Mahj School

A mahjong tile photographed at a low angle so the engraved numeral sits below the surface

Printed or engraved: how to tell in one second

Hold a tile sideways. If the color sits on top of the surface, it is printed — and printing wears. If it sits down inside the tile, it is engraved...

Printed or engraved: how to tell in one second

Hold a tile sideways. If the color sits on top of the surface, it is printed — and printing wears. If it sits down inside the tile, it is engraved...

A complete American mahjong set laid out face up in rows on a pale oak table

Count the tiles before you buy

A full American set is 160 tiles — 152 playing tiles plus eight jokers. Count the jokers first, then look for spare blanks. If a listing will not tell you...

Count the tiles before you buy

A full American set is 160 tiles — 152 playing tiles plus eight jokers. Count the jokers first, then look for spare blanks. If a listing will not tell you...

Eight identical mahjong tiles standing in one even row on a dark walnut table

Eight jokers — and why yours have to match

Eight jokers in a set, and they have to be the same size as everything else. Inherited sets are where this goes wrong — and one mismatched tile is why...

Eight jokers — and why yours have to match

Eight jokers in a set, and they have to be the same size as everything else. Inherited sets are where this goes wrong — and one mismatched tile is why...

A small stack of thick mahjong tiles photographed side-on so the thickness of each tile is visible

Tile thickness: the number nobody lists

Thickness is the number nobody puts in the photos. A thin tile lands flat and quiet. A thick one lands with weight. Look for the millimetres, not the adjectives.

Tile thickness: the number nobody lists

Thickness is the number nobody puts in the photos. A thin tile lands flat and quiet. A thick one lands with weight. Look for the millimetres, not the adjectives.

A square table seen from above with a felt mat, loose tiles, four racks and two dice

One table, four things

Four things make a table work: tiles, a mat, four racks and dice. Buy them one at a time over a year or buy them together — same four things...

One table, four things

Four things make a table work: tiles, a mat, four racks and dice. Buy them one at a time over a year or buy them together — same four things...

Two mahjong cases on a walnut shelf, one closed and older, one open, with a carry bag beside them

The set you take out

Her set stays on the shelf. That is allowed. Open play, the cruise, Tuesday at somebody else's house — that is what a second set is for.

The set you take out

Her set stays on the shelf. That is allowed. Open play, the cruise, Tuesday at somebody else's house — that is what a second set is for.