Hi friend!
I was getting ready to play Siamese with my husband when I decided to unbox my newest Virora tiles and mat. It felt like a good reminder that a mahjong night can happen with just two people!
💡 Tile Wisdom
Two hands, one collection of tiles
If you haven’t tried Siamese Mah Jongg, it’s a two-player game created by Gladys Grad. Each person uses two racks and works on two hands, with its own rules and strategy.
One thing I love about it is having a reason to look at more possibilities on the card. When you’re building two hands, you have to think about how they work together.
Something to notice when you play:
Are both hands depending on the same tiles?
Two hands can each look promising, but keeping both may mean they’re competing for the pieces you need.
Take a moment to look across your whole collection of tiles before settling into your choices. You might find another hand that gives both racks more room to develop.
New to the format? Start with Gladys’s official rules.
📅 Upcoming Classes
Here’s what’s coming up if you’d like to work on your game with me.
The Last Wall: Endgame Decisions
Monday, October 26 · 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET · With Lara
Practice late-game choices: whether your hand still has a path, what the visible tiles tell you, and which discard makes sense.
Siamese Strategy
Wednesday, October 28 · 7 to 8 p.m. ET
With Lara + Jillian of Mahj-el Tov
Already play Siamese? We’ll work through the decisions that come with managing two hands.
I Know the Rules, Now Help Me Play
Sunday, November 1 · 4 to 5 p.m. ET · With Lara
For newer players ready to practice choosing a direction, connecting tiles to the card, and deciding what to keep or pass.
Each player class is $75, live on Zoom, with a recording included.
For the teachers here: Alicia of The Mrs. Mahj is teaching Teaching Large Mahjong Classes on Wednesday, October 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m. ET. $79, live on Zoom, recording included.
🛍️ Treat Yourself
My latest Virora unboxing
I’ve been so impressed with Virora’s quality, especially for the price.
In my latest unboxing, I’m showing you the Sylvaria tiles and the mat I paired them with. Here’s what stood out to me:
The tiles: beautiful green layers, clear designs, and deep engraving. I hold up the nine bam so you can get a closer look.
The extras: mine came with four tile guides, dice with their own bag, and a vegan leather tile bag.
The mat: so thick, with a storage tube included.
Those little details matter to me!
Sylvaria tiles → Currently $229
Limoncea mat → Currently $45
Use LARASMAHJONGEDIT for 10% off on Virora’s website.
These are affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you shop through them, at no extra cost to you.
🀄 A little practice between games
Mini Mahj Daily: Have a few minutes? Join my free group for a daily mahjong challenge. We all start with the same tiles and wall, so we can compare how our decisions play out. Join my Mini Mahj Daily group →
I Love Mahj: Want to get more games in online? Try I Love Mahj with three weeks free → My link includes the code LARASMAHJONGEDIT.
The I Love Mahj link is an affiliate link. I may earn a commission if you subscribe, at no extra cost to you.
Happy mahjong!
Lara