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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. We hope you found these strategies helpful. The goal of the game is to create a winning hand by collecting the right combination of tiles. "I've been invited to play Mah Jongg at my community center with a large group. 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. Other players will be able to make a good guess at what you are up. An all-pungs hand is one where all of the tiles are in sets of three, such as three circles, three characters, or three bamboos. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. At the end of the game, the player with the highest score wins the game. You just need to determine which section(s) of the card (evens, odds, consecutive runs, etc) your tiles lend themselves to. For instance, in 2020, 2s are a hot commodity. Your email address will not be published. While you may have many tiles that belong in one category, a player may be missing a whole family, or a pair of tiles that may prove difficult to obtain. Adele, her beau Rich Paul , Tristan Thompson and Corey Gamble proved such was the case when they were all spotted celebrating LeBron James and his team's big playoff win on Saturday, as seen in . Think carefully about which tiles you choose to pick up. Unless you're playing with beginners, your opponents will know what hand you're pursuing and are unlikely to discard your winning tile. This is all part of the game and in no way unethical (more details here). This is a great way to practice and improve your skills in Mahjong. Other hands that are easier to make in Mahjong include the all-pungs hand, all-terminals hand, and all-honors hand. They will adjust their strategy to include blocking. The most difficult aspect of modern American of Mahjong is to determine which hand to aim for. It is a game of both luck and skill, and it can be a lot of fun to play. This 1-4-7 principle also applies to any five-in-a-row pattern (assuming the hand is otherwise complete - you have two complete sets and a complete pair, waiting to go out with a five-in-a-row pattern as shown by ** in the table below). Abandon your original strategy and adopt a new one. Remember, failure grants wisdom. Mah Jongg is a fast-paced game and if you take too long to think through your options, you'll feel your stress levels rising, you'll make goofy mistakes and win fewer games. This hand is tricky since it requires 5 twos in the same suit. 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. For example, two Red Dragons. Take your time to examine each hand. If a player has any tiles that are closed, meaning that they have not been exposed, then they cannot declare victory. Your friend can make a hand a remove a few tiles for you to figure out which hand it is, A more efficient way to do this (especially on your own) is to use the, With a physical set, deal yourself 14 tiles and run through a mock Charleston, passing 3 tiles out and getting 3 tiles in on each pass. However, the second Charleston should be a conscious decision, based on the tiles in your hand. This will help you determine which tiles are remaining and help you plan your next move. Firstly, it might reveal your lack of experience. When a clue is given (in the form of Charleston pass, discard or exposure), you need to be able to quickly assess where those tiles belong. We review the games, research the rules, and uncover helpful tips and strategies. Most experienced players will tell you that you sometimes need a bit of luck to beat your opponents when playing Mahjong. Home Board Games 5 Mahjong Strategies for Beginners. This is the Chinese version of Mah Jongg. So, if you are new to Mahjong, the All Simples hand is the best place to start. Players will start with a set of tiles, which include characters, circles, bamboos, and winds. If you have thoughts on any of the above Mah Jongg tips, or suggestions for new ones, please email us at info@ilovemahj.com, General advice (valid throughout the game). Learn more Mah Jong is a game that is similar to Rummy, but it is played with tiles instead of cards. A set is three tiles of the same suit, such as three circles, or three characters. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. In a real game, there is no fixed boundary between them and you certainly should exercise judgment when transitioning from one to the next. Are you looking for the best Mahjong set? 5. The truth of it though, is it is too telling. It does require you to have a good memory in order to recall who discarded what, but it can provide valuable insights. Several number tiles closely related (within 1 or 2 of each other)? Note that at this stage, hands are usually tentative. To create this article, 18 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Some people seem to systematically do a second Charleston (some even get angry if you stop it, even though the rule book clearly allows it). If you want to learn how to keep track of your score or how many rounds to play, keep reading the article! 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. For example, you could make a Pung of three Bamboo tiles, or three 3 tiles. There are a number of clues that will help you figure it out as detailed below. We often hear in various sports "The best offense is a good defense"and that's true in Mah Jongg as well. Each player draws a total of 13 tiles, and each variant of Classic Mahjong has different draw rules. 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. You'll find there are many variations of mahjong, so these rules aren't definitive. If you're not sure, it's a gamble and the decision will depend on your style, how risk-averse you are or how close you are to Mah Jongg yourself. If you only had three discards and you received a useful tile, you find yourself having to pass a valuable tile. Discards on their own may not always provide you with a definite hand, but can be used as clues along with exposures to narrow down possible hands. Now, not only do they know you're playing, say, a pung of 5 cracks, but they have a hint at its position, which helps narrow down your hand. If you're lucky enough to have two or more jokers, consider the quint section (since you will need jokers to make those hands). Mostly written on scraps of paper, or typed with carbon copies, I have amalgamated them as best I can. In the Charleston section above, we discussed avoiding passing in-demand tiles such as flowers, white dragons and other tiles (depending on the year). You will also learn from watching and talking with other players. For instance, if someone passes you winds, you might assume they're not playing a wind hand. There are 4 players in a game, and you can only control the decisions of one of them. To do this, players must build four sets of three tiles and one pair. Know when to take risks: Mahjong involves taking risks, but knowing when to take them is key. While you may have many tiles that belong in one category, a player may be missing a whole family, or a pair of tiles that may prove difficult to obtain.
What are your options? To an astute observer of what you are doing, you will give away your game plan. PRACTICE IDENTIFYING HANDS BASED ON EXPOSURES This helps reinforce the hand patterns in memory, as well as help with defensive play. Understand Each Hand of the 2020 NMJL Mahjong Card, How to Pick the Best American Mahjong Hand, You can Play American Mahjong with Only 3 Players, Quick Video Review of American Mahjong Game, Mahjong 101: Passing aka The Charleston, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSPiBWjHcnw. 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. Do this without looking at the card, then check your work }, 8 Best Trading Card Games of All Time {Must CheckOut}. Experienced players will have developed their own strategies. Pick 13 random tiles and look through the card for matches. Think ahead: When youre deciding which tiles to discard, try to think ahead to the next turn. You may change where you use the joker as the game evolves, but it will help you to make quicker discard calls if you can more easily see them as part of your targeted hand, It is easier to see what you have if you leave a space between blocks of tiles. In todays article, we put together a list of Mahjong strategies to help you improve your Mahjong skills. Section 2468 - Line 3 BOTH hands, line 6. If Respawn makes a third game like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Fallen Order, it'll complete the best Star Wars trilogy in 30 years, hands down. The first thing to realize is that, at this early stage in the game, you don't need to settle on a specific hand. Mahjong does not require many more skills to be known than the capability of tracking the tiles your opponent chose to discard. This strategy goes hand in hand with having a clear plan part of that plan must have a contingency for flexibility. This article has been viewed 116,218 times. They are working out what hand you hold with each of the tiles you pick up or dont. This was a great explanation of Mah Jongg. Flexibility is the name of the game. Consider consecutive runs. But like with anything worthwhile, it will take a lot of practice and some patience. No matter how much research you do, you will learn the best strategies by playing the game. A pair is two tiles of the same rank, such as two Red Dragons. So, only consider these early clues as hints to be confirmed later, rather than definite conclusions. This section is typically the easiest since it offers a lot of flexibility. This will help you anticipate their moves and give you an edge. In particular, if the hand in question requires a pair, discard those tiles as early as possible. Dont worry, it wont take long, or be too painful, especially if you use all the great tools on ilovemahj.com. This is because: If you are playing with inexperienced players, they may not be able to figure out your hand even with an exposure (they have a hard enough time keeping up with their own hands - let's face it, we've all been there!). 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. Some of the most experienced players use bluffs to win their games. However, before this can be done, players must ensure that they have not violated any of the rules of the game. The two sequences should be placed side by side, with the pair in the middle. Avoid discarding tiles you think someone else needs to win the mahj game. So, just like exam season, this is the time to study! Pay attention to discards: While playing, pay attention to the discards of your opponents. An all-terminals hand is one where all of the tiles are terminal tiles, which are the 1s and 9s of each suit. Whether you have been playing for years or have just started, lets celebrate this ancient game and have fun. The seat winds will rotate counter-clockwise . Good luck and have fun! 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. 10 Best Christmas Board Games of All Time, Top 9 Best Horror Board Games of All Time, 8 Best Star Wars Board Games of All Time {Must Try! 1.6 Step 6: Draw the Hand Guidelines. This is because it does not involve any sequences or any other type of combination, and therefore does not give the player the same level of satisfaction that they would get from making a more complex hand. That means potentially discarding tiles that were crucial to your hand and jokers. 2. This is the easiest hand to make because, with the exception of the Winds and Dragons, all of the tiles are the same value. Once a player has constructed this hand, they can declare victory and the game is over. At the end of the day, it doesnt matter who wins and who loses. The aim of the game is to be the first player to construct a complete set of tiles, known as a Mahjong. 6. The first (and arguably most important) piece of advice we'd like to give you is to prepare for the game. Traditional Mahjong - often referred to 'Mahjong Rummy' - is a four-player table game in which players aim to collect a winning 'hand' of seven tiles by picking and discarding one tile at a time. This may be helpful, especially for beginners but, once again, experienced players will notice you turning tiles and it will help them determine your hand (especially if you leave gaps), Keeping flowers on the left makes sense since that's typically where they are on the card. Math-based hands Etc Go through each hand and make 2 or 3 winning combinations of that hand (this will help you memorize the hand and easily recall it later) Run through a Charleston on your own. Pick 13 random tiles and look through the card for matches. We welcome your feedback both positive and negative. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. o Try to go out waiting for multiple tiles (not just one). The simplest ruleset is Hong Kong Old Style (HKOS). I'm ready for my morning of games! You need to know not only the general categories in order to narrow down your initial hand, but also the idiosyncrasies of each. Strategy or none, you are guaranteed to have fun. 2023 Mahjong Culture LLC. Although you don't need to adhere to the traditional setup, it's a good idea to give it a try at least once. This way you're preventing another player from acquiring it. Cracks Dots Bams Note: the one-bam is usually represented as a bird. Section 13579 - Line 2 BOTH hands Winds and Dragons - Line 1 BOTH hands, line 3 BOTH hands. Bar Games 101 is a website devoted to helping you learn about the best games to play with your friends. This way you retain the strength the jokers add to your hand by leveraging their ability to complete other exposures or make other combinations. When you have a pair you don't need, it can be useful to hold on to it for a while. Remember that the defensive part of Mah Jongg is an important aspect of excelling at the game, and this involves being able to identify what your opponents are playing (and not playing). Having a Mahjong strategy is important; its whats going to help you win the game. By using our site, you agree to our. Remember that your opponents are watching and taking note of what you are doing. If no clear winner (or even potential option) emerges, pick the 3 tiles that are the least likely to fit with the rest and pass those (hoping a better pattern emerges during the Charleston). As you gain more experience, you will be able to do this shuffling, quickly, in your head, Place jokers in your hands, instead of leaving them at the end of your rack. This will give you an idea of what tiles they may be collecting and help you decide which tiles to discard. For example, if a player has two sets of three tiles and one pair, they must ensure that all the tiles are open, meaning that they have been exposed to all other players. Learn the rules: Before you can start playing, its important to understand the rules of the game. If the exposure is a pung or kong, quickly scan the card for potential matches, narrowing down your search by the type of tile. However, a better term to replace "luck" would be "probability." Switch it up. This early in the game, there is still a good chance to pick up those tiles (keep in mind there are 8 flowers, 8 jokers and 4 instances of all other tiles). Enjoy! The right approach depends on how certain you are that this is their final tile. So, we thought we'd share our top tips for getting up-to-speed with the new hands and making it quick and fun to boot! Once a player has constructed this hand, they can declare victory and the game is over. This early in the game, there are rarely hot tiles (tiles needed by opponents to complete sets or - God forbid - mahj). 2468 / Line 3: This year it's all one suit, last year was 3 suits. The first player to do this wins the game. These phases are defined for teaching purposes only. For instance, if it's a pung of 7s, check the high end of the 13579 section, consecutive runs and possibly like numbers. In that time, he has discovered many of its nuances and secrets. Worst case, you get nothing useful in the remaining passes but you're no worse off. Overall, the All Pungs hand is the easiest hand to make in mahjong, and is a great way to quickly and effectively build up a score. 7. For example, do you have: Again, remember that at this point, you only need to pick a section (not necessarily a hand). Putting in a little effort at this early stage will pay dividends quickly. So if you have a pair, it's usually a good idea to use it as the basis for your hand, Flowers are also usually in high demand and will generally not be passed in the Charleston, Look out for singles combinations (like NEWS or a year), Depending on the current year, certain tiles will likely be in high demand. Here too, eliminating the gap will prove helpful (albeit a bit more mentally taxing), Pairs are the best example since you cannot use jokers for these or use discards (other than for Mah Jongg). That's why we recommend you refrain from exposing too soon. As a beginner, it is tempting to pick discards to make a pung or kong as early as possible in the game. Pair is not the player's own wind, wind of round, or dragon. Drawing begins from the wall in front of the East Wind player. Ideally, you should aim to have at least seven tiles towards Mah Jongg before you call a tile and expose. C.J. So this mid-game section is the right time to pivot, if you need to. As long as you have three tiles that definitely do not fit into any of your options, just pass those first and see what comes your way in the Charleston. "I have nothing!" Mahjong is a classic Chinese game that combines strategy, luck, and skill. rules and play actions. Place the blocks in a random order. Some of those strategies will be listed here, others await you on the playing field of the Mahjong table. But even in that case, picking discards early is still risky as detailed in the previous section. When it comes to playing mahjong, the easiest hand to make is the All Pungs hand. The added bonus is that your weekly Mah Jongg group will have absolutely no idea how youre winning so often!! For instance, if the tile you just received completes a pair, then pass another tile (which may have previously been part of a pung or kong) because you have a good chance of being able to replace it from the discards or with a joker later. Hand is closed. Taking the first discard can tell your opponents a lot. If you have flour, salt, and water at home, you can make these delicious, chewy Hand-Cut Noodles.. You can make these hand-cut noodles in bulk and freeze them for up to 2 months.. This makes it easier than other hands, as there is no need to collect any sequences or any other type of combination. How to Play Mancala (Kalaha): Rules & Gameplay, How to Set up and Play Backgammon: Your Complete Guide, How to Play Risk: Board Setup, Rules, Strategy, & More. Give each other as much time as needed, without the usual pressure of a realgame, Practice with a bot using an online Mah Jongg game such as, Be aware of tiles being passed in the Charleston and what is passed to you in the exchange, Always be aware of exposed jokers and don't miss an exchange on your next turn, Be aware of the types of tiles each player is discarding, Watch the body language of other players, particularly when tiles are picked, discarded or exposures made, Learn the playing style of the people you regularly play with, Controlling your reactions to picks, discards or exposures, Keeping your hand concealed for as long as possible, Being careful how you organize the tiles on your rack and where you place your new picks (more details, Try to not interrupt the flow of the game by overthinking. 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. Consecutive Run - Line 2 BOTH hands, line 6. If you do figure out someone's hand and you have tiles you know they need, then discard them at this early stage (unless you need them yourself, of course). Make use of the joker: The joker can be a powerful tool, allowing you to complete difficult hands. Mahjong is one of the oldest and most popular board games in the world. 1.5 Step 5: Add the Shoes. Porter's 40% forced incompletion rate in 2022 led all Power Five cornerbacks. Do this without looking at the card, then check your work, With physical tiles, it is best to work through this exercise with a partner. You can always make a Pung as you go along, and its easier if you already have a pair or two in your hand. Set up your blocks. Be flexible; change your strategy when and if its necessary. How do I make sense of this jumble of tiles and match them to one of the ~50 possible hands? 435 2 4. With two or more exposures, it's likely others will know what you're doing. Now it's time to start the game proper. So, head on over to the Exercise Room on I Love Mahj, and get started. Mah jongg is the 4-player Chinese tile game that took America by storm in the 1920s. By picking a discard, you are exposing part of your hand. It usually has a mixture of suits, and also a mixture of sets and sequences. 1.9 Step 9: Outline the Facial Shape. 4. In this article, we will discuss various strategies to help you make the most of your tiles and how to win Mah Jongg games more often. For a pair, it's a bit more tricky and there are cases where switching may be the right call. At the end of each round, is the winner the only one to get points? Winds By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Yes, but they have to have an open side. Again, you should have a very good idea of each player's hand at this stage, so make sure you discard only tiles that they do not need. Slowly you will create your own bag of tricks and strategies to choose from. Try playing with different people to get different perspectives and strategies. Finally, you lose the ability to play a concealed hand. Mahjong, also known as Mah Jongg, is a fun tile-matching puzzle game. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. Welcome to Mahjong Culture. Drawing Hands. So it's important to familiarize yourself with the current year's card. Beginners often panic and give up on the hand, switching to another (potentially more challenging) hand and making negative progress. This is particularly true if those discarded tiles were for a pung or kong.