Learn American mahjong with Lara.
Bring your questions to a live Zoom class, or keep building your game with the Confidence Club. Free resources help you get started, and focused teaching helps you take the next step.
Learn American mahjong online through live Zoom classes, free beginner resources, and ongoing practice. Choose a class that matches your experience, or join the Confidence Club once you know the basic rules and can play through a game.
Find the support that fits your game.
If you learn best by seeing a hand explained and asking questions along the way, explore live Zoom classes with Lara and her co-teachers. Each listing names the topic, level, instructor, date, and price. Your registration includes the recording.
If you know the basic rules and want to keep growing, the Confidence Club brings together monthly challenges, member sessions and Q&As, a replay library, and community. Weekly online games require a separate paid I Love Mahj subscription. Separately advertised paid Zoom classes are separate purchases.
Brand new to the game? Begin with the free cheat sheet and beginner learning path. Check the experience level on each class before booking. For future instruction from the beginning, join the beginner class priority list.
Choose your next step
Live Zoom Classes
Work on a specific part of your game with a real teacher and time for questions. Topics and levels vary; no membership required.
Explore Zoom classes ›The Confidence Club
Keep learning with monthly challenges, member sessions and Q&As, and a supportive player community. Best once you know the basic rules.
Explore the Club ›Beginner Resources
Learn the tile families, table flow, and card basics with the free beginner guide and printable cheat sheet.
Start learning ›The Foundations Edit
Build stronger decisions with the digital strategy guide, 8 printable bonus cards, and included 2026 Card Expansion Pack.
Explore the guide ›Want more free content like this?
Get the free cheat sheet plus practical strategy notes and game-night inspiration from Lara.
Get the free cheat sheetLearn the rules
Free deep-dive guides on Lara’s Edit blog:
About Lara's Mahjong Edit: an American mahjong education brand built for women who want real confidence at the table. It teaches the NMJL card through live Zoom classes, digital strategy guides, and The Confidence Club, an online membership community.
About the instructor: Lara Orndorff is the founder and head instructor, an OMM Certified American Mahjong Instructor, and a member of the Mahj Life Guild. Her teaching is trusted by 100,000+ women learning American mahjong online.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really learn American Mahjong online, or do I need a teacher in person?
Yes, you can learn online. You can begin with Lara's free guides and use Start Here for Players to choose the next step that fits your experience. Online works especially well because you can pause, rewatch, and practice at your own pace, which is harder to do when a group is waiting on you.
Do I need to buy the NMJL card to start learning?
Not right away. You can learn the tiles, the Charleston, and the basic flow of the game before you ever pick up a card. Once you're ready to play real hands, you'll want the current year's card from the National Mah Jongg League. The Foundations Edit covers how to read and use the card.
What's the difference between the free guide and The Foundations Edit?
The free online beginner's guide is a blog post that covers the big picture of how the game works. The Foundations Edit is a 24-page digital strategy guide with 8 printable bonus cards and the included 2026 Card Expansion Pack. It is designed for players who already know the rules and want stronger decision habits.
Is American Mahjong the same as the mahjong solitaire game on my phone?
No. Phone mahjong is a solo tile-matching game. American Mahjong is a four-player strategy game played with an NMJL card and 152 tiles. Different tiles, different rules, different vibe. If you've only played the phone version, expect American Mahjong to feel like an entirely new game.
How long does it take to learn?
Learning time varies with practice and prior experience. Start with the tiles and table flow, then play full games regularly. Choose a Zoom class that matches your level when you want help with a particular skill.
I've been playing casually for a while. Am I in the wrong place?
Not at all. Plenty of Lara's students have played for years and want to feel steadier on hand selection, the Charleston, or defensive play. The Confidence Club membership is built for exactly that. The Guided Challenges let you focus on one practical skill at a time without starting over.
What's the best way to learn American mahjong online?
Brand-new players should begin with Start Here for Players, the free beginner's guide, and the cheat sheet. Live Zoom classes offer focused teaching and questions; check each listing for its experience level. Players who already know the rules can choose the Foundations Edit for self-paced strategy or Confidence Club for ongoing support.
Come learn with us.
Choose a Zoom class for focused instruction or the Confidence Club for ongoing practice and support.
