American Mah Jongg Lesson Strategy How to Pick a Hand 3 Ways (mock card)

[@nancytobin4938]

You are such a wonderful teacher - thank you so much for sharing!!❤️

[@barbarabrown4133]

I find all of Michelle's videos helpful but this one, in particular, was exceptionally helpful. Flexibility is the key.

[@MAHJLIFE]

I'm so glad you liked this video! Recently a new player had trouble with the adaptive style during the pick and discard phase of the game so I recommended the hybrid style and she loved it - so, I made a video to demonstrate all three! I love this community... you included :)

[@barbarabrown4133]

@@MAHJLIFE It is absolutely because of you and your excellent tutoring that I'm hooked on MJ. I feel withdrawal when I can't get a table together each week! Thanks again for everything you do for this community!

[@reneesharpe8701]

this lady is amazing! thanks to Michele I can finally understand the rules of playing mahjongg!

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thank you, Renee! How do you like to pick a hand? Regardless, where there's a will, there's a way!

[@lindabarrientos8270]

I really enjoy your lessons!

[@sallypratt1325]

SO helpful You are an awesome teacher!! Thank you

[@hollylevey5889]

Great video! Thank you for always providing such wonderful lessons. I learn something new almost every time I watch a video you’ve created!!! 💜

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thanks, Holly! I'm so happy to hear that the videos have helped :)

[@JenetLevyNYC_AZ]

Your videos are very helpful.

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thanks Janet and welcome to the game :)

[@karenpaulick8601]

I like the adaptive way to play!! I'm still learning and find your videos so helpful!!!

[@MAHJLIFE]

Excellent and welcome to the game 🤓

[@nicholasburns1832]

I'm a beginner, so a fixed style of play helps me focus and not get confused trying to construct hand options during the Charleston.

[@MAHJLIFE]

A fixed style of play is common for beginners. An adaptive style of play is the most flexible way to play so, when you're ready, play with an adaptive-fixed style for a while and eventually, try adaptive for the whole game :)

[@JB43186]

Just discovered your channel. You’ve given me hope that I’ll improve my skills!

[@MAHJLIFE]

WOOT!

[@elgato601]

Very well-demonstrated - TY

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thank you :)

[@wendyscott7707]

I have always played a fixed style and then panic if I have to switch gears. This style of adaptive is very helpful

[@MAHJLIFE]

Agreed, stay adaptive as long as possible for agility :)

[@sallypratt1325]

This is awesome! Thank you!

[@marilynnmartin7188]

I like the fixed style.

[@gail-alanbiggs562]

Excellent choice. The tiles just seemed to fall into place for that particular game.

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thanks, Gail :)

[@melissaradin8591]

This is so helpful

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thanks, Melissa! Which way do you play?

[@francesgiacobbe6821]

This video was particularly helpful!

[@MAHJLIFE]

I'm so happy to hear this helped! One more to come on this topic...

[@svetlanageyfman2476]

Love your videos. I am just a very, very beginner and am struggling with choosing hand, any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thanks, Svetlana! For more videos like this, see Nitty-Gritty Let’s Play Livestream BASICS in this wiki article mahjlife.com/wiki/amj-s2-matrix-article-210/

[@gail-alanbiggs562]

Lots of options. I think your choice is a good one.

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thank you!

[@lorigalenfuchs2574]

In the "category" section, I was surprised you didn't keep the 3 bam instead of the 3 dot in the Charleston - keeping open the option for the 3-6-9-dragon hand

[@MAHJLIFE]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYqcfn1jYt2nmZY I think you're referring to 369- #2. Because of the pair of 3 Craks and the 9 Crak for 369#2 and 9 Bam for 369 #3-2, the 3 Bam and 3 Dot were not useful so I just picked one.

[@helenferrel6231]

Very helpful!

[@jose1phine]

I got really lost of this video - you were moving so fast and I didn't know what your were playing. I restart this one and try again!

[@elainebrown8978]

Love your backsplash!

[@youtubular22]

This is probably a dumb question, but how come when you are organizing the tiles face down into rows you briefly lift them up and look at them? Totally new to this!

[@MAHJLIFE]

For Charles modeling exercises, after you get your dealt hand, you need to create the mock Charleston without jokers because it’s against the rule to pass them. I look though about 30 tiles, remove the jokers, then mix the tiles before creating the mock Charleston.

[@JeanneBredbeck]

Michele, About 3:30, you mentioned breaking up the pair so you do not have to pass a pair in the next pass. At the same time, I seem to recall that in a previous video you mentioned keeping a pair as potential joker bait. How do you make the determination - is it how many discards you have to work with or how far along you are in the Charleston, or other?

[@MAHJLIFE]

Keeping joker bait during the Charleston is situational. If there are lots of discards that allow defensive passing, keep the joker bait intact. Sometimes a hand develops in the Charleston to the point of having 4 discards or less. This is when it's best to break up pairs to ensure defensive passing.

[@JeanneBredbeck]

@@MAHJLIFE Makes sense. Thank you!

[@llmur]

In time stamp 3:16, you had a 5 Bam, discarded a 8 Bam, 7 Dot and 2 Crack. You then received a 3 and 4Bam. What is the thinking behind not choosing to go with a consecutive run? (Btw, sorry for the late reply - got called away 😕

[@MAHJLIFE]

In the first iteration was fixed kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYqcfn1jYt2nmZY, we picked a hand from the onset - Year Hand. In the second iteration was adaptive kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYqcfn1jYt2nmZY, we played adaptive then would play at the category level until one of our tiles would be discarded or we run out of discards. In the third iteration was hybrid kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYqcfn1jYt2nmZY4, we played adaptive through the Charleston, then picked a hand.

[@marykayweis5459]

I subscribed to your channel - I really enjoy your teaching techniques and topic- how will I be notified that you have new material on line?

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thanks for subscribing and for the compliment on my teaching. If you click the little grey bel next to the subscribed button, you should get notification when I upload a new video or go live.

[@snoopysrc]

Michele fitzel you gained a new sub you gonna be making more videos on Majhong?

[@MAHJLIFE]

Welcome! Yes, there will be many more videos. Here is the current schedule: Recurring videos published weekdays per this schedule: Monday 4-player NMJL Skill Builders Friday 2-player Siamese Mah Jongg/NMJL Skill Builders Let's Play Livestream 6-8 PM Eastern Monday Nitty-Gritty (focus is on game-play) Friday Simply Social (game-play with social interaction) *Livestream events will be posted in this group per the schedule above in the "Events" section (facebook.com/groups/michelefrizzell/events). When a regularly scheduled livestream event is not happening, I will notify the community by creating a separate pinned post. Livestreams broadcast on KZbin tinyurl.com/r8z9c7w6 If you are new to American mah jongg or already know how to play and want to build your skills, consider purchasing my American Mah Jongg Primer: mahjlife.com/books Content for other versions (i.e., Hong Kong, Taiwanese, Mahjong Competition Rules, Riichi, Wright-Patterson Mah Jongg) are project-based and will be published on Saturdays. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email [e-mail].

[@marieippolito1620]

I know that the first Charleston is compulsory. Once you start the second Charleston, can anyone stop it at any time or do does the 2nd Charleston need to be completed? Conflicting instructions are available via a Google search. Thanks.

[@KnorSC]

Can you recommend a good mah jongg beginner set. Great video btw

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thanks, Ron! The American mah jongg set I recommend is called White Swan from Gammon Village goo.gl/vSAJHS

[@KnorSC]

Michele Frizzell thanks👍😀

[@lorigalenfuchs2574]

Do you ever consider "what tiles" you are passing (i.e. that they may go together for the recipient's hand?)

[@MAHJLIFE]

Yes. My priority is hand development and passing as defensively as possible with the remaining tiles. Since I struggle with short-term memory, I pay special attention to what I pass in the first and second left.

[@lindabarrientos8270]

I'm a new beginner and was wondering if you have any notes I can reference to learn to be a good player.

[@MAHJLIFE]

Welcome to the game! You can find help here: mahjlife.com/wiki/american-mah-jongg-article-id-162/

[@susannemchin5235]

I am a beginner who took 6 lessons from my local library. Struggling to find a hand from card. How do you do that? Is there a way to practice this by myself with card and tiles?

[@MAHJLIFE]

No worries and don't take it personally. It's a complex game that takes time to understand all the nitty-gritty details. I recommend that you start with a review of my fundamentals videos to confirm what you have learned: kzbin.info/aero/PLLk097vMqukZECQNPNqSK2q99DiLNgkzj Then, read this wiki article and watch the videos at the bottom: mahjlife.com/wiki/direct-links-to-nmjl-lessons-on-youtube-article-192/ Please let me know if this helps :)

[@susannemchin5235]

Thank you!

[@elaineford3192]

can't find the Mock Card. Where is the SHOW MORE?

[@MAHJLIFE]

For future reference, the link to the mock card, and other information, is in the video description. If you are on a desktop computer, click "SHOW MORE" under the left side of the video title. If you are on a smart phone or tablet, click the little grey down arrow under the right corner of the video. Here is the link for the mock card bit.ly/2XuoM1K

[@stefdye]

I don't understand how you made the 2019. Does the dragon represent 1? Is it wild?

[@MAHJLIFE]

2:29 The white dragon when used in a year block is a zero. Jokers cannot be used in blocks with singles or pairs so a natural 1 dot would complete 2019.

[@bjw10564]

I was told you can't use a joker for 2023, as it is not a pung or kong set. I just started your video and see this as a possibility. Which is true?

[@MAHJLIFE]

You are correct in that jokers can be used in a block of three or more identical tiles (i.e., pung, kong). In other words, jokers cannot be used in a block with singles or pairs (i.e., NEWS, 2023).

[@judysollows772]

Michelle, can I use all jokers when needing 3 of the same tiles? Or do I need 1 of the tiles and 2 jokers...example,all the 6 crack are gone, and I need 3 of them, I have 3 jokers and can call Mahjong but need the 6 crack ( 3 of them) can I use all jokers for the 3 - 6 crack??

[@MAHJLIFE]

Hi, Judy. Yes! You can use any number of jokers in a block of three or more identical tiles (i.e., pung, kong, quint).

[@barbararamsey8848]

What is the fabric or textile used for protecting your table top? Is it a special Mahjongg Mar?

[@MAHJLIFE]

The original Mahj Tops mahjtops.com/

[@churchladytoo]

In how many ways can a white dragon be played.

[@carolyn1153]

Is this using 2018 card? Do you have a video picking a hand for the 2019 card? You’re great by the way.

[@MAHJLIFE]

This video, and any other with "American Mah Jongg Lesson" in the title, uses a mock American mah jongg card. I made the mock American mah jongg card. Since the NMJL and other American mah jongg organizations issue cards annually, the lesson videos would expire and if viewers do not have past cards, they have nothing for reference. There is a download link in the video descriptions but here it is for your convenience: goo.gl/MqqaUb

[@karencooke6762]

@@MAHJLIFE This link didn't work

[@MAHJLIFE]

@@karencooke6762 please try this link: goo.gl/MqqaUb

[@riverqueenstl]

How many tiles should you have to commit to a hand?

[@MAHJLIFE]

The guideline I use for a commitment to a hand is when there are no gaps for a hand that uses multiples. For example, Consecutive Run #1 JJ 1 22 33 44 55 dots 23 Bams 4 crack no gaps do I would claim discards to expedite the hand.

[@artindeedgallery93]

I have 2 flowers and 2 jokers exposed. A flower is discarded. Can I call and trade that flower and put the joker in my rack.

[@MAHJLIFE]

No. A discard can only be picked up if it is called and used in an exposure.

[@CliffKain-l6r]

Armstrong Lodge

[@susannebluedevil]

Why are you picking up tiles from the ones you already discarded?

[@MAHJLIFE]

There are two rounds of passes in the Charleston, 1st round (right-across-left), and 2nd round (left-across-right) with an optional across. Since the tiles being passed are often seen in the 2nd Charleston, I take three random tiles from the tiles that were passed previously to mimick what could happen in a real game.

[@llmur]

Why is it preferable to break up your pair of 4 beams especially since you had a 3 and 5 bam

[@MAHJLIFE]

What is the time stamp?

[@gerrynelson147]

How come you don’t play with the 2022 card.?

[@MAHJLIFE]

The mock American Mah Jongg card is timeless and generic. This way, no matter when someone new to the game watches the video, they will have a stable reference as they learn how to play the game. I do recurring videos on Monday's with the current card. If you subscribe to my channel and click the notification bell, you will get an email from KZbin so you can watch new videos :)

[@jlp6208]

I cannot figure out how to download the card. Please help

[@michellerosenbaum6611]

click "Show More" and you'll see the list of hyperlinks that includes the Mock card.

[@MAHJLIFE]

If you are still not able to download the mock card, send me an email [e-mail]

[@egrace3738]

How do the flowers fit in?

[@MAHJLIFE]

in American mah jongg, Flowers are components in many of the allowable hands. Here is the video that explains the tiles kzbin.info/www/bejne/l57XaIWfZpKgo68

[@sharistone3674]

why do I not see the link to the card?

[@MAHJLIFE]

The link is in the video description. If you are on a laptop/desktop, click SHOW MORE under the video title. If you are on a mobile device, click the little downward arrow under the right corner of the video.

[@huayang1008]

Three white American women redesigned mahjong tiles to sell for $425 a set, saying the game needed a 'respectful refresh,' and were accused of erasing Chinese culture

[@MAHJLIFE]

I didn't know about them until I read that article. I wonder if they had given a brief history of the origins of the game the result might have been different. What do you think?

[@jmckee38]

What card are you using? Mock Card is that a made up one by you?

[@christinethumm5027]

Click on SHOW MORE (above). Then click on link for Mock American MJ card. You can print a mock card from that site.

[@MAHJLIFE]

Yes, I made the mock American mah jongg card. Since the NMJL and other American mah jongg organizations issue cards annually, the lesson videos would expire and if viewers do not have past cards, they have nothing for reference.

[@mebythesea5]

I anyone else having trouble getting the mock card to download?

[@MAHJLIFE]

What happens when you try to download it?

[@mcaston2]

When I try to download the mock card, a blank screen emerges. M

[@barbarajohnson318]

5 want to play. How to eliminate 1 in mahjong

[@MAHJLIFE]

Don't eliminate them, involve them. When a game is played with a 5th player, one player sits out while the other four play. After the Charleston, the player sitting out looks at each player’s hand and selects the player whom they think will the hand. The players should not communicate their intentions to the bettor and the bettor is to remain silent in regards to the game. The bettor can select a wall game if they think the hand may end in a draw. If they select correctly, they receive payment for the value of the winning hand from the loosing players. If the winner is not the player they choose, they pay the winner just as the player they bet on. If the game ends in a draw and they bet on a wall game, they receive the lowest value on the card from all the players.

[@marianneg713]

HOW CAN WE PLAY 3 PEOPLE ONLY

[@roslynhutter2906]

My utryj