One Year Ago, I Didn’t Know a PUNG from a Dragon 🀄️

One year ago today, I sat down at a Mahjong table with the confidence of someone who had absolutely no idea what was happening.

I didn’t know a PUNG from a dragon.
The Charleston felt… aggressive.
And I was convinced everyone else had been secretly training for this moment their entire lives.

Spoiler: they had not.

I remember staring at the card thinking, There is absolutely no way I will ever understand this.

Fast forward one year and now I’m:

• Organizing my rack like it’s a competitive sport
• Practicing one-player hands for fun
• Teaching beginner lessons
• Having very strong opinions about strategy

If you’re Mahjong-curious, I’m starting a beginner lesson series — the things I wish someone had explained clearly when I was just starting out.

What I Wish I Knew on Day One:

1. Organize your rack immediately.
Control what you can. Chaos is optional.

2. Stop switching hands every 12 seconds.
Commitment issues belong in dating, not Mahjong.

3. The Charleston isn’t scary — it’s strategy.
It feels fast because it is. But it’s where the magic starts.

Lesson One: Tile Recognition (Without the Overwhelm)

Before you can build a hand, you have to actually know what you’re looking at.

In our first lesson, we’ll break down:

• The suits
• The honors (dragons + winds)
• How to quickly identify patterns
• Simple exercises I use with brand-new players

No intimidation. No overcomplicating. Just clear, doable steps.

@vicariouslyheidi

Should have done this last week, but let’s start at the very, very beginning… I got my tiles, what am I even looking at here? #mahjong #tilegame #americanmahjong #gamenight #gametok

♬ original sound – Vicariously Heidi

And because I get asked constantly — everything I use at my own table is linked in one place. Every single item is something I personally purchased and use. No random recommendations. No filler.

👉 You can find my full supply list here:
Mahjong Madness Supply List

One year in… and I’m just getting started.

See you at the table,
Heidi 🀄️✨