Red Dragon Mahjong

Hong Kong style mahjong, played socially in Orange County.

About

A signpost for Hong Kong mahjong in Orange County.

Red Dragon Mahjong isn't a club — it's a connection point. The real work of building a local scene is happening at the clubs and meetups listed below, and our job is simply to help players find them. If you're new to the game, looking for a fourth, or running a group of your own, you're in the right place.

A directory, first

The point of this site is to send you somewhere better. We list the OC clubs and meetups doing the actual work — their schedules, their socials, their websites.

Hong Kong style

The focus is Hong Kong (廣東) mahjong — fast hands, faan-based scoring, and a deep tradition. Beginners absolutely welcome at the table.

Not for profit

No membership fees, no business agenda, no betting organized here. Just a quiet effort to keep this game alive and easy to find in Southern California.

Local Play

Clubs and Meetups in Orange County

These are the groups doing the real work — organizing sessions, teaching newcomers, and keeping a table full. Follow them on Instagram or Facebook for the latest schedule, or reach out directly. If you run a club and aren't listed yet, we'd love to add you.

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OC Hong Kong Mahjong Circle

An informal group meeting in central Orange County for casual Hong Kong style mahjong. Beginners welcome — they'll teach you on the spot. Sessions roughly every other weekend.

Example listing · Replace before launch

South Coast Mahjong Meetup

A monthly meetup hosted in the Costa Mesa / Irvine area, focused on traditional Hong Kong rules. Mixed experience levels — bring a set if you have one.

Run a club? Get listed.

Hosting games in Irvine, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Westminster, Costa Mesa, or anywhere else in OC? Send a name, a one-paragraph description, and any social links — we'll add you to this page. There's no fee, and there never will be.

Email us to be listed →

The Game

Hong Kong Mahjong, in brief.

Mahjong is a tile-based game for four players. Each player tries to be the first to complete a winning hand by drawing and discarding tiles. Hong Kong rules use a faan (番) scoring system — the more difficult and elegant the hand, the more it pays. Below is a starter overview. It's not a substitute for sitting at a table with experienced players, but it's enough to follow your first game.

The Tiles

A standard set has 144 tiles: three suits (Dots, Bamboo, Characters), four Winds (East, South, West, North), three Dragons (Red 中, Green 發, White 白), and eight optional Flowers and Seasons.

How a Hand Is Won

Scoring (Faan)

Hong Kong rules score hands in faan — points awarded for specific hand patterns. Most home games require a minimum (often 3 faan) to win, which keeps trivial hands from ending the round too quickly. Faan totals double the base score, so high-faan hands pay out dramatically more.

Common Hands

All Pungs (對對糊) — every set is a triplet.

Mixed One Suit (混一色) — one suit plus honors.

Pure One Suit (清一色) — the entire hand in one suit.

Small / Great Dragons (小三元 / 大三元) — pair or pungs of all three dragons.

Bonuses Worth Knowing

Self-Drawn (自摸) — winning on your own draw.

Last Tile (海底撈月) — winning on the very last tile of the wall.

Robbing the Kong (搶槓) — winning by taking a tile someone is upgrading from a pung to a kong.

Thirteen Orphans (十三么) — a rare, beautiful hand of all terminals and honors.

House rules vary. Different tables play with different minimum faan, flower bonuses, and limit hands. Always confirm the local rules before the first deal.
Get Involved

Come play with us.

Whether you're a long-time player or someone who's only ever seen mahjong on a movie screen, you're welcome at the table. Drop us a note and we'll point you toward the nearest game.

Email Red Dragon Mahjong

Questions, club listings, or just looking for a fourth player.