Bringing People Together, One Tile At A Time 


Lisa Birnbaum,

American Mahjong Instructor 

Hi, I'm Lisa! Let's talk MAHJ!

I've been playing American Mahjong for over 25 years and I'm thrilled to bring you District Mahjong and share my love of the game! My family has always loved board games, so I know first hand that some of the best memories are made around a table, filled with laughter, connection and a little friendly competition.Through lessons, open play and thoughtfully curated events, District Mahjong makes the game approachable, social and fun.

My goal is to create a space where players of all levels feel confident, supported and excited to play. Whether you're brand new to the game or ready to sharpen your skills, District Mahjong is a place to learn, connect and truly enjoy the experience of gathering around the table! 

Book Now

Proudly Serving the DMV

A woman smiling while playing mahjong at a table covered with mahjong tiles.

Potomac, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Chevy Chase, Washington DC, Northern Virginia & I can travel to you!

Oh My Mahjong Certified Instructor 

Oh My Mahjong Certification

OFFERINGS

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OFFERINGS 🀓

Curious about a lesson? Click the #flower to learn more!

All group lessons are 2.5 hours. Private lessons are 2 hours.

  • 3 Lessons. 1 New Obsession. 

  • Learn the language of Mahjong! We'll introduce the tiles, decode the NMJL card, cover the essential rules and play your first game with open hands. No experience necessary, just curiosity!

  • It's time to put your new skills to work! Learn to set up the table, build your wall, deal the tiles and get comfortable with the Charleston. We'll practice choosing hands and develop your strategy through guided games. 

  • You're officially in the game! Enjoy supervised play as we put your skills to the test with helpful strategy tips and plenty of encouragement! As a group, we will discuss each player's hands and opportunities to improve your game. Your next Mahjong night awaits!

  • More Strategy. More Confidence, More MAHJ!

    You've mastered the basics in Mahj 101, now it's time to take your game to the next level. Mahj 102 is designed for players ready to sharpen your skills, think strategically, learn to pivot and play with more confidence. Through guided play, we'll dive deeper into choosing and switching hands, mastering the Charleston, reading the table and knowing when to call a tile and when to let it go. Less time learning the rules and more time playing, strategizing and helping you make smarter moves with every game.

    Prerequisite: Completion of Mahjong 101 3-Class Series (or equivalent beginner experience)

  • 1 Lesson. All the Fun.

    Short on time but ready to see what all the hype is about? Mahj Mini is a fun, interactive introduction to Mahjong! This one time group lesson is perfect for beginners looking to check out the tiles and the game without committing to the 3-lesson series. We'll introduce the tiles, decode the NMJL card, cover the basics and get you playing with guided instruction and open hands. 

  • Personalized Lessons at Your Own Pace

    Whether you're brand new to Mahjong, need a refresher or want to sharpen your strategy, private lessons are all about YOU! Enjoy personalized instruction tailored to your skill level, learn at your own pace and ask all the questions you want. We'll build your confidence, work on your game and have plenty of fun along the way!

  • Custom Mahjong Experiences for Every Occassion

    Looking for a fun twist on your next gathering? Let's make it a MAHJ party! Think birthdays, girls nights, bridal showers, corporate events and everything in between. District Mahjong brings the tiles, the fun and a little friendly competition to your celebration. Whether your guests are brand new beginners or seasoned players, we'll customize the experience with lessons, guided play or a little bit of both. You gather your friends or co-workers and I'll take care of everything Mahjong! 

Four women sitting around a table playing a game of Mahjong, with tiles and score sheets spread out on the table.
Two women smiling and sitting behind a Mahjong game with tiles on the table.
Six women gathered around a table playing a game of Mahjong, smiling and posing for the photo in a cozy kitchen with cream-colored cabinets and a stainless steel oven.

EVENTS

Team Building Mahjong

A team building class for employees at The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Have an idea for an event? Fill out the contact form. I’d love to work with you!

payment

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payment 🀣

Two women playing Mahjong at a table decorated with Pink and white napkins and Mahjong tiles. The woman on the left is wearing glasses and a floral dress, while the woman on the right is wearing a sleeveless top with long dark hair. The table has two pink containers for game pieces, and there are drinks and writing tools nearby, in a brightly lit room with windows and greenery outside.

Once your session is scheduled, please send payment via Venmo or Zelle. Can't wait to MAHJ together!

Venmo
Zelle

From The Mahj Table

  • I can’t say enough wonderful things about Lisa! She is a natural teacher! She’s so patient, thorough, encouraging, and incredibly knowledgeable. She made learning Mahjong feel fun and approachable, even for our beginner group! You can truly tell that teaching comes naturally to her. She has the ability to explain things clearly, repeat and review concepts without ever making you feel rushed. She created such a comfortable and enjoyable learning environment, and after the series of three Mahj 101 lessons, we felt confident and excited to keep playing. I feel so lucky to have learned from her and would highly recommend her to anyone who wants to learn Mahjong!

    - Ilene H

  • I had the pleasure of learning Mahjong from Lisa, and I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher! She is incredibly patient, kind, extremely knowledgeable, and encouraging, and she made learning something new feel easy and fun. Lisa was always so helpful and accommodating, and genuinely a pleasure to learn from. I’m so grateful she taught me the game and would highly recommend her to anyone who wants to learn Mahjong! I’m officially obsessed!

    - Marti C

  • Lisa is the best Mahjong teacher! She made it really easy for me to understand the game. Once I understood how to play she gave me lots of strategy tips, particularly for the Charleston which can be really tricky for a new player.

    - Jill S

  • Lisa is such a wonderful Mahjong teacher! She is incredibly patient, organized and makes every class so much fun. I highly recommend her three class beginner package. It’s a great way to learn the game without feeling overwhelmed. Lisa makes everything easy to understand and I left each class feeling more confident and excited to play!

    - Sherri H

  • Lisa is the best Mahjong teacher. She not only makes it fun but her teaching is right on point. I loved every minute learning and now I love playing Mahjong!

    - Keri H

  • District Mahjong made learning so much fun! Lisa is an incredible teacher! She’s patient, clear, engaging and had me feeling confident enough to actually play and love the game from the start.

    - Monica P

  • The BEST Mahjong  teacher EVER! She made learning so much fun and so easy, and somehow turned every lesson into the best time together. So grateful for all the laughs and fun!

    - Dana E

  • Learning Mahjong??? You definitely need and want to learn from District Mahjong. Lisa is  an amazing teacher! She brings enthusiasm, expertise and joy to this game. She is so articulate and keeps you focused on your planning, playing and the end game. Thank you so much Lisa for such a wonderful experience.

    - Patti P

  • I highly recommend District Mahjong, especially the package of three Mahj 101 lessons. Lisa is an amazing teacher and a master at Mahjong. She makes learning the game fun and easy. Lisa is incredibly patient and helps you build confidence and skill by fully explaining each step of the game and helping you with strategies to play the game. After learning from Lisa, the game “clicked” for me and I feel ready to play with friends for years … can’t wait and I owe it to her!

    - Kelli L

  • We organized mahjong classes for a group of neighbors, and Lisa came to us with all her beautiful sets, making the experience feel extra special! Her clear explanations made the game easy to follow, and she provided thoughtful feedback throughout, helping us feel more confident as we played. I really enjoyed the experience and highly recommend District Mahjong. It was such a lovely way to learn something new and connect with neighbors!

    - Claudia T

  • It took me a while to commit to learning Mahjong because it looked so intimidating. Since all of my friends were already playing, I decided to give it a try to see if I would love it as much as they did. I signed up for lessons with District Mahjong who taught me the fundamentals of the game. Lisa was super patient and made me feel really comfortable during the whole process. I now have a deep love for the game and enjoy getting to play with my friends on a weekly basis. Mahjong is so much fun and I love having a new hobby.

    - Laura P

  • Lisa brings her light to the game of Mahjong! She is an inspirational teacher and so knowledgable she can play everyone’s hand at once! A five star experience. Thank you District Mahjong!

    - Susan S.

Get In Touch

Have questions? Ready to play? Let's Connect!

Whether you're brand new to the tiles, looking to up your game or planning a Mahj party, I'd love to hear from you!

Tell me a little about yourself and I'll get back to you within 1-2 business days.