Learn American Mahjong from scratch
Crak, Bam, Dot!
Your first “Mahjong!” starts here.
Short, friendly lessons take you from your first rack of tiles to calling your first “Mahjong!” No experience needed, no one rushing you, just one small step at a time.
From John D. Mayfield, creator of the 5-Minutes Series, who learned the game the same way you will: one tile at a time.
Instant access · Learn on any device · Go at your own pace
Sound familiar?
Everyone's playing Mahjong. You'd love to join in, but where do you even start?
Maybe your friends have a weekly game. Maybe you've seen the beautiful tiles and thought, "I want to learn that." Then you sat down, looked at the card, and it might as well have been written in code.
Good news: nobody is born knowing Mahjong. Everyone learns it one piece at a time. This course just puts the pieces in the right order, so it finally clicks.
Why I made this course
My wife got me hooked.
Now I'd like to hook you.
It started with Kerry
My wife, Kerry, is the reason I fell for American Mahjong. I came to the table as a total beginner, so I built this course for beginners: plain words, small steps, and lots of practice.
Learn alongside Dottie and Hal
You'll learn with two beginners who ask the questions you're thinking, make the mistakes you'd make, and figure it out right along with you.
One Practice Hand, start to finish
Instead of jumping around, you'll follow one Practice Hand all the way through, from the deal to “Mahjong!”, so every lesson builds on the last.
The transformation
Where you are now, and where this takes you
What you'll learn
Four modules. From first rack to first win.
Short, friendly lessons with practice built in, so you're playing, not just watching.
The Tiles & the Table
Meet every tile, from Craks, Bams and Dots to winds, dragons, flowers and jokers, and set up the table.
Reading the Card
Learn how the card works, what the hands mean, and how to pick one that fits your tiles.
The Charleston
Master the tile-passing dance at the start of every game, and use it to build your hand.
Playing to Mahjong
Draw, discard, call tiles and finish your hand, all the way to your first “Mahjong!”
Everything included
Not just watching. You'll actually play.
Play Along lessons
Lessons where you make the calls: which tiles to keep, what to pass, when to call. Learning by doing.
One Practice Hand
Follow a single hand from the deal to “Mahjong!” so the whole game finally makes sense.
A workbook
A companion workbook to keep beside you as you learn and play.
Narrated flash cards
Learn the tiles and terms by hearing and seeing them, as many times as you like.
Quick self-checks
Short check-ins so you know you've got it before moving on.
30-day money-back guarantee
Try it for a full month. If it isn't right for you, you get your money back.
Your guide
Hi, I'm John Mayfield.
I've spent nearly five decades teaching, mostly real estate, and I created the 5-Minutes Series to make learning anything feel simple: short lessons, clear steps, and lots of practice.
Mahjong is personal for me. My wife, Kerry, got me hooked, and I learned as a complete beginner. I built Crak, Bam, Dot! so you can skip the confusion I went through and get to the fun part: sitting down at the table and playing.
Join today
Pull up a chair
- Four modules, from your first rack to your first “Mahjong!”
- One Practice Hand followed all the way through
- Play Along lessons where you make the calls
- A workbook, narrated flash cards and quick self-checks
- Learn alongside two beginners, Dottie and Hal
- Learn on any device, at your own pace
What students say
Learning from John
"John Mayfield has been the most friendly and helpful instructor of my career! His courses are exceptional, from the study guides to the practice tests, I was able to pass my exam with flying colors. Thank you John!"
Lara P.Google review"John has a great course! His voice is so pleasant on the recordings. Learning made simple! … He always answered promptly when I had a question. Hope to meet you someday John!"
Betty M.Google review"A special thank you to John Mayfield for his excellent instruction. John does a fantastic job of presenting the material in a clear, concise, and practical way. … Five stars all the way!"
Paul R.Google reviewFrom Google reviews of John's real estate courses at Global Real Estate School.
Questions
Frequently asked
I've never played. Is this for me?
Yes. The course starts from scratch, with your very first rack of tiles, and assumes you know nothing about the game.
Which kind of Mahjong is this?
American Mahjong, the version played with the yearly National Mah Jongg League card. It's different from Chinese, Hong Kong or Japanese (Riichi) Mahjong.
Do I need to buy the official card first?
No. You'll learn with our own made-up practice card. When you're ready to play with friends, you'll buy the official National Mah Jongg League card, which is published new each year.
Do I need my own Mahjong set?
Not to start learning. The lessons, Play Alongs and flash cards are all online. When you're ready for a real game, you'll want a set.
How long does it take?
The lessons are short, so you can learn in small bites at your own pace and replay anything as often as you like.
How long do I have access?
Unlimited. Once you enroll, the course is yours to come back to anytime: replay lessons, review the materials and practice as often as you like.
What if it isn't right for me?
You're covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If the course isn't a fit, ask for a refund within 30 days.
A few minutes at a time
Gather your friends.
Your seat at the game is waiting.
Start Crak, Bam, Dot! today, and be ready for your first real game sooner than you think.
Start Learning Mahjong for $4830-day money-back guaranteeThe companion book
Take the lessons off the screen. Crak, Bam, Dot! is available now in print on Amazon, a handy companion to keep at the table.
See it on Amazon ↗Weekly encouragement
Five minutes of encouragement, every week
Each week John sends a short motivational tip, a recorded affirmation or a quick video. You'll also be the first to hear when new courses launch, plus subscriber-only offers.
- Weekly tip or video
- New course alerts
- Subscriber offers