After class, the group chat lights up with "game Thursday?" Then everyone sits down, and nobody can remember which way the Charleston goes.

Guided Play is the in-between. For the first hour, I float between tables and help when you get stuck. For the second hour, you play on your own and put it to work.

Not sure whether to call that tile? Raise a hand. You get the why, then you make the call.

WHAT THIS IS (AND ISN'T)

This is play time, not a lesson. I don't teach from the front, and I don't sit one-on-one. During the first, guided hour, I move from table to table, answering questions and untangling tricky moments as they come up. After the first hour, the hands are yours. I'll still be in the room, but the second hour is for playing on your own.

Because I'm there for the whole room, you'll need the basics before you sit down: the tiles, the Charleston, and how to read the card. New to mahjong? Start with Mahjong 101. Want focused time on your own game? A private lesson is the better fit.

GUIDED PLAY OR OPEN PLAY?

At Open Play, you're on your own. At Guided Play, you get an hour of help, then an hour to prove you didn't need it.

YOU'LL LEAVE WITH

• More full games under your belt

• A calmer, quicker Charleston

• The nerve to call a tile

• Discards you can explain

THE DETAILS

• 2 hours of play: 1 hour guided, 1 hour on your own

• $30

• For players who have taken Mahjong 101 or already know the basics

• Everyone plays. Nobody watches from the side.

• AR Workshop St. Petersburg. Free parking.

This class is organized & managed by AR Workshop St Pete. The registration link will take you to their sign-up system. If the option to register isn’t available, it means the class is full.