Choosing a hand
American mahjong, lesson 4. How to find the hand on the card that fits your tiles.
1. Start with your tiles
The card has many hands. You don't need to read them all.
- Look at your tiles first.
- Notice what you have a lot of: a number, even numbers, winds…
- That points you to one part of the card, called a section.
- Then look only at the hands in that section.
2. What your tiles point to
Each section of the card uses certain tiles.
- Evens (2, 4, 6, 8): 2 Bam, 4 Dot, 6 Crak, 8 Bam
- Odds (1, 3, 5, 7, 9): 1 Dot, 3 Bam, 5 Crak, 7 Dot, 9 Bam
- 2026 (2s, Soaps, 6s): 2 Dot, Soap, 2 Dot, 6 Dot
- Winds & Dragons (Winds and dragons): North, East, Red Dragon, Green Dragon
3. Three more sections
- Like Numbers (One number in every suit): 5 Crak, 5 Bam, 5 Dot
- Consecutive Run (Numbers in a row): 3 Dot, 4 Dot, 5 Dot, 6 Dot
- 369 (3s, 6s and 9s): 3 Bam, 6 Bam, 9 Bam
Note: There is also Singles & Pairs. Those hands are concealed and use no jokers, so they are harder for beginners.
Go to step 34. Count what you have
- Pairs and sets you already hold count the most.
- Jokers fit any set of 3 or more. They help almost any hand.
- Flowers fit many hands. Keep them early.
- The best hand is the one that needs the fewest new tiles.
5. Which hand is closest?
Your tiles have lots of even Bams.
Try it: Which card hand is closest to these tiles? 2 Bam, 2 Bam, 4 Bam, 4 Bam, 4 Bam, 6 Bam, 8 Bam, 8 Bam, Green Dragon, Flower, 3 Crak, 7 Dot, North. Choices: evens-1, odds-1, winds-1 (House Card ids).
Go to step 56. Which hand is closest?
Look for 2s, Soaps and 6s.
Try it: Which card hand is closest to these tiles? Flower, Flower, 2 Dot, 2 Dot, Soap, Soap, 6 Dot, 2 Crak, 2 Crak, 2 Bam, Joker, East, 7 Bam. Choices: evens-2, year-1, like-1 (House Card ids).
Go to step 67. One more
Count the 3s, 6s and 9s.
Try it: Which card hand is closest to these tiles? 3 Dot, 3 Dot, 6 Dot, 6 Dot, 6 Dot, 9 Dot, 9 Dot, 3 Bam, 4 Bam, 5 Crak, Soap, Joker, East. Choices: run-3, odds-1, 369-1 (House Card ids).
Go to step 78. Stay ready to change
- At the start, keep 2 or 3 hands in mind.
- In the Charleston, pass tiles none of them use.
- After the Charleston, go for the closest one.
- If other players take the tiles you need, switch to your next hand.
- In a game, tap Card to see the hands you are closest to.
9. Quiz: Choosing a hand
Question: You have lots of these. Which section should you look at? [2 Bam, 4 Bam, 6 Bam, 8 Bam]
Answer: Evens
Question: Which section uses these? [North, North, East, South]
Answer: Winds & Dragons
Question: Which section uses these? [2 Dot, Soap, 2 Dot, 6 Dot]
Answer: 2026
Question: Which hand should you go for?
Answer: The one that needs the fewest new tiles. Go for the hand you are closest to. A bigger value doesn't help if you can't finish it.
Question: Do you have to remember the whole card?
Answer: No. Keep the card in front of you. Everyone looks at it while they play.
What this lesson teaches
- Start with your tiles, then look at the section they fit.
- Go for the hand that needs the fewest new tiles.
- Keep 2 hands in mind until after the Charleston.
