Not only is Siamese Mah Jongg^® an excellent game, it was also a great inspiration for me to create Card Free American Mah Jongg. Though the standard NMJL game went through many changes over the decades, it seems to have settled into a standard official version that many players take to be the gospel for how Mah Jongg should be played. In fact, there can be quite a lot of resistance to trying something new from players who adhere to the official NMJL rules. And yet, the immensely inventive Gladys Grad created Siamese Mah Jongg^®, a truly unique variation where you play with two racks and create two hands for double Mah Jongg. Over the last 10 years, this version has grown to be extremely popular with both new and experienced players, proving that the game can evolve in new directions without harming the official standard game. In fact, I would argue that finding new ways to play may help bring in new people, who then may find their way to the standard game. I am truly inspired by Gladys and all of the players who are willing to try new ideas to keep this game evolving.

Luckily, Card Free American Mah Jongg works seamlessly with Siamese Mah Jongg^® rules. To play Siamese with the Card Free system, all you have to do is follow the Card Free rules for making winning hands while following the gameplay rules of Siamese Mah Jongg^®. That’s it!  I have played a lot of hands of Card Free Siamese, and I find it fast and fun. I hope you give it a try too.

I do recommend, once you have a couple Card Free Siamese games under your belt, that you implement Card Free House Rule #2 requiring each Mah Jongg hand to score at least one bonus, be self-picked, be Jokerless, or be a Special Dragon Hand. Because you get so many tiles at the start and the Card Free winning hand system is so flexible, you may find the game too easy if you don’t limit the possible hands using this house rule. Of course it is up to you, and if you want a light and breezy game, ignore this suggestion, but if you don’t want the game to feel too easy, I would implement this rule.

I can’t recommend Siamese Mah Jongg^® highly enough. Gladys Grad created an amazing variant that deserves to be recognized as the most valuable contribution to the gameplay of American Mah Jongg since the standardization of using 8 Jokers and 8 Flowers back in 1971! 

Please check out the Siamese Mah Jongg^® official website at SiameseMahJongg.com where you can find the rules,  equipment and much more.

Alsol, check out the Siamese Mah Jongg^® facebook group.