Mah-jongg's growing grip
To some, the clattering of mah-jongg tiles may be no more than racket.
But to the thousands who sit down to a monthly, weekly -- sometimes daily -- game of maajh, as it's affectionately called, the sound is like the voice of an old friend.
"It's a very addictive game," says Andrea Brim, a Lincolnshire resident and longtime mah-jongg player.
It's a growing addiction, fans say, and one that now can be fed by simply logging online.
Brim says a bout of insomnia, free time or even just an itch to play can all get her dashing for her computer.
"There's always someone online," Brim says, adding she usually plays a fast-paced six-minute mah-jongg round that goes so quickly players either keep up with the lightning-fast moves, or they quit. "You play online, that keeps you very sharp."