Overview:
Mahj Squad, a Denver-based women-owned small business, is introducing mahjong, a Chinese gaming tradition, to Colorado.
Click. Clack. The sound of polished tiles sliding across a table fills the room as four players lean in, eyes scanning their hands, calculating their next move. This is mahjong—a fast-paced, strategic tile game that combines the luck of the draw with the thrill of a good time with friends and family.
Often compared to rummy, the goal is to complete a winning hand from a set of 13 tiles, using numbered suits, special jokers and matching patterns. And in Denver, the centuries-old game is having a major moment.
“Mahjong is so fun,” said Denise Stencel of Aurora, who started playing Mahjong in March 2025. “It’s a great way to get together with your friends, use your brain and get better at a skill together.”
Although mahjong was created along the Yangtze River in China in the 19th century, Jewish Americans have helped to popularize an American version of the classic game 88 years ago. The American version is simpler than the Chinese version, with joker tiles that serve as wild cards and a slower pace of play, among other changes.
The game is complicated and difficult to learn and understand, which has led to the rise in popularity of mahjong tutors in the United States to assist new players. While the Jewish community has been the lifeblood of American Mahjong for over a century, it began to gain mainstream popularity after the film “Crazy Rich Asians” was released in 2018, particularly among women.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, even more Americans decided to learn the complex game while confined indoors. Since then, mahjong has swept across American cities.
Despite finding mainstream appeal in cities like Charlotte, North Carolina and Dallas, Texas, mahjong never fully caught on in Denver. That was until Shaw Morris and Kelly Warren, two Denver residents and longtime friends, jumped on the mahjong train two years ago in an effort to pick up a new hobby.
Recognizing Denver’s mahjong scene was missing something, Morris and Warren saw a business opportunity. Other major cities in the United States had fun mahjong tutors that catered to a wider demographic, so they thought, why couldn’t they do that in Denver?
“We saw a need for it here in the market in Denver,” Warren said. “Mahjong hadn’t really taken off here like it had for other cities in the country. We saw a need for a more fun way to teach.”
In 2024, Morris and Warren founded Mahj Squad, their own tutoring group that hosts in-home mahjong lessons and parties in a fun, trendy way. Since then, they report that mahjong has grown rapidly in the Mile High City.
“This last year has been crazy,” Morris said. “[Mahjong] has completely taken off. It’s like Mahjong Mania [in Denver].”
Mahj Squad’s motto is simple: have fun. Players are encouraged to drink, snack and chat to their heart’s content.
“I think we took our style and how we wanted our clients to feel while playing” Morris said. “We really wanted to make mahjong more approachable, fun and not intimidating. There are a lot of rules so it can be intimidating, but we just want to make the game fun and engaging for everyone to play.”
Since starting teaching lessons, their small business has caught on like wildfire. Warren and Morris typically host two lessons per day and 50 per month, traveling all across the state to bring mahjong into new homes. From Martinis and Mahjong parties to corporate team-building events, the Mahj Squad has been busy bringing their passion and the joy of the game all across the state of Colorado.
“It’s been busy but fun,” Warren said. “My mom always asks me, ‘Did you think you guys would ever be this busy?’ I tell her yes, we saw the potential, but it’s really taken off. I think people have really gravitated towards us and our business, the community and the brand, and that has been really fun to see come to life.”
According to Morris, Mahj Squad’s efforts to grow the Denver mahjong scene have paid off in a big way. She says that she and Warren often get recognized within the community.
“We’re so proud of [Mahj Squad],” Morris said. “I was at an event on Monday night and someone told me that they’ve heard about our business five times this week.”
Things have gotten to the point with Mahj Squad that it’s hard to keep up with demand. Because of that, the next step for Mahj Squad is expansion across the state of Colorado.
“We’re expanding to different cities, like Boulder and Colorado Springs,” Morris said. “We want to continue expanding to Mountain towns as well. We’re also adding instructors beyond the two of us so we can keep up with the demand. We want to be able to say yes to everyone and we want to accommodate everyone who wants a Mahj Squad lesson.”
Morris and Warren are proud of their successful, women-owned small business and take immense pride that their work is helping to bring people together in person.
“People have been loving having mahjong at their events,” Warren said. “It’s great to have face-to-face social interaction in such a technology-driven world. It’s nice to set that aside, play a game and engage with people in that manner.”
Most importantly, the Mahj Squad is bringing a new activity to Coloradans everywhere, which is what they take the most pride in. It costs $60 per person for groups of 5 or more.
“Having fun is the most important part,” Warren said. “That’s what we’re here to do. We’re not the fun police. We still teach the rules, but at the end of the day, it’s all about the community and having fun with others.”
