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AMERICAN MAH JONGG SKILLS AND STRATEGIES MATRIX (Article 210)

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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.

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The Let’s Play Livestream on Mondays beginning at 1:00 M 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 crossover 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
07/13/202610/06/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillNoJump Start: Zones
07/21/202610/06/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMESkillYesGame Theory: Mindset
08/03/202610/13/2025WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesJump Start: KISS
08/10/202610/20/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMESkillYesGame Theory: Profiling Players
08/17/202610/27/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillNoJump Start: Recovery
08/24/202611/03/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyNoSacrifice
08/31/202611/10/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillYesTest Your Instincts
09/07/202611/17/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesBig Hands
09/14/202611/25/2025WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesHow to Pick a Hand
09/21/202612/08/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesJoker Tactics
09/28/202612/15/2025WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesExercising Charleston Options
10/05/202612/22/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesHoptoi’s Core Strategy by Wall
10/12/202612/29/2025WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesPlanning Discards SIMPLIFY
10/19/202601/05/2026WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesPlanning Discards OPTIMIZE & SABOTAGE
10/26/202601/12/2026WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesHands of Least Resistance SIMPLIFY
11/02/202601/19/2026WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesHands of Least Resistance EXPEDITE
11/09/202601/26/2026WatchReadBASICSSkillYesCritical Thinking
11/16/202602/02/2026Watch ReadPRIMETIMESkillYesIntel Gathering
11/30/202602/16/2026WatchReadBASICSSkillYesTile Efficiency
12/07/202602/23/2026WatchReadPRIMETIMESkillYesSpeed to Ready
12/14/202603/02/2026WatchReadBASICSSkillYesRed Flags
12/21/202603/09/2026WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesHand Reading
12/28/202603/16/2026WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesMisfit Multiples
01/04/202703/23/2026WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesSwitching Hands NMJL 2026 Card!!!
01/11/202703/30/2026WatchReadBASICSStrategyYesWidespread Tips
01/18/202704/06/2026WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesWait Patterns
X04/20/202607/07/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillYesHigh-Risk Sabotage
05/04/202607/14/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesPower of Position
05/11/202607/21/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillNoHow to Score
05/18/202607/28/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesCalculating Risks
06/01/202608/04/2025WatchReadBASICSSkillNoSkill Builders
06/15/202608/11/2025WatchReadPRIMETIMEStrategyYesCompetitive Play (marathons)
06/22/202608/18/2025WatchReadBOTHSkillNoRules not in Mah Jongg Made Easy
07/06/202608/25/2025WatchReadBOTHSkillNoTop 10 Complex Rules Demystified
AMJ Skills and Strategies Matrix

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

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

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)

Mahj Life books detail most of these skills and strategies.

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!

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Books

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

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Speaking

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

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AMERICAN MAH JONGG SKILLS AND STRATEGIES MATRIX (Article 210)
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