My guess is that you've taken your first mahjong class and now you have the bug. Otherwise, why would you be here!? Welcome to this incredible community. I am so excited that you are here.
Whether you've taken your first 101 class or had a friend teach you, I am sure your mind is spinning with all the rules.
No jokers in singles or pairs! ✔
No calling singles or pairs (except for mahjong)! ✔
Watch out for those joker swaps! ✔
And so on. The absolute best way to make these rules muscle memories is...to PRACTICE! But what does that even look like for a social game best played with 3 other people?
First things first...
Get a current year National Mahjong League (NMJL) Card- When you attend an open play, this is the card that will most likely be played. This is the first (and most important) item you should get. You can order them directly from the NMJL or your teacher, local mahjong shop, or local JCC likely has them to purchase. It's also nice to grab four instead of one so you always have enough for a full table. Note, the standard card is pretty small. Most people purchase the large sized card.
Go to the open play, even if you feel uncomfortable - Your first 10-15 times playing (sessions, not games), you are just trying to get used to the flow of the game. This is the "fake it until you make it" phase. In your charlestons, do your best to recognize patterns but don't spend 5-10 minutes trying to figure out what to do (unless it's a guided play session or that is the general pace of the table). Analysis paralysis can be a real thing in the game. Keep the pace. Get rid of the tiles. If you drop the wrong ones, that's perfect. It's a lesson for your next game.
In between group play, practice at home - My favorite way to get practice is online play. You can move as slow or as fast as you want. You can make your mistakes in a low stress environment and get immediate feedback if you've done something illegal. This was the most effective and efficient way to practice when I first learned. My favorite website is I Love Mahj (ILM, affiliate link, 3 free weeks). If you don't have the NMJL card yet, you can use ILM's card for practice. You can play full games with bots or friends in real time. There are also practice exercises that strengthen your charleston and hand recognition skills. This is a great way to get better, quickly.
Another way to practice on your own is practice boards. These tend to be geared towards practicing the charleston, which makes sense because this is often seen as the hardest but most critical part of the game. Companies like Dot Crak Bam Boom (affiliate link, 10% off) make practice boards that allow you to hone those important pattern recognition skills.
Find the right experts - Follow some incredible content creators that give GREAT how-tos and advice. Some of my favorites Instagram creators that heavily focus on rules, tips, and tricks are:
Revel in each win - No one ever wins every mahj hand. This is what makes it fun. So much of this game is strategy, but there is a huge element of luck. Each win is special. Enjoy the moment!
Decide if it's time to buy tiles - The mahj tile market is HOT right now. There are so many options. What is the best option for a newbie? I'll cover that in my next post.
Until then,
XOXO
Adrianne