When Tiles Need a Decoder Card, Teaching Becomes Twice as Hard (Letter 20)

Dear Hoptoi,

I’m a brand-new mah jongg player, and I think I made my learning journey harder than it needed to be. I signed up for lessons with an instructor who taught on a themed set. The tiles had whimsical designs in bright colors, and we used a decoder card to help us translate them to traditional tiles. I assumed that this is how all the American mah jongg sets looked.

The trouble started when I joined an established group at my community center. They play with a traditional set, and the moment the tiles hit the table, I realized I was utterly lost. The suits didn’t look anything like what I learned on, and I kept having to ask which tiles were which. I couldn’t keep up with the pace of the Charleston, I had a hard time looking at the discards and couldn’t read exposures. I felt embarrassed that everyone else seemed to know exactly what was happening while I was still navigating the basics.

I went home feeling frustrated and worried that this game might not be for me after all. Was learning on a themed set part of the problem? And how do I rebuild my confidence so I can actually enjoy the game instead of dreading it?

Signed,

Deer in the Headlights

Hi Deer in the Headlights,

What you experienced is far more common than you think. Themed sets only entered the American mah jongg market in 2020, and the first one launched without cultural consultation or community input. Because the artwork didn’t resemble traditional imagery, it sparked a national conversation about appropriation and respect—and it also revealed a practical problem for new players.

Since then, more than 20 companies have begun producing themed sets, many of which require decoder cards to explain how their icons map to the real tiles. Some instructors now use these sets in beginner classes, which means students learn to interpret artwork rather than building fluency with the designs used at almost every actual table.

Mah jongg is already a complex game. When you learn on tiles that don’t align with the National Mah Jongg League card or the sets used in home games, community centers, tournaments, and online play, you’re left doing double the work. First, you decode the themed artwork, then you must relearn the traditional designs when you sit down with an established group. No wonder it felt overwhelming—the foundation you were given didn’t match the world you walked into.

Please don’t take this as a sign that the game isn’t for you. With a traditional set, a bit of guided practice, and tiles that align with the resources everyone else uses, you’ll find your footing quickly. The game hasn’t failed you—your learning experience just made the journey longer than it needed to be.

You absolutely can learn this game, and you’re closer than you think.

Mentor’s Note for Instructors:
When we’re teaching beginners, the goal is to give them the cleanest, most straightforward path into a game that already asks a lot of them. Traditional tiles do that beautifully. Their imagery is universally recognized and shows up everywhere—at home tables, community groups, charity events, tournaments, and online platforms. Starting newcomers on these designs removes extra mental load at a moment when they’re trying to absorb suit recognition, understand the National Mah Jongg League card, make sense of the Charleston, and start noticing shapes and patterns in real time.

When learners begin with clarity, everything else falls into place more smoothly. Their confidence grows faster, their errors taper off, and they can step into almost any game without feeling out of place. Teaching with traditional tiles isn’t just about honoring the game’s origins; it’s about setting newcomers up for long-term success and giving them a foundation strong enough to support every skill they build from there.