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summer Mahjong This tabletop game is similar to gin rummy, but instead of cards, three or four players shuffle tiles and work quickly to create matching sets. The game originated in China in the 1800s, was introduced to the U.S. in the 1920s and has since become popular worldwide, according to Annelise Heinz, author of “Mahjong: A Chinese Game and the Making of Modern American Culture.” Pittsboro residents Alice Wertheimer and Alice Patlovich are local mahjong experts and help beginners navigate rules and scoring. They meet at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays
Deb Ross focuses on her mahjong hand.
games families
play
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA-RHESA VERSOLA
W
hen summer heats up, seek refuge in the air-conditioned buildings of Chatham County libraries and play club games like mahjong and chess or click with younger kids by playing with Legos. 90
CHATHAM MAGAZINE
SUMMER 2023