For those of you who have excitedly made a jaunt through Foxwoods, looking for untold riches at the black jack table while offering only a cursory glance at the full room of people moving small tiles around in front stacks of chips worth thousand of dollars, the 92nd Street Y’s resident Mah-Jongg expert, Elisa Meth will be teaching a four session course for beginners, starting January 27. “Soon you’ll be yelling ‘3 bam!’, ‘6 crack!’ and ‘9 dot!’ with gusto.”

For those already well versed enough to start playing with others, come to our Mah-Jongg night on January 14 for some informal play with other players, where Elissa will be present to offer coaching and tips if needed.

The Wall Street Journal once said of Mah-Jongg, “The ancient and sometimes rowdy Chinese game, long popular in the U.S. with elderly women, is back in vogue. It’s finding a new and wider following among the young and techno-savvy, many of whom discover the game on the Internet.” The trend continues today and stereotypes remain broken.

After taking the lessons learned from Elisa’s class in Mah-Jongg, go back to Foxwoods with a new sense of determination and confidence. But remember, it can be an excitable game, and outbursts related to your play are acceptable. Take note of the terminology Elisa has taught; as ramped up as you might be when you Rob the Kong, please try to resist the urge to shout “Boo-Yah!”