04/27/26 🀄 Don’t Miss the Final Live Q&A This Week

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The Mah Jongg Insider 🀄
April 27, 2026

🧨️ Happy Mah Jongg Monday!️

You may see “National Mah Jongg Day” popping up this week on April 30. It’s one of those internet holidays with no clear origin, just something that’s been picked up and shared over time.

Then there’s August 1, which goes by “International Mahjong Day.” That one was created more recently by a Riichi (Japanese) Mahjong group as a way to bring attention to the game.

Neither date has any real connection to the version of the Mah Jongg we play, so honestly… why not April 25? As any Miss Congeniality fan knows, that’s the perfect date.😂

Celebrate both, celebrate neither, or just sit down and play.

Here’s a quick preview of today’s issue. Scroll down to read each section in full.

⬇️ See what’s helping players get clear on the 2026 card → 

💡 Table Wisdom — What PIE means and why it matters.

🖐🏻 A Hand to Play — Which version of this hand is actually valid?

🎁 Winning Picks — Simple upgrades for a smoother game night.

🎥 Max’s Minute — Calling tiles and declaring a hand dead.

❓ Ask Auntie — How strict should “friendly” games be?

📸 Spotlight — 20-year groups and Mah Jongg reunions.

🎂 Birthdays — This week’s AMJA members.

🏁 Milestones — Progress inside TheWinningHand app.

🖐🏻 Free Practice Sessions — See if we called your name.

… and more!

💡 Table Wisdom

What PIE Means at the Mah Jongg Table

PIE is a table rule that limits how much money players can lose. It keeps the game friendly while still adding a small financial stake.  

PIE stands for Purse Is Empty. When a player reaches that limit, they stop paying until they build their purse back up.

The National Mah Jongg League sets hand values and payment rules. It does not set a maximum loss. Each table decides its own PIE limit.

Most casual games use a $5 PIE. Some groups choose $10 or $20 as a higher-stakes option, playing each hand with a higher base value (usually double the base).

The purpose is simple. A small stake sharpens attention and encourages careful discards. You think twice before throwing a risky tile, even if you need only a single tile to win.

PIE also helps you track performance over time. If your purse grows, you are making strong decisions. If not, it may be time to adjust your strategy.

Takeaway: Ask your table’s PIE before you start. Then play with that limit in mind and protect your purse.

🖐🏻 A Hand to Play

Last Week’s 🖐🏻 Hand to Play Results:
5,670 Insiders Played, 36% chose right.
👉 See the correct answer & explanation here.

A new card always takes some getting used to. This is your chance to test how well you know the 2026 Card.

Look closely at the hands below. They’re all the same hand, but only one follows the rules exactly. The others miss a key detail.

Check the tile counts. Confirm the Pairs, Pungs, and Kongs. Make sure the hand matches its Section and Line.

Which one is a valid Mah Jongg hand?

Make your choice. Vote. See how your answer compares with other players. 👇

🀄 Tile Spotlight: Today’s Hand to Play uses Mah Jongg Maven’s tiles.

Which of these is a valid hand?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

🀄 Winning Picks: Mah Jongg Table Essentials
A few small additions can make your Mah Jongg nights run smoother and feel a little more special. These practical finds help protect your gear, brighten the table, and make long games even more enjoyable.

🃏 Mah Jongg Card Protector
Your card gets a lot of use over the year. A sturdy protector keeps it clean, flat, and easy to read through every game night. Protect your card →

💡 Table Lamps for Game Night
Good lighting makes a huge difference at the table. These lamps brighten your tiles and create a warm, comfortable atmosphere for evening games. Light the table → 

🎲 Colorful Mah Jongg Dice
A fun little upgrade that adds personality to the start of every game. These dice bring a pop of color to the table. Roll in style →

📚 Mah Jongg Mysteries Boxed Set
Perfect for relaxing between games or winding down afterward. A cozy mystery series with plenty of Mah Jongg charm. Start reading → 

☕ Mah Jongg Insulated Travel Mug
Keeps drinks hot or cold through long game sessions — and the Mah Jongg design makes it even better. Sip in style →

(**As an Amazon Associate, The Mah Jongg Insider earns from qualifying purchases.)

This week’s top questions:
1️⃣ Can you call for a singular tile for any time other than to make Mah Jongg with it?
2️⃣ When is it appropriate for you to call another player dead? 

Watch Max’s 1-minute video answer.
🎥 [Click here to watch]

Have a question for Max?
🎤 Leave him a [voicemail]

⬅️ Last Week’s Question
Auntie, In a friendly game, someone unknowingly played with 14 tiles and the group said 'we’re just friendly.' How far do you bend the rules in a friendly game?
- Winnie O.

🥠 Auntie’s Advice 🥠

🗨 My friend, “friendly” should never mean ignoring the rules entirely. The rules are what make the game fair and recognizable for everyone at the table.

In this case, the solution is simple. A hand played with 14 tiles is a dead hand. That isn’t unkind. It’s just how the game works.

Friendly play allows for patience, laughter, and learning. It doesn’t require pretending a mistake didn’t happen.

Keeping the rules steady protects the game for everyone. That keeps the harmony.

📢 Readers’ Responses 📢

🗨  We play relaxed and friendly (no betting or money) with a large range of
skill levels. We err on the side of grace. We would allow the player to correct on their turn by not picking up and only discarding. However I always remind the group what the rule is as some of us play in tournaments.
- Debra S.

🗨  Friendly means you get to play in atmosphere that is friendly, not tense. It doesn't mean you get to stomp all over the rules of the game.
- Carol D.

🗨 I’m tired of people who justify bending the rules by saying they are playing a "friendly" game. This demonizes and demeans those who want to learn, understand, follow, and enforce the standard NMJL rules. The rules make the game friendly and fair. Some of the rules are difficult to understand, but the more you play, the more you begin to understand why the rule exists. A group needs to agree on "table rules" in advance, but if they do, they should understand that they have changed the game.
- Betty G.

Whose response do you like best?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Pssst… Members of the American Mah Jongg Association can access to the Rulebook from the Member Dashboard.👇🏻

➡️ This Week’s Question
One player mentors newbies during the entire game, distracting everyone else. How can we ask her to stop without upsetting her?
- Carlin

🤗 Want to share your advice?
🤔 Have a Mah Jongg manners or table moment dilemma?

📩 Send it to Auntie: [email protected]

📸 Get In the Spotlight

Hello Mah Jongg insider,

Attached is our photo. We love your weekly visit to our inboxes. It’s really sharpening our skills.

A lovely Mah Jongg teacher, Joyce McShane, from New York City taught us to play over 20 years ago and we’re still going strong! We’re in Los Angeles but you’d never know it by this group members’ patio! Thank you Mah Jongg insider.

Have a great week,
Jef Wheeler

We had a Mah Jongg reunion last night with the group we started playing with 20 years ago. With children and jobs, we couldn’t play like we used to. Last night we came back together and still remembered how to play and laugh.
Andrea Kranc, Colchester, CT

📸 Share your Mah Jongg moments!
Send us a photo and a quick note — big wins, themed nights, or fun group shots — for a chance to be featured.

📩 Email: [email protected]

🎂 This Week’s Birthdays

The American Mah Jongg Association would like to wish these members a very Happy Birthday!

Apr 14 Diane A. (LA)

Apr 27
Amy F. (NJ), Annette S. (SC), Kellie J. (TX), Susan H. (CA), Terry M. (SC)  

Apr 28
Lanier A. (NC), Mary Kay W. (MI), Terry K. (TX)  

Apr 29
Deanna M. (MI), Kathy R. (NY), Maryann K. (PA), Victoria B. (TX)  

Apr 30
Lindsey W. (OH), Stacy M. (IL), Susan R. (FL)

May 1
Barb R. (MI), Carol G. (TX), Chris S. (PA), Jan K. (MN), Karen J. (CO), Libby H. (MI), Libby H. (MI), Marjorie T. (SC), Rhonda G. (TX), Rochelle H. (MI), Vycki T. (FL)  

May 2
Barbara B. (NJ), Christine F. (MO), Diane W. (NC), Julia M. (SC), Kathe O. (NJ), Rosa S. (NM)  

May 3
Karen J. (CO), Louise K. (DE), Nickie S. (FL)

If your name is Marcia , enjoy a FREE Practice Session 🖐🏻 on us!*

*Just reply to this email by this Friday at midnight—your email name must match!

🏁 Milestones

These milestones come from players using The Winning Hand, the practice app included with membership in the American Mah Jongg Association. [Join Here]

Members use it in different ways. To warm up. To stay sharp. Or simply to spend more time with the game you already love.

🔥🔥🔥🔥 400 games played
Kathleen Gresh
Paulette Bernbaum

🔥🔥🔥 300 games played
Leo Immonen
Darla Johnson

🔥🔥 200 games played
Sandra Johnson
Donna McDonald
Sonja Longley
Myra Maki
Keiko Marsh

🔥 100 games played
Phylis Austinson
Sharon Kuhnert
Joy Bruce
Bonnie Bondy
J J
Barbara Jordan
Dennis Richling
Karen Schutzer
A Wagner
Monnie Murray
Aparna Kaul
Nancy Bostwick
Michele Murphy
Hong Collver
Paula McDonald
Mariam Masid
Sherri Frost

👏 The more you play, the better your game gets.

🎥 New to TheWinningHand app?
Short videos walk through each game mode:
➕ Hand Builder | ☑️ Finish the Hand | 🔃 Scrambled Hand | 💃🏻 Charleston

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