Set Your Rack
A Chicago league takes over Thursday nights at a Logan Square bar, starting September 10
The Mahjong Society's published event calendar lists a Fall Lucky League beginning September 10, running every other Thursday evening at a Fullerton Avenue venue and open to experienced players.
The calendar lists the league from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 3509 West Fullerton Avenue in Chicago, running on alternating Thursdays. The listing describes it as open to experienced players and says "Thursdays just got lucky!", with prizes and a leaderboard across the season.
The same calendar carries the beginner track alongside it. Mahjong 101 sessions are listed at $80 to $100 through the autumn at bars and restaurants around the city, and according to the listings most instruction classes include a 2026 National Mah Jongg League card with the price. A one day tournament, the Lucky Tile Classic, is listed for September 27 at $125 including lunch.
The pattern is worth noting on its own. A card, a lesson and a drink sold as one ticket, then a standing league night to come back to, is the shape a good many American mahjong groups are taking this year.
Prim's note. The card in the ticket price is the smart part. A beginner who leaves her first lesson holding the current card has no shopping to do before the second one. OOTT is not affiliated with these events and does not sell sets or cards.