American Mah Jongg Lesson Strategy How to Pick a Hand - Strength (mock card)

[@alliebelle3298]

My Mom is a big Mah Jongg player. She won several large tournaments and has been an instructor for years. In July, she had a massive stroke. She was only able to move her eyes. As she began to heal she moved in with me for 4 or 5 months. If there was one thing I wanted for her, it was for her to continue to play Mah Jongg. I thank you for these lessons. I learned how to play by watching your lessons and began to play Siamese with her, then my husband joined in. It took awhile, but now my Mom can play the game again and when she goes back home in a few weeks she will be able to continue with her games. Your videos really made a difference and I wanted you to know how much they are apprciated.

[@MAHJLIFE]

WOW this is a heartwarming story. Thank you so much for sharing it with us! Bless you for being a thoughtful, loving daughter, and give your husband a big hug for learning how to play. I hope your mom is healing and getting stronger every day. Please keep us posted on your story :)

[@MAHJLIFE]

Could you send me an email [e-mail]

[@michaelanncox]

What a great testimony to Mah Jongg!

[@louisepillar6729]

Where Is The mock card?

[@2karencraig]

This demonstration really helps me understand the hand much better. Thanks fir going at a skiw pace to give time for this to soak into my brain ha. You are a fantastic teacher. Have only played three times so it takes awhile to understand.

[@MAHJLIFE]

Welcome to the game and it's sincerely my pleasure. It's a complex game and well worth the effort :)

[@pamelabakst9759]

Love the simplicity of your explanations!! It is so much easier to follow than some of the other mah jong instructional videos.

[@MAHJLIFE]

I'll take that as a compliment, thank you so much :)

[@marshad1686]

I so value the ideas on these videos but they are much more helpful when you use the current NMJL card. Although the concepts are there it is frustrating to not be able to maximize learning when obvious hands are discarded.

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thanks for the feedback. I use the mock card so these videos are timeless - the concepts can be used for any card, any year. Every year I do video with a new card analysis. "How to Pick a Hand - Strength" using the NMJL card will be a great follow up video. Stay tuned for "How to Pick a Hand - Strength NMJL 2019" in the next few weeks! In the meantime, all the concepts in the American Mah Jongg Lesson are demonstrated in the monthly and weekly videos using the current NMJL card. Charleston Modeling - Improve decision making bit.ly/2V3kNYg Charleston Chain Reaction - Test your instincts bit.ly/2v0MClg Solitaire - Bring everything together bit.ly/2GmQZNR Strategy Theory - Explanations and application bit.ly/2UYWH0G

[@louisepillar6729]

so happy to have had a friend pass along this site. Really looking forward to learning Mahjong but where is the mock card?

[@MAHJLIFE]

Welcome to the game! Look under "downloads" in this wiki article: mahjlife.com/wiki/american-mah-jongg-article-162/

[@ModernMahjong]

thank you for sharing these wonderful strategy videos!

[@MAHJLIFE]

Blood, sweat, and tears shed and shared by all can make us better players :)

[@Dani-ey2zq]

Hi Michelle! I am a new player. I am picking it up pretty well but I have trouble reading the card and knowing what the code means. That's the most difficult part for me. Your videos are great.

[@Dani-ey2zq]

What does joker bait mean? :)

[@MAHJLIFE]

Welcome to the game! There are two other playlists that should be watch first if you haven't already been there: Fundamentals: goo.gl/wGVQLu Skill builders goo.gl/3TQAsM

[@Dani-ey2zq]

@@MAHJLIFE Thanks Michele!

[@Violet9109]

How do I get the mock card??? Great instruction btw.

[@Violet9109]

Never mind I found it! :)

[@claudiatolar2610]

I love your very helpful videos. Could you direct me to the first 4 or 5 that would be good in helping a few friends to learn to play? There are so many posted that I am overwhelmed trying to find the best to help people who are just barely learning.

[@MAHJLIFE]

I'm happy to help! Please send an email to [e-mail] and I will reply with information for your friends 🤓

[@barbaraseibert3370]

This was very helpful!❤

[@reginakuhn1138]

I just lost a hand to this 77 8888 77 8888 there were jokers in there but I put it in easy for you to,understand It was dots and bam for each sequence. Has anyone found this hand on the new card

[@MAHJLIFE]

Quint #4

[@Mercatoyd]

Michele.. for any year hand..does the year always have to be "dots" ? because the zero is always a white dragon. Or, can you have bams or cracks for everything but the zero as long as the rest of the year is of the same suit?

[@brynnman]

Thank you very much..well done ✅

[@MAHJLIFE]

Thank you! I'm going to add this to my recurring videos using the current card starting with the next cycle :)

[@cherico6045]

Hi Michele, Im a brand newbie using your 2018 mock card to follow along. At around 19:50, you lean toward a 789 consecutive run. I'm wondering if - using your 2018 mock card - it would be advisable to play the Quints 2nd hand down - 2 quints (of 22799) in 2 suits with 4 dragons?

[@MAHJLIFE]

Any video with "American Mah Jongg Lesson" in the title uses this card: bit.ly/3h564Eg

[@KatherineHasara]

What is the best American Mah Jongg set to purchase? I see so many sets online, but I am not sure which is the best choice.

[@MAHJLIFE]

I highly recommend the White Swan set at Gammon Village www.gammonvillage.com/mah-jong-shop/american-mah-jong-sets-soft-sided-cases/metro_mah_jongg_set_ivory_tiles_allinone_rack_pushers_black_canvas_bag.cfm

[@email4us]

Hi Michele. How do you choose a hand when dealt an exact even split? Also how to manage without jokers if a jokerless hand is not dealt?

[@MAHJLIFE]

When there is equal potential between categories or hands, I choose the category or hand with no gaps. I'm so sorry, I don't understand your second question. Could you reword it?

[@davewesolowski2360]

I am a beginner. example..Playing for the 2019 12379 category for the hand bams=(55 77) craks=(777 999) DDDD any 3 suits If I call for a a 5bam to I expose just the two 5's or do I need to expose both the 55 and 77's (bams) ? Thankyou We enjoy your instructional videos.

[@MAHJLIFE]

A discard cannot be claimed to complete a pair unless the hand is ready to win. In the case of Odds #4 55 77 777 999 DDDD, discards can be claimed to complete all but the pairs until ready to win.

[@davewesolowski2360]

@@MAHJLIFE Thank You..got it

[@JeanneBredbeck]

Michele, I have two questions. 1) About 28 min, you decide not to include the white dragon. Can you elaborate as I was also thinking of the 2nd hand down in 369 with the gap of 6 dots could be an alternative possibility to hang onto before having to make a choice of hands. Conversely, before 30 min, you have a hand that you determine could use the 2nd hand down in 369 even though there is a gap of either 3 bams or nine cracks (which I suppose is better because it leaves one of two gaps.) 2) Before 32 min, you mention that you could also do like numbers or a pair hand with nines. In that case, would it be reasonable to keep the second nine crack? Thank you., Jeanne

[@MAHJLIFE]

1) Gap hands are tricky because there is a risk of not filling that gap. I typically choose options that don't have a gap. 2) Like Numbers could have been a good choice too :)

[@JeanneBredbeck]

Thank you!

[@judithcreed7319]

I cannot find the mock American card. Help please

[@MAHJLIFE]

Mock American mah jongg card goo.gl/MqqaUb

[@rosiesimon2501]

Per 2019 card , is there another category to switch the closed hand to from winds & dragons ?

[@MAHJLIFE]

The first hand and the concealed hand are very close and the NEWS pair hand is too.

[@suzanneeversberg2554]

I can’t find the down load for the mock American mahjong card - I can’t follow along w/o it

[@MAHJLIFE]

A link to the mock card is in the video description. You can find a link under downloads in this wiki article mahjlife.com/wiki/american-mah-jongg-article-162/

[@lindamorkan314]

for the hand at 14:50, I was so sure you were going to play a year hand. Did you lean towards quint b/c you had no winds or flowers (even though you had the complete '2019')?

[@MAHJLIFE]

On the mock American mah jongg card, there are no multiples for the year tiles so I opted for a quint.

[@lindamorkan314]

(ps: I have to tell you how helpful this is! I have tried random pulls on my own but w/o someone to check it with, I don't know if I am making the right ~ or even good! ~ choices, LOL. I learn so much from hearing your viewpoint, thank you!)

[@MAHJLIFE]

@@lindamorkan314 stick with it because you will gain confidence as you practice. A good guideline for good decision making is to have four discards after the Charleston and knowing with the category you are going to play or maybe even a hand.

[@davidkern3238]

can you stop the Charleston at any time?

[@MAHJLIFE]

No. The only time you can stop the Charleston is after the first left. The first Charleston is obligatory and includes three passes (right, across, left). The second Charleston is optional and any player can stop it for any reason. Once the second Charleston is underway, it must be completed. All players are eligible for the optional cross pass - even the player who stops the second Charleston.

[@debib4596]

The Charleston can be stopped after the first exchange. i.e. tiles to the right, then over, then left. Option to stop before continuing to tiles to the left (2nd left), then over, then right.

[@georgerniccolai3425]

What is the meaning of "joker bait"?

[@MAHJLIFE]

Joker bait is a term coined by Tom Sloper (goo.gl/wG7YAR). Basically, joker bait is made up of multiples that you keep even if you do not need them. You discard one of the tiles from the multiple to coax an exposure with jokers. You can also hold onto single valuable tiles like Flowers and Dragons. During the pick and discard phase of the game, when someone makes an exposure with a joker using those tiles, you may be able to make an exchange using the natural tile to get the Joker. Be mindful to get rid of them before the end of the third wall. In this video, I play a game of solitaire to demonstrate the concept. The Mock American mah jongg card is used in the videos below goo.gl/MqqaUb Joker Bait I Hit or Miss goo.gl/2dqb3M Joker Bait II Etiquette and Tells goo.gl/W9xCY2 Joker Bait III Chum the Table goo.gl/4Ct7Pm

[@CarolMacknin]

What is "Joker bait"?

[@MAHJLIFE]

Joker Bait is a strategy that can create an opportunity for a joker exchange. The term was coined by Tom Sloper of Sloperama. It’s a hit-or-miss strategy and when it works, it can be very helpful. Here’s how it works: A player would keep a pair that is not needed for their hand. At about the middle of the middle wall, the player would discard one of these tiles to entice another player to make an exposure with a joker. On the next turn, the player uses the second tile to exchange it for the joker. Read more: mahjlife.com/wiki/joker-bait-article-181/

[@laurendavis-todd2693]

Music is so loud It is hard to hear instruction. Dang.

[@MAHJLIFE]

Music?

[@MAHJLIFE]

So sorry, when do you hear music in this video?

[@kathleenshepler1082]

What does “joker bait” mean?

[@MAHJLIFE]

Joker bait is a term coined by Tom Sloper (goo.gl/wG7YAR). Basically, joker bait is made up of multiples that you keep even if you do not need them. You discard one of the tiles from the multiple to coax an exposure with jokers. You can also hold onto single valuable tiles like Flowers and Dragons. During the pick and discard phase of the game, when someone makes an exposure with a joker using those tiles, you may be able to make an exchange using the natural tile to get the Joker. Be mindful to get rid of them before the end of the third wall. In this video, I play a game of solitaire to demonstrate the concept. The Mock American mah jongg card is used in the videos below goo.gl/MqqaUb Joker Bait I Hit or Miss goo.gl/2dqb3M Joker Bait II Etiquette and Tells goo.gl/W9xCY2 Joker Bait III Chum the Table goo.gl/4Ct7Pm

[@MAHJLIFE]

Joker Bait I Hit or Miss goo.gl/2dqb3M Joker Bait II Etiquette and Tells goo.gl/W9xCY2 Joker Bait III Chum the Table goo.gl/4Ct7Pm

[@lisaengels8724]

Can I have a code for Mahjong time to play for free?

[@MAHJLIFE]

Yes. Please send an email to [e-mail]. I will reply with the code that will give you 30-days as a VIP member for free. After that, you can decide to continue with one of three memberships: www.mahjongtime.com/Mahjong-Help-Membership-Fullscreen.aspx

[@churchladytoo]

it tells us to click on the link below....What link ?????

[@MAHJLIFE]

There is a description with information under every video. To reveal the description box on a desktop computer, you need to click "SHOW MORE" under the title of the video. To reveal the description box on a tablet or smart phone, click the little down arrow under the right corner of the video.

[@davewesolowski2360]

Sorry 13579 catagory

[@MAHJLIFE]

Got it :)