I have a confession to make: when I need to unwind, escape, or pretend I’m sharpening my strategic mind, I’m probably playing Mahjong on my phone. It’s relaxing, it’s weirdly competitive, and it tricks me into thinking I’m doing something productive. But here’s something I didn’t expect to learn: El Paso has a full Mahjong community, complete with its own instructor. My little mobile gaming hobby suddenly feels a lot more legit.
If you’re new to Mahjong, here’s the quick rundown. It’s a tile-based strategy game that originated in China in the mid to late 1800s. Picture rummy but with beautifully decorated tiles instead of cards. Traditionally, four players sit around a table, build a wall of stacked tiles, and take turns drawing and discarding to form winning sets. The goal is to create matching combinations called melds and ultimately complete a hand before the others do. It sounds complicated until you get into it, but once it clicks, you’ll understand why it has kept entire families, friend groups, and grandmasters locked in heated battles for centuries.
Here’s the part that made my whole week. El Paso has its own Mahjong Society. Not only that, but we have a certified Mahjong instructor. Melissa the Mahjong Teacher, also known around town as Melissa Rogers the VIP Matchmaker, runs classes, meetups, and full on Mahjong nights where newcomers and seasoned players can dive into the game together. She teaches beginners how to read the tiles, understand strategy, and actually feel comfortable at the table instead of panicking over which dragon tile they are supposed to discard.
This is huge for me because now I get to drag my friends and family into the Mahjong rabbit hole. If you want to learn the game, meet new people, or just find a new hobby that makes you feel smarter than you actually are, Melissa has built the perfect entry point. You can follow her on social media to keep up with her matchmaking events and the Mahjong Society nights she hosts around town. El Paso has so many cool things just like this, all you have to do is take the time to look!
El Paso’s Premier Open Mic Night
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Gallery Credit: Grizz
The Geeks Guide To El Paso: All Star Comics & Toys
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Gallery Credit: Grizz
The Falstaff Art Space
A beautiful art space in Central El Paso filled with local collaboration and tons of cultural and community events!
Gallery Credit: Grizz