<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2PyceT_0wPtVdKT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2PyceT_0wPtVdKT00" width="1134" height="636" ><figcaption>OK Let’s Mahjong founder Sydney Rainey Photo by: Charlie Neuenschwander</figcaption></figure>One round of Mahjong, and Sydney Rainey was hooked. The strategy, luck, social interactions—Rainey wanted more. So she began teaching the game to everyone she knew, and soon discovered a knack for introducing others to the game. Six months later, a business was born. Since February 2023, Rainey has been leading lessons through OK Let’s Mahjong. To keep up with demand, she’s added 10 instructors—mostly located in Oklahoma City, but also in Tulsa, Amarillo, Fort Worth and New York City. OK Let’s Mahjong is an ambassador for The Mahjong Line, so her team brings the most colorful and artistic tiles to the Mahjong table as well. We recently met with Rainey to discuss her young company and passion for the game. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=02kQxI_0wPtVdKT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=02kQxI_0wPtVdKT00" width="2048" height="1365" ><figcaption>Photo by Charlie Neuenschwander</figcaption></figure>Why should someone try Mahjong? You might find a community that you weren’t expecting. You might find that you’re really good at it, and you want to continue to play and learn, and even share it with your family. Mahjong is such a communal game … It is deeply rooted in a social scene and communal interaction and really building memories around the table. Tell us about your approach to teaching this complex game.I think that if you have someone that’s willing to take it step by step and explain it in a way that isn’t daunting and overwhelming, you can absorb it a lot better … Obviously, everybody is different in their learning styles and attention spans. Over time, I’ve started to get better at reading people and how much information they can handle all at one time. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1a0UWR_0wPtVdKT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1a0UWR_0wPtVdKT00" width="2048" height="1365" ><figcaption>Photo by: Charlie Neuenschwander</figcaption></figure>What is the difference between your private lessons and public events?Private lessons are definitely more focused on a group that’s already established that wants to learn. We come into your home or a venue where you want us to teach, like a country club, restaurant or coffee shop; it requires groups of four … We bring in the instructors, setup and full experience. But there are a lot of individuals out there who want to learn, and they don’t have a group. So we host public classes, typically at Bradford House.Does OK Let’s Mahjong offer anything for more experienced players?We do these sessions we call “Guided Play” or “Strategy Sessions” for players who know the rules and want to build confidence … I think the biggest thing people focus on as they continue to play is, “How do I make sense of this chaos I was just dealt?” <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4I04AZ_0wPtVdKT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4I04AZ_0wPtVdKT00" width="2048" height="1365" ><figcaption>Photo by: Charlie Neuenschwander</figcaption></figure>For those unfamiliar with Mahjong, describe what makes playing it so fun.You are dealt a hand of total chaos. You’ve got to make sense of it. You’ve got to figure out what line you’re going to go for, and you’re taking turns around the table and trying to assess what other people are doing … There’s a lot going on. Then, when you start to pick what you’re going for, you see light at the end of this tunnel; your heart starts to race. You’re like, “Am I going to make this happen?” … When you’re one tile away, the adrenaline rush is insane. You’re trying to keep a poker face. You can’t … Every time you draw you kind of, like, lose your breath. “Is this it?” There’s such an adrenaline rush that comes with being one tile away, and then actually making it happen, because it’s a big accomplishment. For more on OK Let’s Mahjong check out okletsmahjong.com</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

In Convo With: OK Let’s Mahjong founder Sydney Rainey

One round of Mahjong, and Sydney Rainey was hooked. The strategy, luck, social interactions—Rainey wanted more. So she began teaching the game to everyone she knew, and soon discovered a knack for introducing others to the game. Six months later, a business was born. Since February 2023, Rainey has...