Bon Mahj

Category: Learning
Also called: Bonnie; Bonnie Leach; Bon Mahj Raleigh; Raleigh-Durham American Mah Jongg lessons
Last checked: 2026-09-11

What it is

Bon Mahj is a first-party American Mah Jongg (National Mah Jongg League card) instructor practice in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area: a dated beginner workshop series, guided-play sessions, private lessons and group workshops, plus secondary open-play tables. Instructor Bonnie (Kitchen Table partner page stamps Bonnie Leach). It is not Japanese Riichi, not Chinese-family table mahjong, not the National Mah Jongg League, and not a 4-player public game server.

Who it’s for

Beginners and brush-up players in Raleigh-Durham who want a structured American Mah Jongg workshop at a printed table (tiles, NMJL card, Charleston, then a guided full game), plus newer players seeking Guided Play and groups booking private or in-home instruction. Distinct from national virtual schools already on Plaza and from JCC-only drop-in calendars.

Why it’s listed

This is a named US instructor brand with its own school site, printed 2026 class dates and prices, NMJL / American wording, and first-party Learn / event-detail pages — not a Facebook-only teacher and not a brand already on disk (not Lara, Molly, Mrs Mahj, Master Your Mahjong, Mahj Over Matter, MKE Mahjong, School of American, AMJA, NMJL, Mahj Life, Atlanta Mentors, Mahj Mind, or Oh My Mahjong as primary).

• Homepage (https://bonmahj.com/) on 2026-09-11: “Mah Jongg instruction & events” in the Raleigh-Durham area; three paths — Learn to Play, Practice with Guidance, Jump Into a Game. Featured Beginner Lesson — Monday, September 14, 5:30 PM–8:45 PM, The Kitchen Table, $135; copy: Beginner American Mah Jongg Workshop for no prior Mah Jongg experience (or a true restart). Same homepage listed a Sep 13 private beginner workshop (12 seats; no public rate printed), Open Play Sep 16 11:30–1:30 at $20, and a lunchtime Beginner Lesson Sep 18 11:30–2:30 at $135. Bonnie — certified Mah Jongg instructor based in Raleigh-Durham, NC.
• Learn hub (https://bonmahj.com/learn) on 2026-09-11: one hands-on beginner session with a mid-workshop break. First half: tiles, how to read the NMJL card, wall, pick and discard. Break: complimentary food-and-beverage credit at The Kitchen Table. Second half: full games with guidance, common patterns. Curriculum blocks: all 152 tiles (bamboos, cracks, dots, winds, dragons, flowers, jokers); reading the NMJL card and picking a hand; Charleston, calling, declaring Mah Jongg; strategy foundations (when to switch hands, defensive play, table awareness). Site: everything provided (tiles, cards). Upcoming workshops printed: Monday, September 14, 2026 5:30–8:45 PM $135; Friday, September 18, 2026 11:30–2:30 (lunchtime); Monday, September 28, 2026 5:30–8:45 PM. Private workshops for friends, family, book clubs, or corporate groups via inquiry.
• Sep 14 beginner event (https://bonmahj.com/events/beginner-lesson-sep-14): Monday, September 14, 2026, 5:30 PM–8:45 PM, The Kitchen Table, 5629 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612; 10 attendees max; $135 per person. Includes $10 food-and-beverage credit, official card for reference during class, tiles/racks/dice. On the check date that SKU showed Event is Full (10 of 10 spots taken).
• Sep 18 lunchtime beginner (https://bonmahj.com/events/beginner-lesson-lunchtime-sep-18): Friday, September 18, 2026, 11:30–2:30, same Kitchen Table street; 6 attendees max; $135 per person; 4 of 6 spots taken on the check date.
• Sep 28 beginner (https://bonmahj.com/events/beginner-lesson-sep-28): Monday, September 28, 2026, 5:30 PM–8:45 PM, same venue and $135 / 10-person cap; 0 of 10 spots taken on the check date.
• About (https://bonmahj.com/about): Bonnie — certified instructor; American Mah Jongg; beginner workshops, guided practice, open play, and private lessons. Hands-on, no-pressure framing. Mentions playing online at ilovemahj.com (a separate Plaza listing — not this school’s server).
• Practice (https://bonmahj.com/practice): Guided Play for players past a class but not ready for unassisted tables; instructor provides tiles, racks, pushers, and a current NMJL card for reference. On 2026-09-11: no guided play sessions on the calendar. Invite-Bonnie-to-your-game option at the host’s place (no public rate printed).
• Open Play hub (https://bonmahj.com/play) and event cards: drop-in for experienced players; bring your current NMJL card; no instruction. Wednesday, September 16, 2026 11:30–1:30 and Monday, September 21, 2026 6:00–8:30pm, both at The Kitchen Table, $20 per person (event pages also print a $10 food-and-beverage credit and 2026 NMJL card as what to bring). Open play is secondary to the lesson program.
• Videos (https://bonmahj.com/videos): first-party 2026 NMJL Card Analysis — Bonnie’s annual breakdown of the new National Mah Jongg League card.
• Private events (https://bonmahj.com/private-events): one-on-one or small-group private lessons, group workshops, party events, and corporate team-building in Raleigh-Durham; inquiry form — no public private-lesson dollar rate on that page. Events calendar (https://bonmahj.com/events): private lessons in your home or at The Kitchen Table.

Prices, seat counts, and September 2026 dates above are what the official pages showed on the check date. They can change. Book on bonmahj.com before treating a seat as open.

Official URL

School / instructor: https://bonmahj.com/

Learn / beginner workshops: https://bonmahj.com/learn

Sep 14 beginner workshop: https://bonmahj.com/events/beginner-lesson-sep-14

Sep 18 lunchtime beginner: https://bonmahj.com/events/beginner-lesson-lunchtime-sep-18

Sep 28 beginner workshop: https://bonmahj.com/events/beginner-lesson-sep-28

Guided play: https://bonmahj.com/practice

Open play: https://bonmahj.com/play

Private lessons & group events: https://bonmahj.com/private-events

About Bonnie: https://bonmahj.com/about

2026 NMJL card analysis (videos): https://bonmahj.com/videos

Events calendar: https://bonmahj.com/events

Location

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Public workshops and open play print The Kitchen Table, 5629 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612 (Creedmoor Crossings). Private lessons at the student’s home or at The Kitchen Table. Book exact rooms and remaining seats through the official Learn and event-detail pages.

Notes

• American Mah Jongg / NMJL. Learn copy, beginner event pages, and the 2026 card-analysis video are NMJL-card American play (yearly card, jokers, Charleston, 152-tile set). Do not list as Riichi or Chinese-family teaching.
• Primary listing is instructor / school (priced beginner workshops + guided-play path + private curriculum). Open-play tables are secondary community play, not the reason this is categorized Learning.
• The Kitchen Table is a partner venue, not the listing. I Love Mahj is named on-site as an online table for extra practice — that is a separate Plaza listing, not Bon Mahj’s own server.
• About says “certified” without naming Oh My Mahjong, Mahj Life, or School of American as the credential — do not invent one. This is Bonnie’s own site, not those brands’ instructor directories.
• Do not invent a private 1:1 hourly rate; the Private Events page is inquiry-only.
• Not affiliated with Mahjong Plaza.

FAQ

Q: Is this Japanese Riichi or Chinese mahjong lessons?
A: No. The Learn hub and beginner workshop pages say Bon Mahj teaches American Mah Jongg with the National Mah Jongg League card — tiles and suits including jokers, reading the yearly card, the Charleston, calling, and declaring Mah Jongg.

Q: What does a workshop cost, and when are the next beginner seats?
A: On 2026-09-11, beginner workshops were $135 per person (about 3 hours, including a $10 food-and-beverage credit). Sep 14 evening was full (10/10); Sep 18 lunchtime showed 4 of 6 seats taken; Sep 28 evening showed 0 of 10 taken. Open play was $20. Confirm the live Learn and event-detail pages before treating a seat as open.

Q: Where are lessons held, and do I need my own tiles?
A: Public workshops print The Kitchen Table, 5629 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612. Beginner event pages: nothing required to bring; instructor provides tiles, racks, dice, accessories, and an official card for reference during class. Open-play pages ask you to bring your own 2026 NMJL card. Private lessons can be at home or at The Kitchen Table via the Private Events inquiry.