Mahjong, bridge and canasta lessons at home in Bloomfield, NJ

Canasta needs four

Canasta and Mahjong are four-player games, so the pro brings the cards or tiles and teaches, and you supply the other three people at the table. In Bloomfield that's usually a sister, two neighbors from down the block, or the woman from the building who mentioned she used to play. For these two games, booking is for at least four visits, which is about how long it takes for a new table to find its rhythm.

By the fourth week most groups don't need much teaching anymore. Some keep the pro on to referee and keep things moving. Others start playing on their own, which is a good outcome too.

Canasta also has a way of drawing people back. Lots of Bloomfield residents played it decades ago, at kitchen tables or on vacations down the shore, and the rules return faster than people expect once the cards are in their hands.

Chess is about having someone to play

Chess on Home Happenings is mostly a weekly opponent. Your dad may already know how to play and simply has nobody to play with since his friend moved to Florida. A pro sits down, plays a real game, and talks it over afterward. Some pros teach openings or tactics, but many people just want the game.

One game can take an hour easily. Two games in a 1.5 hour visit is common.

For a parent who's housebound in winter, a chess game every Tuesday can become the fixed point of the week. Players often keep a notebook of their games, and it's fun to look back at how much better they've gotten by spring.

Bridge, and building a weekly habit

Bridge has the steepest learning curve of the four, and the most loyal players. A pro can teach the bidding basics or help a lapsed player brush up. Bridge also needs four, so it often pairs with a couple of friends from church or from the township's Senior Services events.

After the game, there's always Holsten's on Broad Street, the old ice cream parlor and candy shop near Brookdale Park, if the table wants a reason to keep talking.

Booking and cost

Pros set their own rate, from $50 to $150 an hour, and you choose 1, 1.5 or 2 hours. For a group, one booking covers the table. You can message a pro first to ask which games they teach and how they run a beginner table. A $2.50 booking fee and a 10% service fee are added at checkout.

Cancelling is free up to 3 days before a visit, which matters with a group, since somebody's grandkid always has a recital. Rescheduling the table is easier when you know there's no charge for planning ahead.