Pung, Kong, Chow!
Southwest Winds bringing the classic game of mahjong to Phoenix
For many Asian Americans, this centuries-old game was played by many of our family members while growing up, and what better way to honor the tradition by continuing it in our local cities? Across the world, the game of mahjong has become the hip new social night in places like Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Amsterdam, Toronto, and now Phoenix.
This club initially began as a local friend group hosting games at their apartments. Sam Geiser, the original host of these games, brought more and more people in until the interest became too strong to host in their apartment’s shared space.
I grew up around mahjong sets, and I learned that even though it is indeed a game, the titas (aunties) did not play around. This was a ladies night, so all their husbands and kids knew that they had to find something else to do as their family matriarchs indulged in friendly competition and, of course, tsismis (gossip).
When Sam started these get-togethers, they had the same thing in mind. How often do we get to see our friends with such busy schedules? How often do we casually make new ones? As our weeks get full with other commitments, having a consistently set date, time, and place to meet helped us fortify the relationships we’ve built at the mahjong table.
In September 2024, the Southwest Winds Mahjong Club started hosting game nights at Central Records, which is a local bar, coffee, and record shop located in the heart of Downtown Phoenix on Central Avenue and Garfield Street. The club has welcomed new players of varying experience each month, all of whom share a common goal: make friends and play mahjong.
Interested in playing mahjong?
The Southwest Winds Mahjong Club has an Instagram: @swwmahjong. You can keep up-to-date on their socials or swing by to Central Records every third Thursday to see the vibes.
Anyone is welcome to observe, shadow a player, or just jump right into it! There’s no judgement on knowing the rules since everyone is here to learn and connect.
Since March 2025, I’ve taken over hosting Southwest Winds Mahjong Club! feel free to hmu about upcoming events :D
Me, wearing my BRWNGRLZ mahjong edition earrings !!
So… how do you play mahjong? (Southwest Winds style)
Four players are sitting in front of a wall of 26 tiles. The dealer of the game is decided by each player rolling a pair of dice and whoever has the highest is chosen. This person then rolls the dice again and from that number, counts the walls in a counterclockwise motion and deals the tiles out until each player has 13 and the dealer has 14.
Each player looks at their tiles and decides which ones have potential to keep or dispose. The dealer starts the game by disposing of a tile. The player to their right continues, and so forth. Each player is looking to have consecutive or matching sets of tiles outlined in the images below.
Since the mahjong night is just growing, this novice version of the game is the standard across the tables- without the gambling and points counting. Rest-assured, there is still lots of emotion when it comes to losing or winning the game.
As players get more comfortable with each other throughout the night, the question of “whose turn is it” becomes more frequent. It’s a beautiful way of seeing the conversations flow and strangers getting to know each other.
Mahjong instruction pamphlet given to players
Description of mahjong tiles
What’s next for Southwest Winds?
The club meets every Third Thursday of the month at Central Records from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. This past month, the club featured local artists SOOJUNG and kaiyvan to perform a loungey vibe to the ambiance. The keyboard and vocals duo performed songs by SOOJUNG, a song mashup of Lizzy McAlpine and Wicked, the Cranberries, and much more.
The club is looking for performing artists as part of this new addition to the monthly game night. In anticipation of May’s mahjong night, the search for a lineup consisting of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists is in the works.
If you’re reading this and interested in performing a DJ or vocal set, you can send a message to their Instagram!
SOOJUNG and kaiyvan perform as mahjong players listen and play