AMERICAN MAH JONGG SKILLS AND STRATEGIES MATRIX (Article 210)

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.

The Let’s Play Livestream on Mondays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern Time is titled “NITTY-GRITTY” because there is no socialization so 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.

• Nitty-Gritty BASICS (white rows below) focuses on fundamental strategies.
• Nitty-Gritty PRIMETIME (grey rows below) focuses on advanced strategies.

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 (6:00-8:00 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 UP	Next Episode	Last Episode	Last Video	Wiki Article	Livestream	Type	AMJQST*	Topic
	09/08/2025	12/09/2024	Watch	Read	BASICS	Skill	No	Jump Start: Zones
	09/15/2025	12/16/2024	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Skill	Yes	Game Theory: Mindset
	09/22/2025	12/23/2024	Watch	Read	BASICS	Strategy	Yes	Jump Start: KISS
	09/29/2025	12/30/2024	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Skill	Yes	Game Theory: Profiling Players
	10/06/2025	01/06/2025	Watch	Read	BASICS	Skill	No	Jump Start: Recovery
	10/13/2025	01/13/2025	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	No	Sacrifice
	10/20/2025	01/20/2025	Watch	Read	BASICS	Skill	Yes	Test Your Instincts
	10/27/2025	01/27/2025	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Big Hands
	11/03/2025	02/03/2025	Watch	Read	BASICS	Strategy	Yes	How to Pick a Hand
	11/10/2025	02/10/2025	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Joker Tactics
	11/17/2025	02/17/2025	Watch	Read	BASICS	Strategy	Yes	Exercising Charleston Options
	11/24/2025	02/24/2025	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Hoptoi’s Core Strategy by Wall
	12/01/2025	03/03/2025	Watch	Read	BASICS	Strategy	Yes	Planning Discards SIMPLIFY
	12/08/2025	07/08/2024	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Planning Discards OPTIMIZE & SABOTAGE
	12/15/2025	03/17/2025	Watch	Read	BASICS	Strategy	Yes	Hands of Least Resistance SIMPLIFY
	12/22/20255	04/07/2025	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Hands of Least Resistance EXPEDITE
	12/29/2025	04/14/2025	Watch	Read	BASICS	Skill	Yes	Critical Thinking
	01/05/2026	04/21/2025	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Skill	Yes	Intel Gathering
X	04/28/2025	07/29/2024	Watch	Read	BASICS	Skill	Yes	Tile Efficiency
	05/05/2025	07/29/2024	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Skill	Yes	Speed to Ready
	05/12/2025	08/05/2024	Watch	Read	BASICS	Skill	Yes	Red Flags
	05/19/2025	08/05/2024	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Hand Reading
	05/26/2025	NEW	Watch	Read	BASICS	Strategy	Yes	Misfit Multiples
	06/02/2025	NEW	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Switching Hands
	06/09/2025	08/12/2024	Watch	Read	BASICS	Strategy	Yes	Widespread Tips
	06/16/2025	08/19/2024	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Wait Patterns
	06/23/2025	08/26/2024	Watch	Read	BASICS	Skill	Yes	High-Risk Sabotage
	06/30/2025	09/16/2024	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Power of Position
	07/07/2025	09/23/2024	Watch	Read	BASICS	Skill	No	How to Score
	07/14/2025	09/30/2024	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Calculating Risks
	07/21/2025	10/07/2024	Watch	Read	BASICS	Skill	No	Skill Builders
	07/28/2025	10/14/2024	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Strategy	Yes	Competitive Play (marathons)
	08/04/2025	10/21/2024	Watch	Read	BOTH	Skill	Yes	Rules not in Mah Jongg Made Easy
	08/18/2025	05/06/2024	Watch	Read	BOTH	Skill	Yes	Top 10 Complex Rules Demystified
	08/25/2025	11/11/2024	Watch	Read	BASICS	Skill	No	I Love Mahj Tour and HOT SEATS
	09/01/2025	11/11/2024	Watch	Read	PRIMETIME	Skill	No	Mahjong Time Tour and HOT SEATS

*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 .

Recurring Topics by Session

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.