Everything you need to know about playing in a League at The Hidden Parlor.

League at a Glance

A Hidden Parlor League is a six-session season of recurring Open Play with thoughtfully matched tables, optional scoring, cumulative standings, and fun prize drawings at every session.

Here’s what to know:

• Six sessions: Each League follows its own published schedule.
• All levels are welcome: Tables are thoughtfully matched based on skill level, pace and style of play.
• Scoring is optional: Keep score and compete in the standings, or simply come to play. Both are welcome.
• Standings are cumulative: Players who keep score accumulate points across the League, with a League Champion named after the final session.
• Everyone starts with a prize entry: Each player automatically receives one ticket in the prize drum just for participating in that session.
• Every Mahjong earns another entry: Mahjong? Ring the bell, write your name on another ticket and add it to the prize drum. Every Mahjong means another chance to win.
• Prizes are separate from scoring: No need to keep score to earn tickets or win a prize.
• Missing a session is okay: There is no additional scoring penalty, and you remain eligible for League standings and the Championship.
• League is not a Tournament: League is recurring Open Play with optional scoring. Hidden Parlor Tournaments are separate competitive events with their own format, scoring and rules.

At the end of the League, final standings will be published, top finishers will be recognized, and the League Champion will have their name added to The Hidden Parlor League Champions plaque.

LEAGUE RULES

A Hidden Parlor League is a six-session season of recurring Open Play, with each League following its own published schedule.

A league is designed to give players a standing game, thoughtfully matched tables, opportunities to socialize, fun prizes along the way, and friendly competition for those who want it.

All experience levels are welcome. Keep score and compete for the standings, or simply come to play. Both are welcome.

League Is Not a Tournament

Our Leagues and our Tournaments are two different ways to play at The Hidden Parlor.

A LEAGUE
Six sessions. Recurring Open Play. Thoughtfully matched tables. Optional scoring. Cumulative standings. Prize drawings at every session. A League Champion.

A TOURNAMENT
A separate competitive event with its own format, scoring, placement and Tournament winners.

There are no elimination rounds or brackets during regular League play. No one advances or is eliminated based on their standing, and no one stops playing because of their score.

Players do not need to qualify, bring their own foursome, keep score or be competitive to participate in League.

Tournament rules and details will be released separately.

Table Assignments

Every League player should complete our Skill Level Form once:

https://thehiddenparlorsociety.typeform.com/SkillLevel

Already completed it? You’re all set.

The Hidden Parlor assigns tables based on skill level, pace and style of play to help create well-matched games. Players will not necessarily play with the same foursome each session.

Have a seating preference? Let us know! If there are specific people you’d like to play with, we’re happy to accommodate those requests whenever possible.

Keeping Score Is Optional

You do not have to keep score to participate in a Hidden Parlor League.

Players who want to compete for League standings and the League Championship may keep score throughout the League. Players who simply want a standing game are equally welcome.

Scoring is used only for League standings. It has no effect on the prize drawings held during each League session.

League Scoring

The following scoring system is used for The Hidden Parlor League standings:

Winning Mahjong
Receive the point value printed next to the winning hand on the current NMJL card.

Self-Picked Mahjong: +10
If the winning Mahjong tile is drawn from the wall rather than called from another player’s discard, add 10 points to the value of the winning hand.

Jokerless Mahjong: +20
Complete a qualifying winning hand without using Jokers and add 20 points. Hands that do not permit Jokers, including Singles & Pairs, do not receive the Jokerless bonus.

Wall Game: +10 to each player
If a game ends without Mahjong, each player receives 10 points.

Invalid Mahjong: −10
If a player calls Mahjong but the hand is not valid, that player receives a 10-point deduction. The value of the invalid hand is not counted.

If play continues after an Invalid Mahjong and another player subsequently wins that game, both scoring events should be recorded under the same Game #.

League Scorecards

There is one League Scorecard per table. Scores should be recorded as play progresses rather than reconstructed at the end of the session.

For each scoring entry, record the Game # and player, the value of a valid winning hand, and check any applicable Self-Pick, Jokerless, Invalid or Wall boxes.

At the end of the session, anyone keeping score should calculate and confirm their Session Total.

If you’re keeping score, it is your responsibility to make sure your Session Total is included before the scorecard is submitted.

Submitting Your Scorecard

Before leaving:

1. Make sure anyone keeping score has completed their Session Total.
2. Take a photo of the completed scorecard for your records.
3. Hand the scorecard directly to a Hidden Parlor team member.
4. Confirm that the scorecard has been received.

Scorecards left on a table, at the bar or elsewhere in The Hidden Parlor are not considered submitted.

Completed Session Totals will be entered into the official League standings.

Score Corrections

If a mathematical or transcription error is discovered after submission, The Hidden Parlor may correct it using the submitted scorecard or a photo of the completed scorecard.

Games or scoring events that were not recorded during play cannot be reconstructed or added afterward.

League Standings

Standings are based on each player’s total accumulated points across all League sessions played, not an average of sessions played.

Updated standings will be shared throughout the League.

After the sixth League session, final standings will be published, top finishers will be recognized, and the League Champion will have their name added to The Hidden Parlor League Champions plaque.

Championship Tiebreaker

Players who finish with the same number of points may share a tied position in the standings.

If two players are tied for League Champion, they will compete in a five-round Siamese Mahjong tiebreaker.

In Siamese Mahjong, each player plays two hands simultaneously. Each valid Mahjong is scored using the same League scoring system: the value of the winning hand on the current NMJL card, plus any applicable Self-Pick or Jokerless bonus.

Points earned from both hands are accumulated across all five rounds. After all five rounds have been completed, the player with the highest cumulative score will be named League Champion.

If the players remain tied after five rounds, additional Siamese rounds will be played until the tie is broken.

If more than two players are tied for League Champion, The Hidden Parlor will establish a Siamese playoff bracket using five-round matches to determine the Champion.

The Hidden Parlor will coordinate championship tiebreakers with the tied players.

LEAGUE PRIZES

Ring the Bell!

Prize drawings are completely separate from League scoring and standings.

At each League session, every player receives one ticket in the prize drum just for participating.

Then, every time you Mahjong:

Ring the bell. Write your name on another ticket. Add it to the prize drum.

Every Mahjong earns an additional ticket. Mahjong twice? That’s two additional tickets. Mahjong three times? That’s three additional tickets, plus the ticket already in the drum for participating.

Tickets will be randomly drawn throughout each League session for fun prizes.

No scorekeeping required. Everyone starts with one entry, and every Mahjong earns another.

At the end of the League, top finishers will also be recognized, and our League Champion earns a permanent place on The Hidden Parlor League Champions plaque.

LEAGUE FAQs

Do I have to keep score?

No. League scoring is completely optional.

Keep score and compete in the standings, or simply enjoy your standing game. Both are part of League.

Can I win a prize if I don’t keep score?

Absolutely. Prize drawings are separate from League standings.

Everyone receives one ticket for participating in that session, and every Mahjong earns another ticket, whether or not you’re keeping score.

Will I play with the same people every session?

Not necessarily. The Hidden Parlor thoughtfully matches tables based on skill level, pace and style of play.

If there are specific people you’d like to play with, let us know. We’re happy to accommodate seating requests whenever possible.

What if I can’t make a session?

Please let us know as far in advance as possible so we can plan fair and balanced tables.

If you have someone you’d like to suggest for your spot, we’re happy to consider that person first, but it is not your responsibility to find a replacement.

The Hidden Parlor may offer the available seat to a non-League player for that session.

Can a non-League player filling an open seat participate?

Yes. They can participate fully in that session, including receiving a participation ticket, ringing the bell and earning additional tickets for each Mahjong.

They are not eligible for League standings, placement or the League Championship.

Does missing a session affect my standing?

There is no additional scoring penalty for an absence, and missing a session does not disqualify you.

Because League standings are based on cumulative points rather than an average, you simply have one fewer session in which to accumulate points.

If your total points still earn you a top placement, you remain eligible for that placement or the League Championship.

What happens if there’s a tie?

Players may share a tied position in the standings.

A tie for League Champion is settled with a five-round Siamese Mahjong tiebreaker, with the highest cumulative score across all five rounds determining the Champion.

If the players remain tied after five rounds, additional Siamese rounds will be played until the tie is broken.

Is League competitive?

It can be, but it doesn’t have to be.

Advanced and competitive players are absolutely welcome. So are players who have no interest in the standings.

How competitive you want your League experience to be is up to you.

Is League a Tournament?

No.

League is recurring Open Play across six scheduled sessions, with optional scoring, cumulative standings and prize drawings along the way.

Tournaments are separate competitive events with their own format, scoring and rules.

Will these rules apply to Hidden Parlor Tournaments?

No. These rules apply specifically to The Hidden Parlor Leagues.

Tournament format, scoring and rules will be released separately.

Most Importantly✨

League should be something to look forward to each session.

Keep score or don’t. Chase the standings or simply enjoy the game. Meet new players, play with friends, ring the bell when you Mahjong, and have fun behind the hidden door.

We can’t wait to play with you!