social activity rather than a competitive or technical pursuit. The game serves as a setting for conversation, relaxation, building connections, and spending time with others. These players typically prefer familiar rules, low-pressure environments, and consistent groups of people. Their focus is not on optimizing strategy or mastering scoring systems, but on enjoying the experience of playing together.

Primary motivation: social interaction and relaxed play.

Typical characteristics:

  • enjoy the social atmosphere of the game
  • may play infrequently
  • often prefer familiar house rules
  • not strongly interested in studying strategy or tournament play

Enthusiasts

Enthusiasts are motivated by curiosity about the game itself. They tend to play frequently, explore different variants, and show interest in rules, history, and culture surrounding Mahjong. While competition is not necessarily their primary motivation, they are comfortable learning new systems and often enjoy teaching others and introducing people to Mahjong. Because of this openness, enthusiasts often become the core participants sustaining club activity. If you are reading this and interested in organizing a Mahjong club, you are likely an enthusiast!

Primary motivation: enjoyment of the game itself.

Typical characteristics:

  • enjoy playing frequently
  • curious about different Mahjong variants
  • willing to learn new rulesets
  • interested in the culture and history of the game
  • may transition into competitive play over time

Competitive Players

Competitive players are primarily motivated by skill development and structured play. They are interested in standardized rules, tournament environments, and measurable performance. These players often study strategy, track results, and seek opportunities to test their ability against strong opponents. For them, Mahjong functions as a sport comparable to Chess, competitive Poker, Go, Mario Kart, and Smash Bros.

Primary motivation: skill development and structured competition.

Typical characteristics:

  • prefer standardized rules
  • interested in tournament play
  • track performance and results
  • willing to study strategy

Gambling Players

Gambling players participate in Mahjong primarily because of financial stakes. The game serves as a vehicle for wagering rather than purely social or competitive play. These environments often emphasize faster gameplay, higher scoring volatility, and direct connections between points and monetary value. Such games frequently occur in private or informal settings rather than organized club environments.

Primary motivation: financial stakes.

Typical characteristics:

  • games involve money or other stakes
  • may prefer faster play and higher volatility
  • often play in private or informal environments

Choosing a variant

The Zung Jung Movement exists to promote the play and adoption of Zung Jung Mahjong. Naturally, we recommend that clubs adopt Zung Jung as their primary variant, regardless of the player archetype they serve. The Zung Jung Movement believes that Zung Jung is a robust system capable of supporting the needs of all of these different communities.

However, it would be irresponsible not to acknowledge that there are other formats around which a club could organize itself. The purpose of this section is to introduce clubs built around different player archetypes, and suggest variants well-suited to each type of club. These lists are not exhaustive or authoritative; they are merely suggestions intended to provide organizers with ideas.

Social Clubs

These clubs tend to emphasize the social experience of the game and are often very welcoming to new players. Because these clubs prioritize social interaction, it is generally not advisable to use rulesets such as Riichi Mahjong or Mahjong Competition Rules as the backbone of the club. While a skilled teacher can make a difference, the increased difficulty can reduce player retention and leave newer players with a bad taste in their mouths about the game.

Suggested variants to consider:

  • Zung Jung Mahjong v.3.3
  • Hong Kong Mahjong
  • Taiwanese Mahjong
  • Filipino Mahjong
  • Sichuan Bloody Mahjong
  • Your family’s house rules!

Enthusiast Clubs

Enthusiast clubs often have multiple Mahjong variants that they play within the club and the San Diego Mahjong Club is one such club. This approach has the advantage of having a simple Mahjong variant available for newer players, social players, etc. While having more complex or more difficult variants available to satisfy the needs and interests of more experienced or competitive players, or just having a variety of different Mahjong styles for players to try. San Diego Mahjong Club offers Zung Jung, Riichi, and Mahjong Competition Rules. The disadvantage of this club structure is that, with so many offerings, it increases the club’s logistical load, as it may need to offer different events for different variants, requiring greater organizer capacity.

Suggested variants to consider:

  • Zung Jung Mahjong v.3.3
  • Anything that is Mahjong

Competitive Clubs

Competitive clubs place strong emphasis on skill development and structured play. They often host tournaments and/or leagues and maintain leaderboards. These clubs benefit greatly from standardized or semi-standardized systems such as Zung Jung, Riichi, and Mahjong Competition Rules. Standardized formats are portable and members of these clubs can usually take the variant they play and sit down and play with players in other cities or countries with little friction. However, competitive clubs may be more difficult for newer players to enter due to higher barriers to entry in the format played, and may not emphasize the social aspects of the game.

Suggested variants to consider:

  • Zung Jung Mahjong v.3.3 with ZJM Competition Rules
  • Riichi Mahjong
  • Mahjong Competition Rules (International Mahjong)

Gambling Clubs

Games can be fast-paced, exciting, and emotionally intense because real stakes are involved. For some players, the possibility of winning money adds an additional layer of thrill to the game. The same financial stakes that create excitement also introduce risk. Players can lose money, sometimes quickly. New players may be at a disadvantage in these environments, and in some cases gambling groups may operate in informal or legally ambiguous settings that carry additional risks.

Suggested variants to consider:

Making you club discoverable

Before you can host events, you will need players—four of them, including yourself. This section covers how to make your club easily discoverable so that interested players can find it, and your club can find them. The advice in this section is for people looking to start public clubs, not for those trying to start a club for their immediate social circle.

Naming your club

Any resemblance to any existing club’s name in this section is purely coincidental and not meant to insult any existing club. The advice contained in this section is purely based on San Diego Mahjong Club’s experience for how to increase visibility for a Mahjong club.

Naming your club is a strategic choice. It may be fun to give your club a creative name such as The Joy Luck Club or Lion Dancers Tile Club, and this is generally acceptable if your club is designed to just be a fun gathering for your immediate circle. However, if you are trying to build a public club, names like these can limit your club’s visibility. For example, if someone searches online for “Mahjong in my city,” a group called The Lucky Green Dragon Tile Club is less likely to appear in the results because search engines may not recognize it as being related to Mahjong. As a result, players who might be interested in your group may never find it.

While creative names like Koi Pond Lucky Tiles Club can be charming, the Zung Jung Movement recommends including the phrase “Mahjong” (or “Riichi” if your organization purely focuses on Riichi Mahjong) in the name of your organization if you are trying to make a club that includes people outside of your immediate social circle. It is even better if you include your city as well, for example San Diego Mahjong Club. This makes your club much easier for interested players to discover and also makes it clearer to outside organizations—such as venues, cultural groups, or sponsors—what your club is about.

As an anecdotal example, when the San Diego Mahjong Club was founded, several other Mahjong groups already existed in the city. However, they did not appear when I, the author, searched online for “mahjong San Diego,” so their existence was not obvious. The perceived absence of Mahjong in the city (besides American Mahjong) directly led to the creation of the San Diego Mahjong Club. Ironically, these groups only became visible after I had founded the San Diego Mahjong Club and it had established and developed its own player base and social media presence.

Discord

Much of the organized Mahjong community operates on Discord. For that reason, the Zung Jung Movement recommends that your club maintain a Discord server (or a similar platform). Having one allows you to communicate with the broader Mahjong community, and in some cases other organizations may expect or prefer Discord as a primary channel of coordination.

However, many clubs make the mistake of treating a Discord server as their only piece of infrastructure. The Zung Jung Movement advises against this approach. Discord is a poor platform for scheduling events and Discord is not easily indexed by search engines, which makes it difficult for new players to discover your club. If your presence exists only inside Discord, interested players searching online may never find you.

Additionally, relying solely on Discord can make a club appear less visible or less established to outside organizations. Venues, cultural groups, and potential partners often expect to see a website, event page, or other publicly accessible information that clearly explains what your club is and what it does.

Social Media

Social media is another common way new organizers try to make their club visible. Many groups operate accounts on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or TikTok. The Zung Jung Movement recommends that clubs maintain at least an Instagram account, as it is widely used for community events and can help players get a sense of the club’s activity and culture.

However, social media has a limitation similar to Discord. While social media pages can be indexed by search engines, they are often not very visible in search results. Many social media platforms, such as Instagram, are substandard for event scheduling alone. In practice, someone searching for “Mahjong in my city” may never see these accounts.

Meetup

Meetup is an event planning platform commonly used by hobby and community groups. The Zung Jung Movement strongly recommends that Mahjong clubs create a Meetup group for their organization. San Diego Mahjong Club itself began as a single Meetup group.

Meetup provides several useful tools for organizers, including scheduling recurring events, managing ticketing, tracking RSVPs, maintaining waitlists, and reaching a broader community of hobbyists in your city. These features make it much easier to organize and manage events as your group grows.

Meetup is free for participants, but creating and managing a Meetup group requires an Organizer subscription, which typically costs around $30 per month. Despite this cost, the platform offers significant advantages. Meetup groups are indexed by search engines and are highly discoverable, making it much easier for interested players in your area to find your club.

Website

Having a website is a major asset for any club, and the Zung Jung Movement strongly recommends that clubs maintain one. Websites are heavily indexed by search engines, which makes your club much easier for interested players to discover.

A website can also serve as a central library for your club. It can host documentation useful to players, such as rules, guides, and cheat sheets. It can provide information about the club and its history, list upcoming events, and describe the different activities your group offers. A website can also be used to advertise services your club might provide, such as lessons or demonstrations for outside organizations.

Websites are relatively easy to build these days, even if you have no technical experience. WordPress.com, for example, is designed to help non-technical people build and host websites, and both the Zung Jung Movement and San Diego Mahjong Club’s websites were built with it.

In addition, having a website signals to outside organizations that your club is serious and organized. When the San Diego Mahjong Club launched its website, it began receiving inquiries from interested players, newspapers, and cultural organizations in the city almost immediately—within the first week the site went live.

IRL Presence

On-the-ground organizing is important for any club. Having printed promotional materials—such as business cards, flyers, stickers, signs, or banners—can greatly improve a club’s visibility and help it appear organized and professional to outside organizations.

The Zung Jung Movement recommends that clubs at minimum have a logo and a business card containing the club’s information and/or QR codes linking to the club’s online presence. Business cards in particular greatly improve a club’s street-level visibility and signal to external organizations that the club is serious and well organized. Companies such as Staples and VistaPrint offer printing services that can fulfill most of a club’s needs.

When played in public spaces, Mahjong often attracts curiosity from nearby people. Having a business card ready makes it easy to give interested onlookers a way to find your club later. Someone who stops to watch a game at a café or boba shop may very well attend a future event—and possibly become a core member of your club—if they have a simple way to look your group up afterward.

Other online platforms

There are several other platforms that clubs can use as well. For example, Eventbrite and Facebook Groups or Pages can serve as alternatives to Meetup for organizing events. However, in practice Meetup tends to be the stronger option. It maintains a clearer member list for the group than Eventbrite and generally offers better event planning tools than Facebook. That said, it would be incomplete not to mention these options. Eventbrite, for example, can be particularly useful for one-off ticketed events such as tournaments and may in some cases be a better option than Meetup for these purposes. Unlike Meetup, Eventbrite does not require users to join a group to purchase a ticket for an event, which can lower the barrier for people who simply want to attend a single event.

Some platforms also attempt to combine event planning and community communication into a single system. Heylo is one such example. For organizers who prefer not to maintain both an event platform (such as Meetup) and a communication platform (such as Discord), Heylo can offer features of both. However, it tends to be less discoverable than Meetup, and using it can make it harder to interact with the broader Mahjong community, which primarily coordinates through Discord.

Now that your club is visible and players are beginning to find it, the next step is learning how to organize events that are welcoming, well-run, and sustainable.

Structuring your club and organizing events

Okay, you have read through the guide up to this point, gathered a few friends, and decided that you are ready to start your Mahjong club. At this stage, one practical question remains: how do you actually put together an event?

This portion of the guide is intended to help answer that question. In the sections that follow, we will discuss several practical topics involved in running club events, including equipment, creating a schedule, selecting a venue, and thinking about the basic structure of your club.

At the end of this chapter you will also find the San Diego Mahjong Club Organizer Handbook, the internal document used by the San Diego Mahjong Club to define roles, responsibilities, and procedures for organizers. It is included here as a reference example and may be useful for clubs looking for a model when developing their own organizational structure.

Equipment

In order to play Mahjong, you will need some equipment. At the bare minimum, you will need Mahjong sets. The good news is that if you already play Mahjong, you likely already own at least one set. The challenge is that once you begin organizing events, one set is usually not enough.

Players may sometimes bring their own sets, which can certainly help. However, it is recommended that the club maintain a small stockpile of Mahjong sets for use during events. This ensures that games can run smoothly even if players forget to bring equipment or if new players arrive who do not yet own a set.

In general, it is advisable for clubs to purchase tile sets that include Arabic numerals. These markings make the tiles much easier for beginners to learn, since new players do not have to memorize Chinese characters before they can comfortably identify the suits and numbers. For teaching environments and open community play, numeral-marked sets can significantly reduce the learning curve and help new players begin playing more quickly.

There are a few vendors who offer high quality Mahjong sets

  • Yellow Mountain Imports is a well-known supplier that offers not only Mahjong sets but also accessories such as mats and racks. One option worth considering is their 30mm “Rogue Oasis” Mahjong Set, a travel-sized set that includes Arabic numerals on the tiles. These markings can make the tiles easier for beginners to read and learn. The San Diego Mahjong Club uses this set as its standard Chinese Mahjong set, and it has proven reliable and accessible for club play.
  • Mahjong Stars is another supplier worth considering, especially if your club offers Riichi Mahjong as part of its variant lineup. They are the official U.S. distributor of AMOS, a well-known manufacturer of high-quality Riichi Mahjong sets. The San Diego Mahjong Club uses the AMOS Numbers Set as its Japanese Mahjong set. This set includes Arabic numerals on the tiles, which can make it easier for newer players to learn the game. While AMOS sets tend to be more expensive than many other options, they are widely regarded as high-quality and durable, making them a strong choice for clubs that want reliable equipment.
  • Mahjong Pros is another supplier worth considering. Their sets also tend to be on the pricier side, but they offer Mahjong sets for variants such as Singaporean Mahjong and Vietnamese Mahjong, which include tiles not typically found in standard Chinese or Japanese sets. For clubs interested in supporting a wider range of regional variants, suppliers like Mahjong Pros can make it easier to obtain the specialized equipment required by those formats.
  • There are numerous Mahjong vendors on Amazon offering sets and accesories that can sometimes be found at cheaper prices than the aforementioned vendors.
  • Temu also offers a cheaper alternative to the AMOS Junk Mat. San Diego Mahjong Club uses this product, and in practice, there has been little noticeable difference in quality compared to the AMOS version. This type of mat pairs well with sets such as the Rogue Oasis Mahjong Set, helping tiles shuffle smoothly while protecting tables and reducing noise. A direct link is not provided here because the item is frequently relisted on Temu, which often causes links to break. However, it can usually be found easily by searching for “Junk Mat” or “Mahjong Mat” on Temu or through a general web search.
  • The AMOS Compass is also a useful accessory to include alongside the Rogue Oasis Mahjong Set and a Junk Mat, particularly if your club plans to play Zung Jung Mahjong (though it is not necessary for this variant). These compasses are designed specifically for Mahjong and make it easy to establish the correct wind orientation at the table and help to organize tile discards. They are commonly available online, and it is often possible to find them on Amazon at a lower price than many specialty listings.
  • The San Diego Mahjong Club provides several cheat sheets at no cost to support a variety of Mahjong variants. These sheets serve as useful teaching tools for new players and convenient reference guides for more experienced players who may want a quick reminder of patterns, scoring, or other rules during play.

Creating a schedule

Okay, so you have our friends and your equipment, the next step is to create a schedule for your club. In most cases, it is advisable to meet once a week, preferably at the same time and place each week. A consistent weekly meeting helps build community around the game, generally satisfies most player demand, and creates a regular event that members can look forward to.

Almost any day can work depending on your availability as an organizer. However, there can sometimes be advantages to scheduling during the week rather than the weekend, as some businesses experience lower traffic on weeknights and may be more willing to host a group then.

For a typical weekly gathering, it is generally best to plan for the event to last around three to four hours. This length usually provides enough time for multiple games without making the event feel rushed. Events that are shorter than this often do not allow enough time for players to settle in and complete several rounds of play.

Selecting a venue

Next, you will need to select a venue. Ideally, a venue will have square tables with sides of 34–35 inches. Tables of this size are well-suited for Mahjong because all players can comfortably reach the tiles and interact with the wall. If you can find tables like this, they are essentially the ideal setup.

If square tables are not available, small circular or moderately sized rectangular tables can also work, as long as players seated on the longer sides can still comfortably reach the tiles. By contrast, long rectangular tables are generally substandard and can be difficult to play on, as players at the ends may struggle to reach the center.

There are many types of locations that can work well for Mahjong clubs. Common options include food courts, casual restaurants with open seating, bars, game stores, parks (especially in sunny climates), recreation centers, and libraries.

If you plan to host your club at a private business, especially a restaurant, it is strongly recommended that you speak with the owner or management beforehand to make sure they are comfortable with your group playing there. Many businesses are happy to host gaming groups, but some may have restrictions or be comfortable offering space only on slower days , when additional foot traffic is welcome.

Restaurants in particular can make excellent venues if they are open to hosting your group. They provide food and drinks, which many players appreciate during longer sessions, and they often create a lively and comfortable atmosphere for regular weekly gatherings.

Structuring your club

When a club is first starting out, it can be fairly informal. In many cases it may simply consist of you and a few friends working together to host events. As the club grows, however, it may become helpful—or even necessary—to introduce a more formal structure in order to manage the logistics of a larger organization.

The purpose of this section is to address that stage of growth. What follows is the San Diego Mahjong Club Organizer Handbook, presented in full. This document is the official structural guide for the San Diego Mahjong Club, defining organizer roles, responsibilities, and procedures. It is included here as a reference example that other organizers may find useful when thinking about how to structure and manage their own clubs as they expand.

San Diego Mahjong Club Organizer’s Handbook

Before playing mahjong, you must refine your character. You should keep a serene character, without being impetuous. Neither be proud when you win, nor be stingy when you lose. Neither be happy when in a favorable situation, nor be anxious when in adversity. Do not change your voice and expression because of emotion. Keep a broad mind and be generous. Moral character is the most important; the best thing is to maintain a gentle and cultivated style in playing.

— The Tenet and Spirit of Mahjong, Mahjong Competition Rules Rulebook

Purpose and Identity

This document outlines the rules and procedures for running a Mahjong event at the San Diego Mahjong Club. The purpose of this document is to provide organizers with the tools necessary to run play events uniformly, consistently, efficiently, and fairly.

San Diego Mahjong Club seeks a franchise-like model that produces a consistent experience regardless of who runs the event. Players should know what to expect from an SDMC event. For example, a Big Mac tastes the same regardless of which McDonald’s location prepares it. Similarly, an SDMC event should feel the same regardless of which organizer is hosting.

Consistency is the defining feature of SDMC.

Organizing Philosophy

San Diego Mahjong Club exists to provide:

  • A welcoming environment for new players
  • A consistent place for experienced players to gather
  • A structured pathway from casual play to competitive play

Organizers should prioritize the following principles:

Accessibility

Mahjong should be approachable to new players. Teaching and guidance are core responsibilities.

Consistency

Events should follow the same standards regardless of the organizer.

Neutrality

Organizers facilitate the game. They are not there to dominate tables or form exclusive groups.

Community Building

The goal of SDMC is to grow the Mahjong community in San Diego.

Organizer Roles & Structure

The organizer running the event is responsible for the overall operation of that event. Organizers are facilitators first and players second. As a general rule, the organizer should act as the player of last resort, joining a game only when: 

  • They are teaching new players
  • There is a seat at a table that needs to be filled, and no other players are available 
  • A player offers the organizer their seat to play
  • Organizers may request to play one round at a table sparingly

SDMC uses a tiered leadership structure.

Founder / Director

Responsibilities include:

  • Long-term strategic planning
  • Partnerships and external relationships
  • Tournament structure and development
  • Equipment ownership and oversight
  • Ownership and management of club digital infrastructure
    • Meetup
    • Discord
    • Website
    • Social Media
  • Final authority on disputes and policy
  • Meetup leadership role: Organizer
  • Discord leadership role: Admin/Server Owner
Club Officer (Assistant Director / Senior Organizer)

Club Officers are responsible for club governance.

Responsibilities include:

  • Assistance in club governance:
    • Long-term strategic planning
    • Partnerships and external relationships
    • Tournament structure and development
    • Equipment oversight
    • Management and moderation of club digital infrastructure
      • Meetup
      • Discord
      • Website
      • Social Media
    • Authority on disputes and policy 
  • Trains and promotes Assistant Organizers to Event Organizers
  • Supervises and mentors Event Organizers
  • Meetup leadership role:
    • Assistant Director: Co-Organizer
    • Senior Organizer: Assistant Organizer
  • Discord leadership role:
    • Assistant Director: Admin
    • Senior Organizer: Moderator
Event Organizer

Event organizers are responsible for running scheduled events.

Responsibilities include:

  • Event setup
  • Greeting players
  • Teaching beginners
  • Enforcing rules and format policy
  • Resolving disputes
  • Gently correcting behavior (when necessary)
  • Ensuring equipment is returned
  • Meetup leadership role: Event Organizer

Organizers represent SDMC and are responsible for maintaining the club’s standards.

Assistant Organizer

Assistant organizers support the event organizer.

Responsibilities include:

  • Helping with teaching
  • Helping with setup and teardown
  • Assisting with table management

Assistant organizers may eventually be promoted to event organizers.

Event Standards

All SDMC events should maintain a consistent structure.

Organizers should:

  • Arrive early enough to set up tables (30mins – 1hr)
  • Greet new players and introduce them to the group
  • Ensure players are seated at tables promptly
  • Assist beginners when necessary
  • Maintain a welcoming and organized environment

Events should feel structured but relaxed.

The organizer’s presence should make the event feel orderly without feeling rigid.

Teaching & Onboarding Doctrine

Teaching new players is one of the most important responsibilities at SDMC.

Organizers should:

  • Welcome beginners warmly
  • Ensure beginners receive cheat sheets
  • Provide clear explanations of the rules
  • Prioritize helping beginners complete their first full game

Teaching should focus on:

  • Understanding the structure of the game
  • Recognizing winning hands
  • Learning the flow of play

New players should leave their first event feeling capable of playing again.

Regular Event Format Policy

Regularly scheduled events at SDMC are mono-format, e.g., if the event is for Zung Jung Mahjong, no other Mahjong variants may be played during that event. The mono-format policy must be strictly enforced and is non-negotiable.

The policy serves two purposes:

Reduced Organizer Complexity

It is easier for organizers to answer questions and assist players when all tables are playing the same ruleset.

Community Fluidity

Players often arrive and leave at different times. The mono-format policy allows the organizer to easily reshuffle tables as players rotate in and out. This promotes inclusion and reduces the formation of isolated groups playing separate variants. No table should feel separate from the rest of the room.

Exception

If there are not enough players to form a four-player table, a compatible three-player variant may be used.

Example:

If the event is Riichi Mahjong, Sanma may be used only when a fourth player is unavailable.

Sanma is not allowed if:

  • Four players are available
  • The event format is not Riichi Mahjong

Reduced-player formats must match the variant being played.

Festival and Cultural Event Format Policy

San Diego Mahjong Club participates in festivals primarily as an outreach and educational activity. Festival events operate under different rules than regular SDMC events.

Demonstration Formats

SDMC demonstration tables use the following formats:

  • Japanese cultural festivals: Riichi Mahjong
  • All other festivals: Zung Jung Mahjong

These formats represent the club’s official demonstration and teaching formats during outreach events.

Instruction Policy

If visitors request to learn mahjong from SDMC organizers or volunteers, instruction should be provided using the designated demonstration format for that event.

Organizers should not attempt to teach multiple rule sets during the same event.

Exception

If a player comes to a Japanese cultural festival that has never played Mahjong before and would like to learn, it is acceptable to switch to Zung Jung Mahjong for the purposes of teaching this kind of player as Riichi has a more significant learning curve for brand-new players.

Walk-In Player Policy

The mono-format policy used at regular SDMC events does not apply to independent walk-in groups at festivals.

Visitors may play their own mahjong format if:

  • They are playing with their own group, and
  • They are running their own table.

Examples may include:

  • Hong Kong Mahjong
  • Taiwanese Mahjong
  • Filipino Mahjong
  • other house rules.

SDMC organizers should not police or correct the rules used by independent walk-in groups.

Mixed Tables

If a walk-in player joins a table that includes SDMC organizers or SDMC members, the table must use the designated demonstration format for that event.

Visitors who sit at SDMC tables should follow the format being demonstrated.

Purpose of Festival Events

Festival participation is intended to:

  • Introduce mahjong to the public
  • Demonstrate SDMC formats
  • Encourage future participation in SDMC events.

Festival events are outreach activities rather than regulated club play environments.

This rule prevents a common problem: demonstration tables drifting into multiple rule sets, which would undermine the club’s presentation.

Outline of an Event

This section serves as a quick guide on how an organizer should conduct an event at SDMC:

  • Check out any club equipment being used for the event
  • Arrive about 30 minutes to 1 hour before the start time of the event
  • Set up the equipment and take note of the contents in the Mahjong set
  • Greet players as they arrive and encourage them to sign in at the sign in table for the event
  • If a face is unfamiliar, ask the person if they have played mahjong before
    • If they have: direct them to a table waiting for a player
    • If they have not: try to seat them at a player designated for beginning players
  • Teach any beginners how to play mahjong
  • If there are beginning players, the organizer should either:
    • Sit at the table with the beginners and play a teaching game with them, e.g., if there are three beginners
    • Have all players at the table be beginning players and take on a coaching role. e.g., if there are four beginners
    • Assign beginners to tables with more experienced players if they are needed to complete tables. Generally, the organizer should not impose teaching responsibilities on players who do not want them. Pair beginners with players who are willing and able to teach.
  • Watch and listen for any game pieces that may fall on the floor, e.g., dice, tiles, etc., and help find lost game pieces
  • Break down equipment and reassign players to new tables as players leave the event
  • Pack up equipment at event end time or when all players have left
  • Return and check in club equipment at the designated equipment storage facility 

San Diego Mahjong Club Code of Conduct

Purpose

This Code of Conduct establishes guidelines for behavior, etiquette, and sportsmanship to ensure a welcoming and enjoyable environment for all members of the Mahjong Club.

  1. Respect & Inclusivity
    • All members must treat each other with respect, regardless of skill level, background, or personal differences.
    • Discriminatory or offensive language, including but not limited to remarks about race, gender, age, or ability, will not be tolerated.
    • Harassment, bullying, or any form of intimidation is strictly prohibited.
  2. Sportsmanship & Fair Play
    • Members must play fairly and follow the mahjong variant rules of the mahjong event (e.g., Zung Jung, Riichi, International, or another variant).
    • Cheating, colluding, or manipulating the game in any way is unacceptable.
    • Players should accept wins and losses graciously, without gloating or blaming others. Though playfulness is allowed. The spirit of this rule is not to put others down or make people feel bad for playing the game.
    • A positive and encouraging attitude is expected during all club activities.
  3. Game Etiquette
    • Players who RSVP to an event should notify the organizer in advance if they cannot attend by updating their RSVP, and strive to be punctual to events. 
    • Regular events at San Diego Mahjong Club are mono-format, e.g., if the Mahjong variant of the event is Zung Jung, no other formats (i.e. Riichi, International, etc) are allowed at any table at the event.
    • Personal electronic devices should be silenced or used minimally during games.
    • Spectators should remain quiet and avoid interfering with ongoing games.
  4. Club Environment
    • The club space should be kept clean and organized, with members responsible for tidying up after themselves.
    • Food and drinks should be consumed responsibly, with care taken to ensure the club’s equipment is not dirty.
    • Club equipment (e.g., tiles, racks, mats, etc.) should be handled with care and returned to their proper places after use.
  5. Conflict Resolution
    • Disagreements should be resolved calmly and respectfully.
    • If a dispute arises during gameplay, players should refer to the agreed-upon ruleset or consult the event organizer for clarification.
    • Repeated violations of the Code of Conduct may result in warnings, suspension, or expulsion from the club, at the discretion of club leadership.
  6. Compliance and Amendments
    • All members are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct.
    • The club leadership reserves the right to update or amend these guidelines as necessary.
    • By participating in club activities, members acknowledge and agree to uphold these principles.

This Code of Conduct is in place to ensure a fun, friendly, and respectful environment where all members can enjoy mahjong.

San Diego Mahjong Club Attendance Policy

Purpose

This Attendance Policy establishes the rules and expectations for attendance and adjudicates who will be seated at tables when demand exceeds capacity.

Policy

San Diego Mahjong Club is a fast-growing club with a large membership. In order to maintain good relations with the businesses and organizations that provide a space for the club to play Mahjong, and in recognition of the fact that tables are not an infinite resource, San Diego Mahjong Club adopts this hierarchy to determine who will be seated at tables to play games:

  1. RSVPs to the event
  2. Waitlisted people for the event
  3. Walk-ins to the event
  4. Habitual no-shows

RSVPing for an event guarantees the attendee a spot at a table. It is acceptable for people waitlisted for the event to show up, and walk-ins are also acceptable. Please note that waitlisters and walk-ins are not guaranteed a seat at any table at the event and may only be seated if a seat becomes available. In the event that a player is seated at a table and another player higher up in the attendance hierarchy shows up to the event while the lower player is at the table, the lower player will be allowed to finish their round and will be removed from the table and the conclusion of that round to make room for the higher player. Seating priority is only valid during the first hour of the event. After the first hour of the event has passed, all currently seated players permanently have their seats for the duration of the event and cannot be unseated by the late arrival of a player higher in the seating hierarchy.

Tables at San Diego Mahjong Club events are scarce; there are often not enough tables to seat everybody who would like to play. For this reason, if a member RSVPs to an event it is important that they update their RSVP as soon as they become aware of changes to their schedule. People from the waitlist are automatically moved into an RSVP position when someone un-RSVPs from an event. Therefore, when someone RSVPs and no-shows, it takes a seat from someone else. For that reason, if someone habitually RSVPs to an event and no-shows, they will be penalized for the behavior. Habitual no-showers will automatically be moved to the bottom of the waitlist, and walk-ins will take priority over them in table seating.

This Attendance Policy is in place to ensure a fair and predictable mechanism to determine who gets to play at San Diego Mahjong Club events when demand exceeds capacity.

Liability Waiver

By attending San Diego Mahjong Club events, you voluntarily assume all risks associated with participation and agree to release and hold harmless the San Diego Mahjong Club (SDMC) and its organizers, hosts, volunteers, and agents, including Nathanael J. Reynolds, from any liability for injury, illness, death, loss, or damage, including those arising from negligence, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Organizer Selection & Promotion

Organizers are selected based on:

  • Reliability
  • Teaching ability
  • Positive interaction with players
  • Demonstrated ability to show neutrality toward other players, e.g., not having a bad attitude toward other players or negatively gossiping about them
  • Willingness to take responsibility

Mahjong skill is not the primary requirement. Reliability and community leadership are more important. Potential organizers often begin as assistant organizers before promotion.

External Relationships and Reputation

Organizers serve as the primary point of contact when interacting with external organizations, including venues hosting SDMC events. All official communication with venue staff, partner organizations, law enforcement, etc. must go through the event organizer.

If an issue arises at a venue, players should not address venue management and/or law enforcement directly. Instead, they should inform the organizer, who will communicate with relevant parties on behalf of the group. This policy ensures clear communication, prevents misunderstandings, and helps maintain a professional relationship between the San Diego Mahjong Club and its host venues. 

In situations involving safety concerns or emergencies, individuals should follow the instructions of venue staff or law enforcement as appropriate.

Organizers represent SDMC when interacting with:

  • Venues
  • Cultural organizations
  • Sponsors
  • Law enforcement
  • The public

Organizers should:

  • Act professionally
  • Maintain a welcoming environment
  • Protect the reputation of the club

The public perception of SDMC depends heavily on the conduct of organizers.

Equipment Management

SDMC equipment is stored centrally and used for events.

Organizers must:

  • Check out the equipment before the event
  • Return and check-in equipment immediately after the event
  • Report any damage or missing items

Club equipment is reserved exclusively for official San Diego Mahjong Club events. Organizers may not use club equipment for personal activities or private games. The only exception to this policy is the Founder, who retains discretion over the use of club assets.

Equipment includes:

  • Mahjong sets
  • Mats
  • Tile Racks
  • Tables
  • Folding chairs
  • Canopy tent
  • Banner
  • A-frame sign
  • Teaching materials (cheat sheets)
  • Scoring sheets
  • AMOS compass
  • Dry-erase markers
  • Calculators

Equipment must be handled carefully.

Donation Policy

SDMC events are free to attend. Donations are optional and appreciated. Cash donations collected at an event belong to the organizer hosting that event. Venmo donations may be shared with the organizer, typically 25–50%, with the remainder supporting SDMC equipment and operations.

Donations should never be requested aggressively.

Succession & Continuity

SDMC is designed to operate independently of any single organizer. This handbook exists to ensure that future organizers can run events consistently. The long-term goal is to build a sustainable Mahjong community in San Diego that continues to operate even as leadership evolves.

Well, that about wraps things up! I hope this guide was helpful to you. Good luck organizing your club and have fun playing mahjong!