mj_Strategy

  1. It helps to decide what group and hand you are trying to make as soon as possible.
  2.  Try to keep tiles that you have multiple of the same tile.  Even if they are not used in your hand, they may be useful for stealing a joker if someone calls the tile you discard.  Pairs are generally hard to make so value them appropriately.
  3. Try not to pass multiple tiles that can easily be used together to the same opponent during the Charleston.  For example, don’t pass multiple of the same tile or multiple winds.
  4. If you can’t throw out a tile because know someone needs it for Mah Jongg, try to switch to a hand that uses the tiles you can’t discard (not always possible).
  5. It is risky discarding flowers near the end of the game.  If you have a low chance of winning, discard jokers or other tiles that you know can’t be used.
  6. During the Charleston passes you often see the same tiles you saw in earlier passes. Consider changing your hand based on the tiles that are being passed.  Try to determine what others are making based on what they pass you.  It helps to be making something in a group that nobody else is targeting.
  7. Don’t be too quick to call a discard and give away your hand in the early part of the game.  Calling early will limit your options and show others what you are doing.  Often there will be more chances later.  Also calling tiles gives you fewer chances to draw a high value tile (joker or flower) from the wall. The computer players do not follow this advice.
  8. Try to save your jokers for later in the game.  Early joker exposing gives others more chance to steal them.
  9. Avoid focusing on a hand where you need to complete single(s) or pair(s).  Make sure you can switch to another easier hand if you don’t get lucky with the draws.
  10. The consecutive run group often has hands with the best odds.  This is because there are far more consecutive group hands than in any other group.