Mahjong is an ancient Chinese game that has been around for centuries. Choose the option that requires the fewest number of pairs (other than those you already have), If you have both concealed and non-concealed options, the non-concealed option will likely be the safer choice in this particular scenario, Count the number of tiles you have for each option (include jokers in the count) and go with the one that has the greatest count (having first taken the previous criteria into consideration), Reinforce your hand (if you have a specific one picked already), Narrow down the selected section(s) to a specific hand, Pairs. This post assumes you have mastered at least the basics of American Mah Jongg and are familiar with its rules and practices. 1.9 Step 9: Outline the Facial Shape. Your email address will not be published. 2468 / Line 3: This year it's all one suit, last year was 3 suits. Porter's 40% forced incompletion rate in 2022 led all Power Five cornerbacks. But at this stage, the chances increase. By exposing early, you also lock yourself into a hand (or small subset of hands) which may prove fatal if that hand does not pan out (which may very well be the case, since other players will be managing their discards to kill your hand). We are thankful to all those who have helped us to improve our game. For example, do you have: Again, remember that at this point, you only need to pick a section (not necessarily a hand). Always have a clear plan Think carefully about which tiles you choose to pick up and which ones you don't. How to Pick the Best American Mahjong Hand Once a player has constructed a Mahjong, they can declare victory and the game is over. Think carefully about which tiles you choose to pick up. One of the most common questions asked by new players is, What is the easiest hand to make in Mahjong? The answer to this question depends on the specific rules of the game being played, as well as the skill level of the players. Additionally, it might reveal the hand you are playing too early. Here are a few reasons which might prompt you to switch your plan at this stage: While changing hand is sometimes necessary and even wise, refrain from changing repeatedly, as it will only lead to confusion and probably loss. Think carefully about which tiles you choose to pick upandwhich ones you dont. Think of them as a continuum rather than three rigid and disparate phases. Place the potato, carrot, onion, turmeric, and garlic in a medium-sized pot, cover with 2 cups of water, and place lid on the pot. New players to Mahjong are quite often tempted to leave gaps between their tiles when setting up their rack. Quint Section - Lines 1 and 3. Hand is closed. Once you get past the initial stages of learning and you've mastered the rules and the general mechanics of the game, an important skill to develop is the ability to determine what hands others are playing. Make use of the joker: The joker can be a powerful tool, allowing you to complete difficult hands. The two sequences should be placed side by side, with the pair in the middle. They are working out what hand you hold with each of the tiles you pick up or dont. The aim of the game is to be the first player to construct a complete set of tiles, known as a Mahjong. It is a game of both luck and skill, and it can be a lot of fun to play. While a sure win Mahjong strategy doesnt exist, there are some strategies that can give you an advantage in the game. So if you have a pair at this stage of the game it's best not to grab a discard to turn it into a pung. At the same time, you should not wait until close to the end of the game to change hands, since there will be limited time to start building the new hand. Mahjong Hands - Hong Kong Style Mahjong Now it's time to start the game proper. The player with the highest scoring hand wins the game. Section 13579 - Line 2 BOTH hands Winds and Dragons - Line 1 BOTH hands, line 3 BOTH hands. Chows hand: Chows are easier to form in mahjong since they are open-ended, unlike Pungs and Kongs, where one has to wait for one or two . Pick 13 random tiles and look through the card for matches. If someone calls it and uses a joker in their exposure, you can then claim that joker on your next turn. It's a balancing act. If you've paid attention to your opponents' moves, you should have a good idea of what they're playing (see reading hands for details) and be cautious about your discards. Once you have made the One-Suit hand, you can then start to build other hands. One of the key hand-building techniques in mahjong is known as five block theory. Take your time to examine each hand. 5 Mahjong Strategies for Beginners Always have a clear plan Be flexible with your strategies Don't grab the first discard Keep a pair in your hand Avoid having gaps in your tiles 1. 2. It's likely your opponent won't be able to claim these discards because their combinations may not be far enough along and/or they don't have enough jokers at this stage. All the mentioned strategies fall easily within the guidelines of the Mahjong game rules, so you wont be considered cheating if you decide to use them! This is the easiest hand to make because, with the exception of the Winds and Dragons, all of the tiles are the same value. So you don't need to be overly concerned about accidentally discarding something valuable. You will likely have another opportunity to build a good hand. % of people told us that this article helped them. Now is the time to methodically examine your options, since you're on your own and not holding up the game, Play a few trial games with friends who are also willing to practice. Get our free guide to the 50 Best Bar Games. One of the most challenging skills to master as an American Mah Jongg player is picking a hand. With practice and dedication, players can develop their Mahjong skills and become skilled players. Thinker and strategist Michael Porter said, The essence of strategy is choosing whatnotto do. That is certainly worth keeping in mind as you consider our suggestions below. So even in this case, you're better off opting to go ahead with the second Charleston. Doing so gives another clue to the players at your table. Your discards could potentially help other players to get ahead, so it would be wise to avoid passing tiles that could be valuable, such as: Also, it's best to not pass groups of tiles that naturally fit together in a section. Worst case, you get nothing useful in the remaining passes but you're no worse off. It follows that it's fundamentally 75% luck and 25% skill. This is the simplest hand to make because it requires the least amount of luck. Dont worry, it wont take long, or be too painful, especially if you use all the great tools on ilovemahj.com. Well keep the secret of your success just between us Players will start with a set of tiles, which include characters, circles, bamboos, and winds. Having a Mahjong strategy is important; its whats going to help you win the game. At the end of the day, it doesnt matter who wins and who loses. Mahjong, also known as Mah Jongg, is a fun tile-matching puzzle game. If you realize you cannot win, switch to full defensive mode, actively doing everything you can to prevent others from winning. Discards are another clue to help you identify others players' hands. However, a better term to replace "luck" would be "probability." As we know, pairs are more difficult to make. This game can also be played with 2 or 3 players. Required fields are marked *. This will help you maximize your points and minimize your opponents points. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Experienced players will be able to determine what hand you're playing (or at least narrow it down to a subset) and will actively work to thwart your efforts. Is this your first time playing Mahjong? But even in that case, picking discards early is still risky as detailed in the previous section. The truth of it though, is it is too telling. Learning the new Mah Jongg card | I Love Mahj However, by doing so you are giving other players clues as to which hand you're playing. But it's entirely possible that they switch to a wind-heavy hand at some point (for instance, if they start receiving a lot of them later in the Charleston or through picks). This hand earns level 0, and usually will have a small minimal payout. The object of the game: Each player is dealt 13 tiles. If you realize there's no way you can win, then you should switch to full defensive mode and try to prevent others from winning. Some of the most experienced players use bluffs to win their games. It may be wiser to keep your flowers elsewhere or rack the flower in a random spot, then move it to the left later once the attention is no longer on you, When making an exposure, the temptation is to place it in the "right" order in relation to the remaining tiles on your rack. 6 Tips for Mahjong Beginners | Lantern Club Often there are several options and you'll need to pick one and run with it. 6. Some of those strategies will be listed here, others await you on the playing field of the Mahjong table. Exposures are the most obvious way to figure out a player's hand. Mahjong is an ancient Chinese game that is played with tiles and requires a great deal of skill and strategy. 2. By picking a discard, you are exposing part of your hand. If you need to discard a pair, break that pair up into passes to two different players or keep the pair for later use as joker bait, White dragons (due to their versatility as dragons and zeros, especially in certain years), Tiles with the same number (even if different suits), as it could play well in the like number section, Tiles whose numbers are consecutive or close, Discreetly observe which of the tiles you just passed are kept by the receiving player (maybe they slot them between tiles in their rack, rather than putting them to one end), Do your best to remember which tiles you passed that you did not see again during the Charleston, Keep track of the types of tiles that you didn't receive. C.J. In particular, avoid passing: Though your main focus in the Charleston is to strengthen your hand, it is also important to pay attention to the tiles being passed. Once a player has constructed this hand, they can declare victory and the game is over. This post will focus on American Mah Jongg (National Mah Jongg League rules) because this is the style we are most familiar with, though many of these tips will apply to all styles of Mah Jongg. When there is a choice to discard any tile, it is necessary to discard the one, which would have the mathematical winning odds to be maximized with remaining tiles present in hand. It can be a fun and challenging game for all ages, but mastering the game takes practice. But like with anything worthwhile, it will take a lot of practice and some patience. 1.5 Step 5: Add the Shoes. Consecutive Run / Line 7: The 2 kongs are like numbers, last year they were consecutive. Tom Honeysett is a chess player who has been playing the game for over 25 years. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Play-Mah-Jongg-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-Mah-Jongg-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Play-Mah-Jongg-Step-1.jpg\/aid7841-v4-728px-Play-Mah-Jongg-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"