The Bambird Scramble, now in Chicago.
A mahjong league that plays on your schedule.
Fall 2026 Scramble
September 14 — November 15 | Registration is open now!
About the Bambird Scramble
The Mahjong Society is partnering with the Bambird Scramble to bring the Scramble to Chicago this fall!
The Scramble is a flexible, 9-week American mahjong league designed to help you play more, meet more players, and add a little friendly competition to your game, all without committing to the same night every week.
Instead of meeting at a set time and place, Scramble players arrange their own matches throughout the season. Use the Bambird Scramble platform to propose or accept a match, then meet up and play.
Play as often as you’d like; your top two scores each week count toward the leaderboard.
How it works
Join the Chicago Scramble and connect with other local players
Propose matches or accept matches from other players through the Bambird Scramble platform
Choose the dates, times, and locations that work for you
Play as many matches as you’d like throughout the season
Your top two scores each week count toward the leaderboard
Follow the standings as the season progresses
Compete for prizes, mahjong merch, and bragging rights
Who should join?
The Scramble is designed for mahjong players of all levels who can play American mahjong independently. You don't need to be an experienced competitive player and you don't need to clear the same night on your calendar for nine weeks.
It's a great fit if you want to play more mahjong, meet new people, sharpen your game, or try competitive play in a fun, flexible format.
Play a little or play a lot. Schedule matches around your life. Meet new mahjong friends across Chicago. And see how far you can climb.
FAQs & Things to Know
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The Lucky League meets once a week at the same time and place. The Scramble is up to you — you set the matches on your own schedule in a place of your choosing.
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Absolutely — the Scramble is a great supplement to the League for players looking for more mahjong.
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You need to be comfortable with NMJL rules, but you do not need to be an expert player. The Scramble allows you to indicate your experience level but is designed for mixed-level play.
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A Scramble match can be proposed at any time, so yes! This is ideal for players whose schedules are unpredictable or who prefer playing during the day rather than the evening.
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All Scramble players will have access to the Bambird Scramble app. Players will be able to see the schedule of proposed matches (or propose one of their own) and RSVP for that match.
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That’s up to to you! You can suggest a coffee shop, the library, a public park, your own home — wherever it’s convenient.
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The Scramble lasts for 9 weeks and you can play as much or as little as you’d like. Only your top 2 scores from each week will be added to your leaderboard score.
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The Scramble follows NMJL rules and uses the value of each hand as points. You can earn an extra +10 for a self-picked hand & an extra +20 for a Jokerless hand (except for Singles & Pairs hands which are already Jokerless.)
Example: A player wins a hand valued at 25. There are no Jokers and they drew the tile themselves. They get 25 points for the hand, plus 20 points for no Jokers and 10 points for self-picking. They would earn 55 points for that game. -
The Bambird Scramble is run by a separate entity — it is not run by The Mahjong Society. TMS has partnered with them to bring the Scramble to Chicago but does not oversee the rules, scoring, or anything else.