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HANDS OF LEAST RESISTANCE (ARTICLE 215)
American mah jongg is a game of multiples. To optimize your winning potential, start every hand by targeting multiples. Keep tiles to support the multiple and focus on a category that uses most of your tiles to simplify and expedite hand development. Keep an eye open for opportunities to play hands with varying shapes using two pungs and two kongs. These are called hands of least resistance because you can use any number of jokers in every block. They are easy, plentiful, and indestructible.
| Hands of Least Resistance (hands with two pungs and two kongs) | Hands of Slight Resistance (hands with one pair and big multiples) |
| Year #1 Evens #1 Consecutive Run #2 Odds #2 Odds #3 Winds-Dragons #1 369 #1 369 #3 | Year #4 Evens #2 Evens #7 Any Like Numbers #3 Consecutive Run #3 369 #2 |
If you ever feel frustrated, discouraged, or overwhelmed by the game, consider playing these hands briefly to relieve stress, build your confidence, and improve your resilience. Use removable highlighters (long) or a dot using a Sharpie on the right margin for quick reference.
The American Mah Jongg Skills and Strategies Matrix (Article 210) contains links to the latest video demonstrations of how to play with these shapes in mind.
