Skip to main content

How Can We Help?

AMERICAN MAH JONGG SKILLS AND STRATEGIES MATRIX (Article 210)

Created On
Updated On
You are here:
< All Topics

Mah jongg is a 4-player Chinese tile-melding game that requires skills like critical thinking, situational awareness, and social acuity to play well. Players who build these skills and correctly use proven strategies can optimize their winning potential. Essential skills and strategies are demonstrated through gameplay with commentary in strategy theory videos and Let’s Play Livestreams on the Mahj Life YouTube Channel. If you have not subscribed, click this link and the little grey bell to get notifications when I upload a new video or livestream.

JOIN NOW

The Let’s Play Livestream on Mondays from 1:00 to 2:30 PM Eastern Time is titled “NITTY-GRITTY” because there is no socialization so that we can focus on the topic. We typically start with a presentation (15-30 minutes) followed by gameplay with commentary demonstrating the scheduled skill or strategy.

There are some cross-over topics, so I recommend watching them all! At the bottom of the page are lists of recurring topics by session.

For a relaxed experience, consider joining the Simply Social Let’s Play Livestream on Fridays, where we hang out and enjoy casual gameplay with commentary (5:00-6:00 PM ET).

Consider using the Fast-Track Study Guide Template (Article 211) to help you study and integrate new skills and strategies into your playing style.

To learn the lingo used at Mahj Life, check out the glossary.

COMING UPNext EpisodeLast EpisodeLast VideoWiki ArticleLivestreamTypeAMJQST*Topic
06/22/202610/06/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillNoJump Start: Zones
06/29/202610/06/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMESkillYesGame Theory: Mindset
07/06/202610/13/2025WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesJump Start: KISS
07/13/202610/20/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMESkillYesGame Theory: Profiling Players
07/20/202610/27/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillNoJump Start: Recovery
07/27/202611/03/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyNoSacrifice
08/03/202611/10/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillYesTest Your Instincts
08/10/202611/17/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesBig Hands
08/17/202611/25/2025WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesHow to Pick a Hand
08/24/202612/08/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesJoker Tactics
08/31/202612/15/2025WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesExercising Charleston Options
09/05/202612/22/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesHoptoi’s Core Strategy by Wall
09/12/202612/29/2025WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesPlanning Discards SIMPLIFY
09/19/202601/05/2026WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesPlanning Discards OPTIMIZE & SABOTAGE
09/28/202601/12/2026WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesHands of Least Resistance SIMPLIFY
10/05/202601/19/2026WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesHands of Least Resistance EXPEDITE
X01/26/202604/14/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillYesCritical Thinking
02/02/202604/21/2025Watch ReadPRIMETIMESkillYesIntel Gathering
02/09/202604/28/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillYesTile Efficiency
02/16/202605/05/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMESkillYesSpeed to Ready
02/23/202605/12/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillYesRed Flags
02/23/202605/19/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesHand Reading
03/09/202606/02/2025WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesMisfit Multiples
03/16/202606/09/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesSwitching Hands
03/23/202606/16/2025WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesWidespread Tips
03/30/202606/30/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesWait Patterns
04/13/202607/07/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillYesHigh-Risk Sabotage
04/20/202607/14/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesPower of Position
04/27/202607/21/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillNoHow to Score
05/04/202607/28/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesCalculating Risks
05/11/202608/04/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillNoSkill Builders
05/18/202608/11/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesCompetitive Play (marathons)
05/25/202608/18/2025WatchReadBOTHSkillNoRules not in Mah Jongg Made Easy
06/01/202608/25/2025WatchReadBOTHSkillNoTop 10 Complex Rules Demystified
06/08/202609/08/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillNoI Love Mahj Tour and HOT SEATS
06/15/202609/15/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMESkillNoMahjong Time Tour and HOT SEATS
AMJ Skills and Strategies Matrix

*Microbadge content for the Merit Program for Instructors, American Mah Jongg Quest Strategy Trek (MPIAMJQSTT).

*Jump on the hot seat for gameplay with coaching; limited to two seats per episode. To participate, please register in advance. We will hang out and do gameplay with commentary if there are no registrations. Prerequisites: Must use a laptop or desktop with a webcam and be comfortable with screen sharing. Must have an I LOVE MAHJ account for BASICS or a Mahjong Time account for PRIMETIME .

Register

Recurring Topics by Session

Session 1: Nitty-Gritty BASICS

Fundamentals

  • Jump Start: Zones
  • Jump Start: KISS
  • Jump Start: Recovery
  • Test Your Instincts
  • How to Pick a Hand
  • Exercising Charleston Options
  • Planning Discards SIMPLIFY
  • Hands of Least Resistance SIMPLIFY
  • Critical Thinking
  • Tile Efficiency
  • Red Flags
  • Misfit Multiples
  • Widespread Tips
  • High-Risk Sabotage
  • How to Score
  • Skill Builders
  • I Love Mahj Tour and HOT SEATS

Session 2: Nitty-Gritty PRIMETIME

Advanced

  • Game Theory: Mindset
  • Game Theory: Profiling Players
  • Sacrifice
  • Big Hands
  • Joker Tactics
  • Hoptoi’s Core Strategy by Wall
  • Planning Discards OPTIMIZE & SABOTAGE
  • Hands of Least Resistance EXPEDITE
  • Intel Gathering
  • Speed to Ready
  • Hand Reading
  • Switching Hands
  • Wait Patterns
  • Power of Position
  • Calculating Risks
  • Competitive Play (marathons)
  • Mahjong Time Tour and HOT SEATS

My books detail these skills and strategies. If you hire me as your coach, the books are included in the package. I am a speaker-for-hire, so if you want to feature mah jongg as a topic, I have three packages for consideration.

Lessons

Are you new to the game? Do you already know how to play and just want to build your skills? Mahj Life instructors are ready to help!

Read More

Books

Do you learn by reading books? My primers are available in e-kindle and paperback on Amazon.

Read More

Speaking

Do you have a speaking opportunity? See if I am a fit for your audience by visiting my speaker page.

Read More
AMERICAN MAH JONGG SKILLS AND STRATEGIES MATRIX (Article 210)
Tags: