This is not a typical evening at Mix It Up Home in Coeur d’Alene. 

The Sherman Avenue store that offers unique items like art, table linens, accent pieces and furniture has been taken over by women playing a game. 

There are about 20-30 of them, four to a table. There is music, food and drink. They are smiling and laughing and enjoying each other’s company. But they are also focused, intent and even serious. 

This is not just any board game. 

This is mahjong. Paying attention matters. A lot.

Julia Earl drove from Moscow to play what she described as a “beautiful game.” She likes the fun, the fellowship and how it challenges her. 

“It keeps your mind going,” Earl said. “It’s not really a competition with them as it is you just figuring it out.” 

So much is she a fan that she bought a mahjong board game for her grandchildren.

“They're better than me,” Earl said, laughing. 

Beth Rich, owner of Mix It Up Home, agreed to host mahjong parties after hiring Tricia Dzina, who moved here from Texas, where mahjong was big.

Not long after taking the sales associate job, Dzina asked, “Where do people play mahjong?” 

Rich shook her head.

“You live too far north for that,” she said. “We don’t play that game up here.” 

They do now. 

Dzina got the go-ahead to start a mahjong club at Mix It Up Home, where people can learn, play and buy the game and accessories. 

It’s been going and growing for nearly a year. They generally meet a few days a week for lessons and league competition. Even though it’s not a team sport, friendships have formed. 

A display in the store includes the game and mahjong-themed glasses and towels.

But for Rich, it's not about sales.

“I like the sense of community, which is exactly why Tricia wanted to do it,” Rich said. “For me, it’s an opportunity to include customers in a fun game, all together in one place."

How do you play 

Mahjong is a strategy game that originated in China and is played with small tiles with symbols. Generally, each game with four players last about 30 minutes.

Players start with 13 tiles and take turns drawing and discarding to create melds, which are groups of tiles like three-of-a-kind, four-of-a-kind and runs (like 2-3-4). Tiles in a run must be the same suit. Suits are indicated by the symbols on the tiles. The first player to collect four melds and a pair, 14 tiles total, wins. 

There’s defense and offense as players try to collect tiles to match one of the lines on the national mahjong game card, which comes out with new formations each year. 

“It's strategy and luck,” Dzina said. “You've got to really pay attention.” 

“It’s a game of patience and practice,” Rich added, “It’s a thinking man’s game.” 

Mahjong craze

Some in the league at Mix It Up Home are newbies. Others are veterans that own the game and practice at home.