HOW TO PICK A HAND (Article 183)

One of the biggest challenges for new American mah jongg players is knowing how to pick a hand. Instead of committing too early, train yourself to focus on identifying the best category based on the strength of your hand. Gather tiles that can be used in your chosen category, and only narrow down to a specific hand once you have all keepers—or when you have fewer than three tiles to pass during the Charleston. This approach keeps your options open, allowing for flexibility and better strategic decisions. This guide will introduce key hand development tactics and help you adapt to optimize your winning potential throughout the game.

Success begins with organizing your tiles in a way that helps you identify strengths, recognize patterns, and make sound strategic decisions to optimize hand development. When you get your dealt hand, I recommend that the tiles be arranged in this order to get the “lay of the land”:

Jokers
Flowers
Winds
Dragons
Each suit in numerical order

I have seen people arrange their tiles by type in three ways:

1. Jokers, flowers, winds, and dragons are then numbered in numerical order regardless of suit; this can show potential for like numbers and may show which category would use most of the tiles, but it isn’t easy to see a predominant suit.

2. Jokers, flowers, then by category; this can show which category uses the most tiles. Since some tiles are used in multiple categories, rearranging them takes a lot of effort.

3. Jokers, flowers, winds, dragons, and each suit in numerical order (sometimes with the corresponding dragon); this can show the predominant suit and patterns within the suits. In my opinion, this is the best initial arrangement because of the game’s original design.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so any arrangement can be used as long as the player can quickly identify the strength of the hand.

Most beginners are taught and tend to want to pick a hand from their dealt tiles, which is a fixed-style play. A flexible alternative is to pick a category, keeping tiles that can be used for several hands, allowing for an adaptive style. An adaptive style is uncomfortable for many players, especially if you’re not used to it, but it often produces winning results.

Now, you need to identify the strength of the hand. The strength of a hand will be based on multiples with supporting tiles or the predominant pattern.

OPTIMIZE: American mah jongg is a game of multiples (i.e., pairs, pungs, kongs). Approximately 80% of the hands on the card use multiples, so optimize your potential to be the first player to complete a hand by choosing a category that would use the multiple and tiles that support them.

MAXIMIZE: If there are no multiples, identify the predominant pattern (e.g., 2468, 13579, 369) and choose a category that uses most tiles. When a multiple forms, reassess and build around the multiple. When no discards are left, narrow down to one category or pick a hand.

STREAMLINE: If you are between categories and one of the categories is Consecutive Run, consider focusing on Consecutive Run because it uses mainly number tiles, which are plentiful, flexible, and efficient.

In the begin-game (first and second wall), refrain from picking a hand with the dealt tiles. The best strategy is to stay at the category until there are no more discards in the hand. When you get your dealt hand, the best approach is to remain in the category until you run out of discards. Target the strength of the hand and gather supporting tiles. If a multiple forms, reassess. When you run out of discards, narrow your choices or pick a hand.

There are two ways to decide on options (i.e., plan A and B) within the same category and 2) in another category; either way, stay concealed as long as possible. You limit your options once you claim a discard for an exposure. After two exposures, you are typically committing to one hand.

When comparing opportunities, whether it’s different categories or different hands, any opportunity with a gap should take a lower precedence. Try not to commit to a hand with gaps, especially if the gap is a pair. When you look at the card, there are blocks of tiles. If a block is missing in your hand, that’s a gap – I call it a “gap hand.” When considering what to play, any opportunity with a gap should take a lower precedence. Also, try not to commit to a hand with gaps, especially if the gap is a pair.

In the middle-game (end of the second and third walls in play), focus on options in one category. Consider the potential for hands in the chosen category based on the tiles that have been discarded or tiles in exposures to determine discards as options are whittled down. By the end of the third wall, it should be clear which hand to play.

In the end-game (fourth wall in play), if there are four or fewer discards to complete a hand, play to win. If there are more than four discards, consider playing defense. If the hand cannot be completed, play to block your opponents from winning by breaking up the hand and discarding safe tiles (i.e., three tiles in discards or exposures, tiles in exposures; be careful when discarding Winds, Dragons, and year tiles because there are hands with singles).

Mastering the art of hand development is a process that requires both strategy and adaptability. While it may initially feel unfamiliar, staying flexible and focusing on multiples or the predominant pattern will improve your decision-making and optimize your winning potential. Trust the process—by reassessing throughout the game and making informed decisions, you’ll develop a stronger, more intuitive playing style. The more you play, the more confident you’ll become.

Mah Jongg Maven hosted a webinar that may be helpful, How to Harness the Power of the Charleston; passcode: 2NMbs2?$