# Your turn (American mahjong, lesson 7)

Draw a tile, throw one out, and say its name. Interactive version: https://learnmahjongquick.com/learn-american-mahjong/your-turn

### 1. Draw, then discard

- Take the next tile from the wall.
- Pick one tile you don't need.
- Put it face up in the middle. This is your discard.
- Say its name out loud, like "3 Bam."
- Then the player on your right goes.

### 2. 13 or 14 tiles

You always end your turn with 13 tiles.

- Between turns (13 tiles)
- After you draw (14 tiles)
- After you discard (13 tiles again)

### 3. Say it out loud

Everyone needs to know what you threw. Say the tile's name.

- "3 Bam": 3 Bam
- "Red Dragon": Red Dragon
- "North": North
- "Soap": Soap

### 4. Pick a hand to go for

Look at your tiles. Find hands on the card they could make. Early on, keep 2 in mind.

- Option 1 (You have 2s, 4s and 6s): card line 222 444 666 888 DD
- Option 2 (You have 1s and 2s in two suits): card line 11 222 11 222 3333

Note: As you draw, one hand will get closer. Then go for that one.

### 5. Pick a discard

You drew a tile. Now you have 14.

Try it: You're going for this hand. Pick 1 tile to discard. (card line FF 1111 2222 3333) Tiles to pick from: Flower, 1 Dot, 2 Dot, 8 Bam, 3 Dot, Joker, 2 Dot, Flower.

### 6. A full rack

You drew a tile, so you have 14. You're going for this hand in Craks.

Try it: You hold 2 Crak, 2 Crak, 2 Crak, 4 Crak, 4 Crak, Joker, 6 Crak, 6 Crak, 6 Crak, 8 Crak, 8 Crak, 8 Crak, Red Dragon, 7 Crak and are going for House Card hand evens-1. Pick the tile to throw away.

### 7. One more

This hand is any 4 numbers in a row. You have 3, 4, 5 and 6 Bams.

Try it: You hold 3 Bam, 3 Bam, 3 Bam, 4 Bam, 4 Bam, Joker, 5 Bam, 5 Bam, 5 Bam, 6 Bam, 6 Bam, Flower, 4 Dot, 8 Bam and are going for House Card hand run-3. Pick the tile to throw away.

### 8. Quiz: Your turn

- Q: What do you do first on your turn? A: Draw a tile
- Q: How many tiles do you hold between turns? A: 13
- Q: You throw this. What do you say? [3 Bam] A: "3 Bam"
- Q: Who goes after you? A: The player on your right
- Q: You're going for this hand. Which tile do you discard? [card line FF 1111 2222 3333] A: 8 Bam. This hand needs flowers and 1, 2, 3 of one suit.
- Q: Early in the game, how many hands should you keep in mind? A: 2. Keep 2 in mind until one gets closer.

## What this lesson teaches

- Take a tile from the wall, then throw one away.
- Say the name of the tile you throw.
- Throw away tiles your hands don't use.