'Going nutso': Mahjong's growing popularity keeps Omaha instructors busy Marjie Ducey World-Herald Staff Writer Aug 30, 2026 Aug 30, 2026 Updated 3 hrs ago 0 × Mahjong with Mary brings community members together to learn the game. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Mahjong teacher Silvia Conley can barely keep up with demand. Neither can her former student, Mary McBride.kAmt249 @7 |4qC:56VD 4=2DD6D :D FDF2==J 7F==j r@?=6J :D 3@@<65 EH@ >@?E9D :? 25G2?46]k^AmkAm“%92E’D E96 4C2K:?6DD[” r@?=6J D2:5] “xE’D 8@:?8 ?FED@] x’> E@ E96 A@:?E H96C6 x E6249 6G6CJ 52J]”k^Am Mary McBride of Mahjong with Mary teaches a mahjong class. Instructors are having a hard time keeping up with the demand. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD kAm|29;@?8[ 2 E:=6\32D65 82>6 E92E @C:8:?2E65 :? r9:?2 :? E96 >:5\`hE9 46?EFCJ[ :D @? 7:C6 :? ~>292] {6DD@?D 2C6 :? 56>2?5[ =628F6D 2C6 7@C>:?8 2?5 >@C6 2?5 >@C6 A=246D 2C6 @776C:?8 DA@ED E@ A=2J]k^Am kAm#646?E=J[ E96 7:CDE >2;@C E@FC?2>6?E H2D 96=5 :? ~>292[ H:E9 `da A2CE:4:A2?ED 7C@> `e DE2E6D]k^Am People are also reading… Nebraska volleyball vs. Florida live updates, stats and highlights Nebraska volleyball vs SMU live updates, states and highlights Western Nebraska Football Top 5s: Full slate starts Thursday Waverly man gets prison time for meth, 'makeshift steroid lab' Nebraska volleyball vs. UNLV live updates, stats and highlights Garner ordered to pay $309K for storm damage preceding 2024 tornado Recent real estate transactions in the Lincoln area Former Nebraska running back scores first NFL preseason touchdown How to watch Nebraska volleyball vs UNLV on Saturday: Time, TV channel LGBTQ+ bar in northeast Lincoln closing Lincoln police captain suspended after allegedly leaving toddler inside locked van ‘Be an athlete’: First-time quarterback delivers Millard West past Lincoln Southeast Kearney one vote away from approval for massive data center New lead prompts fresh investigation into Regina Bos’ 2000 disappearance ‘The Next Pro’ shows there’s strength on the ‘DWTS’ bench kAm“x 4@F=5 92G6 925 >@C6[ 3FE E96 C@@> H@F=5 @?=J 244@>>@52E6 FA E@ `e_[” ~9:@ @C82?:K6C |2C:=J? q@D<:?5 D2:5] “xE :D ?@H 2 G6CJ A@AF=2C EC6?5[ 2?5 :E :D 46CE2:?=J 8C@H:?8]k^Am Mahjong tiles are scattered on a table during a mahjong class. They come in all kinds of varieties, from sports themes to holidays. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD kAmq@E9 @?=:?6 2?5 :? A6CD@?[ >:==:@?D A=2J >29;@?8] ~?=:?6[ E96J 5@ D@ FD:?8 A=2E7@C>D =:<6 |29;@?8 c uC:6?5D[ H9:=6 v@@8=6 D62C496D 7@C :?\A6CD@? 6G6?ED 2?5 4=F3D 24C@DD E96 &]$] 92G6 DFC865 :? C646?E J62CD] x?\A6CD@? 82E96C:?8D EC24<65 3J tG6?E3C:E6 ;F>A65 `fhT 36EH66? a_ab 2?5 a_ac]k^Am kAm|4qC:56[ H9@ :D 2=D@ D@>6E:>6D <?@H? =@42==J 2D |29;@?8 |2CJ[ 42==D :E E96 “?6H 3C:586]”k^Am kAm$96 2?5 A2CE?6CD tC:42 |@==6C 2?5 |6=2?:6 (@=77 2C6 EC2?D7@C>:?8 2 DE@C67C@?E :? q6= p:C !=2K2 2E `a`DE 2?5 (6DE r6?E6C #@25 E@ 2 A=246 H96C6 A6@A=6 42? A=2J 2?5 =62C? E96 82>6 2?5 AFC492D6 2446DD@C:6D]k^Am kAmw6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>29;@?8H:E9>2CJ]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm|29;@?8 H:E9 |2CJk^2m DEF5:@ 4=@D6D 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 >@?E9 2?5 C6@A6?D 2D E96 $@4:2= $A2CC@H @? ~4E] `]k^Am kAms6G@E66 q6E9 '2? sJ<6 D2:5 >29;@?8 D66>D E@ 36 E2<:?8 E96 A=246 @7 42C5 82>6D 25F=ED @?46 A=2J65 H:E9 E96:C 7C:6?5D] *@F?8 >@>D[ |4qC:56 D2:5[ 2C6 FD:?8 :E E@ 4@??64E H9:=6 6?;@J:?8 2 ?:89E 2H2J 7C@> E96:C A9@?6D]k^Am Silvia Conley has written a book about mahjong. She's been teaching the game for several years. SILVIA CONLEY kAmr@?=6J 3682? E6249:?8 27E6C =62C?:?8 E96 82>6 ?:?6 J62CD 28@] $96 3C62<D `a 9@FCD @7 4=2DD :?E@ 7@FC D6DD:@?D[ D@ A6@A=6 766= 4@>7@CE23=6 H:E9 E96 82>6VD :?EC:424:6D]k^AmkAm!C:46D G2CJ[ H:E9 D@>6 2D =@H 2D Sa_ 7@C :?7@C>2E:@?2= =6DD@?D FA E@ Sh_] r@?=6J 492C86D Sgd 7@C `a 9@FCD] $96’D E2F89E ?62C=J `[___ A6@A=6 E9C@F89 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@>29;@?8]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm~>29;@?8k^2m[ H9:49 :D H9J |4qC:56 42==D 96C E96 ~v[ D9@CE 7@C E96 @C:8:?2=]k^Am kAmr@?=6J 4C65:ED >29;@?8’D A@AF=2C:EJ E@ E96 H2J :E 3F:=5D 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E96 362FEJ @7 E96 E:=6D FD65 E@ A=2J E96 82>6]k^AmkAm%@ H:? 2 DE2?52C5 82>6 @7 p>6C:42? >29;@?8[ J@F >FDE 36 E96 7:CDE A=2J6C E@ 4@>A=6E6 2 92?5 @7 `c E:=6D 32D65 @? 2 DA64:2= 42C5[ H9:49 :D :DDF65 6249 J62C 7@C S`d 3J E96 }2E:@?2= |29 y@?88 {628F6] %96 a_ae 42C5 :D E96 8C@FAVD ghE9 J62C]k^Am Students sort tiles during a mahjong class. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD kAm“s6D:8?6C E:=6D 2C6 6G6CJH96C6[” r@?=6J D2:5] “tG6CJ@?6 :D 56D:8?:?8 E96:C @H? DJ>3@=D[ E96:C @H? E96>6D] x7 J@F 2C6 2 A:4<=632==6C[ J@F 42? 86E >29;@?8 E:=6D H:E9 2 A:4<=632== E96>6] ~C 2 9@=:52J E96>6]”k^Am kAm'2? sJ<6[ H9@ D2:5 D96’D @3D6DD65 H:E9 E96 82>6[ H6?E 9@CD6324< C:5:?8 H:E9 2 7C:6?5 C646?E=J[ 2?5 E96J A=2J65 >29;@?8 27E6CH2C5 H:E9 9@CD6 E:=6D]k^Am kAm$:?46 =62C?:?8 :? ~4E@36C[ D96’D EC2?D7@C>65 96C 4C27E C@@> :?E@ 2 5F2= >29;@?8 2C62 2?5 4@?G:?465 96C 9FD32?5 |:<6[ E96 @H?6C @7 p=<2C q:==:2C5D U2>Aj q2CDE@@=D[ E@ 56G@E6 2 4@C?6C @7 E96 D9@A E@ E96 82>6]k^Am Alkar Billiards & Barstools has added a mahjong corner with all sorts of equipment and accessories. MIKE VAN DYKE kAm$96’D :?4=F565 E:=6D[ >2ED 2?5 C24<D[ H:E9 4FDE@> >29;@?8 E23=6D[ 4=@E9:?8 2?5 2446DD@C:6D D@FC465 =@42==J] w2ED[ 4FAD 2?5 ;6H6=CJ 2C6 >256 3J |:<6’D D:DE6C] y6??J q64<6C]k^Am kAm“%96C6 42? ?6G6C 36 6?@F89 D6ED 2?5 6?@F89 >2ED 7@C D@>6 A6@A=6[” '2? sJ<6 D2:5] “xE’D 2=H2JD 492?8:?8]”k^AmkAmx? $6AE6>36C[ D96 A=2?D E@ DE2CE 9@=5:?8 =628F6 6G6?ED 2E E96 D9@A[ H9:49 92D @A6C2E65 :? ~>292 7@C g_ J62CD]k^Am Mary McBride of Mahjong with Mary teaches a mahjong class. She'll be moving to a place at Bel Air Plaza in October. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD kAm(9:=6 H@>6? A=2J6CD 2C6 AC65@>:?2?E :? E96 ~>292 2C62[ }:49@=2D (6:=2?5 3682? A=2J:?8 H96? 9:D H:76[ p=:I[ D:8?65 E96> FA 7@C =6DD@?D H:E9 |4qC:56 :? u63CF2CJ]k^Am kAmp=:I 3642>6 :?EC:8F65 27E6C D66:?8 E96 82>6 A=2J65 @? E96 %' D9@H[ “%96 |2CG6=@FD |CD] |2:D6=]” $96 =:<6D E92E E96C6 2C6 2 >:==:@? 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D96 E62496D :D Q6IA=@5:?8Q :? ~>292[ D96 D2JD]k^Am kAmQxE’D 2 9:89=J :?E6==64EF2=[ 9:89=J DEC2E68:4 2?5 2 9:89=J 46C63C2= 82>6[” D96 D2:5]k^AmkAmr@?=6J 92D 364@>6 D@ :>>6CD65 :? >29;@?8 E92E D96’D HC:EE6? 2 3@@< 23@FE E96 E:=6D FD65 E@ A=2J E96 82>6] xE’D 862C65 E@H2C5 A6@A=6 H9@ <?@H E96 82>6 2?5 H2?E E@ D92C6 :E H:E9 E96 J@F?8DE6CD :? E96:C =:G6D]k^AmkAm%92E’D A2CE @7 E96 362FEJ @7 E96 82>6[ D96 D2:5] xE 2AA62=D E@ A6@A=6 @7 2== 286D[ H9@[ r@?=6J D2:5[ D66> E@ 36 C625J 7@C 2 492==6?86]k^Am kAm“(6’G6 925 @FC qF?<@ 52JD[ H9:49 :D 23@FE 2D D:>A=6 2D :E 42? 36[” D96 D2:5] “r92==6?8:?8 42? DE:== 36 7F?]”k^Am Photos: Mahjong play rises in Omaha Mary McBride of Mahjong with Mary teaches a mahjong class. She'll be moving to a place at Bel Air Plaza in October. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD Mary McBride of Mahjong with Mary teaches a mahjong class in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD A student stacks tiles while taking a mahjong class at Mahjong with Mary in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD Mary McBride of Mahjong with Mary, teaches a mahjong class in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD Mahjong tiles are scattered on a table during a mahjong class in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD Students sort tiles during a mahjong class in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD Students sort tiles during a mahjong class in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD Mary McBride, left, and Melanie Wolff teach a mahjong class in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD Mahjong tiles are scattered on a table during a mahjong class. They come in all kinds of varieties, from sports themes to holidays. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD Mary McBride of Mahjong with Mary, teaches a mahjong class in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD Mary McBride of Mahjong with Mary poses for a portrait where she teaches a mahjong class in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. CHRIS MACHIAN,THE WORLD-HERALD marjie.ducey@owh.com, 402-444-1034, twitter.com/mduceyowh 0 Comments Locations Omaha Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Mahjong with Mary brings community together to learn tile game Mahjong with Mary brings community members together to learn the game. 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Mahjong with Mary brings community together to learn tile game Mahjong with Mary brings community members together to learn the game.
