10/6/2026 🀄 Mahjong 103 | Play the Hand: Strategy, Card Skills & Savvy Play With Jennifer Liagridonis

When: October 6th 2026, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Where: 2419 Village Green Place, Champaign, IL 61822

You know the rules. Now it’s time to play smarter.

Welcome to Play the Hand , Grovestone’s Mahjong 103 class designed for players who understand how to play American Mahjong and are ready to take the next step.

Mahjong 101 taught you the fundamentals. Mahjong 102 helped you become more comfortable playing complete hands. Now Mahjong 103 is where we begin focusing on strategy, card skills, decision-making, and intentional play .

Join Jennifer Liagridonis for an interactive class that goes beyond simply knowing the rules. You’ll learn how to look at the tiles you’ve been dealt, navigate the National Mah Jongg League® card more effectively, identify promising directions, evaluate your options, and make smarter decisions as the game unfolds.

We’ll talk through the questions every developing Mahjong player eventually starts asking:

Which hand should I choose? When should I commit? When should I change direction? What should I keep? What should I discard? And what should I be paying attention to at the table?

This is where those Mahjong “aha!” moments start happening.

Because the best hand isn’t always the one you start with—it’s what you do with the tiles you’re dealt.

Our wine bar and café will be open before class, so you're welcome to arrive early and relax with a glass of wine, handcrafted cocktail, refreshing mocktail, or freshly roasted organic coffee before class begins.

We'll also be serving complimentary fresh bread with Grovestone's premium extra virgin olive oils, barrel-aged balsamic vinegars, signature bread dipping seasonings, and additional gourmet tastings throughout the event.

Perfect for players who already know the fundamentals of American Mahjong and are ready to move beyond simply completing a game toward becoming more strategic, confident, and intentional players.

Who Should Attend

✔ Players who have completed Mahjong 102 | Table Ready

✔ Players who already understand the rules and flow of American Mahjong

✔ Players who can play a complete game but want to improve their decision-making

✔ Players who want to become faster and more confident reading the NMJL card

✔ Players who struggle with choosing between several possible hands

✔ Players who want to learn when to stay with a hand and when to pivot

✔ Players who are ready to begin thinking more strategically at the table

Please note: This is not a beginner class and does not teach American Mahjong from the beginning.

If you're brand new to the game, please begin with Mahjong 101 | Tile Talk: Fundamentals & First Moves .

If you understand the basics but still need guided practice completing games, we recommend Mahjong 102 | Table Ready: Review & Guided Play before taking Mahjong 103.

Here's What We'll Explore & Practice

✔ Reading the National Mah Jongg League® card more efficiently

✔ Evaluating your starting tiles

✔ Identifying multiple possible hands and directions

✔ Choosing a strong starting direction

✔ Understanding tile flexibility and which tiles give you the most options

✔ Knowing when to commit to a hand

✔ Recognizing when your hand isn't developing as planned

✔ Knowing when and how to pivot to another hand

✔ Making smarter Charleston decisions

✔ Deciding what to keep, pass, and discard

✔ Using jokers strategically

✔ Understanding the advantages and risks of exposures

✔ Paying attention to discarded tiles and exposed hands

✔ Recognizing which tiles may be becoming safer—or more dangerous—to discard

✔ Thinking ahead instead of simply playing one turn at a time

✔ Improving speed, confidence, and decision-making

✔ Applying strategy during actual game play

Throughout the class, Jennifer will talk through real Mahjong situations and help you understand why one decision may be stronger than another.

The goal isn't to memorize a list of tricks. It's to begin developing the ability to see your options, evaluate them, and make intentional decisions at the table.

Included With Your Registration

✔ Live instruction with Jennifer Liagridonis

✔ Strategy-focused instruction and game play

✔ All Mahjong sets, racks, tiles, and learning materials provided

✔ Complimentary fresh bread

✔ Premium olive oil tastings

✔ Barrel-aged balsamic vinegar tastings

✔ Signature bread dipping seasonings

✔ Additional gourmet tastings

Continue Your Mahjong Journey

Mahjong 103 doesn't have to be the end of your Mahjong journey. It's where playing regularly becomes even more valuable.

Put your new skills to work at Grovestone through:

✔ Mahjong Open Play sessions

✔ Social Mahjong gatherings

✔ Leagues

✔ Tournaments

✔ Special Mahjong events

We'll also have a curated collection of American Mahjong products available for purchase before and after class, including:

✔ Premium American Mahjong game sets

✔ Official National Mah Jongg League® Annual Cards (when available)

✔ Mahjong accessories and gifts

✔ Mahjong merchandise

Reserve your seat early! This class is intentionally limited so Jennifer can provide plenty of interaction, strategy discussion, and individual guidance.

Group Registration & Seating

American Mahjong is played with four players per table .

If you're registering with friends, we recommend that everyone in your group registers at the same time to help ensure your entire party can attend before the class sells out.

Seating is first come, first seated. We encourage guests to arrive early if they'd like to sit with friends. While we'll do our best to accommodate seating requests, they cannot be guaranteed.

If a table does not have four players, participants may be combined with other guests so everyone has the opportunity to play.

About the Class

Mahjong 103 combines strategy instruction, discussion, examples, and game play to help participants begin thinking beyond the mechanics of the game.

Participants should already understand the fundamentals of American Mahjong and be comfortable with the basic flow of play.

The purpose of this class is to help you become a more confident and thoughtful player by learning to evaluate your tiles, recognize possibilities, adjust as the game changes, and make more intentional decisions.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy wine, cocktails, mocktails, coffee, and Grovestone's complimentary gourmet tastings before class begins.

Bonus

🎉 Each guest will receive a 20% discount on American Mahjong merchandise, all Grovestone Olive Oils, Barrel-Aged Balsamic Vinegars, Spices, Rubs, and Bread Dipping Seasonings purchased during the event.

Cancellation Policy

There are no refunds or credits . If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another person at no additional charge. Please email store1001@grovestone.com with the new attendee's name, phone number, and email address before the class begins.

If you have any questions regarding your reservation, please contact us at store1001@grovestone.com . We're happy to help.

Food Allergy Information

Complimentary food tastings will be served during the event. Our facilities are not food allergen or gluten-free. Please note that we are not able to accommodate all dietary requests.

We recommend contacting us before registering if you have food allergies or dietary concerns.

Attention guests with food allergies: Our food may contain or come into contact with dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and other common allergens. While we take precautions to minimize cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.

Photography

Participants grant Grovestone permission to take photographs and/or video recordings for use on Grovestone's website, social media, publications, educational materials, and promotional content. By registering, participants acknowledge these images may be used without compensation.

Please Note

• All Mahjong equipment is provided during class.

• This is an intermediate-level class and assumes participants already understand the fundamentals and flow of American Mahjong.

• Mahjong 102 is strongly recommended for newer players before attending Mahjong 103.

• Guests are welcome to arrive early to enjoy beverages and socialize before instruction begins.

• Instructors, class content, and event schedules are subject to change.

• Classes are subject to cancellation or rescheduling if necessary.

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