Mahjong for Friends: Keep Your Group's Game Going Online
When your regular American Mah Jongg game can't meet in person, Friends at Mahjong gives your group a private online table for American Mah Jongg — no software to install.
The problem this solves
A group's in-person game depends on everyone being in the same room at the same time. One person traveling, sick, or stuck late at work can cancel the whole evening even though everyone else is free. Friends at Mahjong is a browser table for American Mah Jongg, so the game that normally needs four people around a physical table can happen with everyone logging in remotely instead.
What it takes to get your group a table link tonight
The shareable link your group needs comes from a private table, and opening one is a hosting-level capability: one person in the group needs the Premium membership to host and invite the rest of the group in. Everyone else just needs an account and either a membership or a free game left to join.
So before you tell your group to expect a link tonight:
- Decide who hosts. That person needs Premium. Everyone else can join on Social, or on a free game if they have one left.
- The host opens a private table and invites friends by link. That's the link you send to the group.
- Friends without a membership can use a free game to sit down — one free game before an account, four more after signing up, no card required.
Not sure yet? Try it solo first
If you want to see what you're asking your group to join before committing to host, open friendsatmahjong.com and play a free game against the computer — no account needed for the first one. This is a solo practice game against computer opponents; it doesn't produce a link to share, so it's a separate step from opening the private table your group will actually play on.
What your group is actually playing
It's American Mah Jongg — tiles, a Charleston, and hands from a card. You can play using the built-in card or a National Mah Jongg League card you already own; Friends at Mahjong is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Mah Jongg League.
Chat and voice at the table
Private tables support chat so your group can talk while playing. Voice is available on the host's Premium membership; Social includes chat at any private table you're invited to. Full details on what each membership level includes are on the membership page.
Start tonight
If your group's game is at risk this week, confirm who's hosting and get their invite link into the group chat before your usual start time. If you want to test the table yourself first, a free game is the way to do that — just know it's a separate step from the host's private-table link.