🧨️ Happy Mah Jongg Monday!️
AROUND THE TABLE by Dottie
Hi. I'm Dottie.
The Association asked me to drop in here on Mondays. I said yes before I thought about it. That is how most of my decisions get made.
A few things you should know. I've been playing this game since 1974. My mother taught me at her kitchen table and would not let me leave until I had the Charleston down. My Wednesday group has been together eleven years, and at the table you'll find my cousin Marlene (dramatic, opinionated, brilliant), my oldest friend Patty (steady, loyal, somehow always five minutes early), and my husband Hal (thirty years at the table, the most patient player I've ever met, the tiles like him more than they like me, will not be discussing it)
I text in all-caps. I have been told not to do that here. We will see.
Below is today's actual issue. Pour the coffee. Let's go.
— Dottie
Here’s a quick preview of today’s issue. Scroll down to read each section in full.
⬇️ Learn the 2026 Card Faster — Join the Association + save 40% on Bootcamp.
💡 Table Wisdom — The one-tile trick strong players use during the Charleston.
🖐🏻 A Hand to Play — Which section gives you the strongest start?
🌿 Winning Picks — Easy summer hosting upgrades.
🎥 Max’s Minute — Men playing Mah Jongg and stopping the Charleston.
❓ Ask Auntie — When slow play starts hurting the group.
📸 Spotlight — Growing groups
🎂 Birthdays — This week’s AMJA members.
🏁 Milestones — Progress inside TheWinningHand app.
🖐🏻 Free Practice Sessions — See if we called your name.
… and more!
💡 Table Wisdom
The One-Tile Focus Trick
How do you up your game? Play defensively from the very first pass by gathering intelligence.
Most people begin their Charleston by passing random tiles they don’t need, and passing along tiles given to them that they don’t need. Ask them what they passed, and they have no idea.
To really up your game, watch what happens to your tiles.
Start simple: Pick a single tile from your first pass. Winds and Dragons are easiest to follow.
Did the tile come back? Notice how many times it comes back.
Is the tile one of the early discards? Does anyone pick it up?
There are several pieces of intelligence you can gather:
If the tile keeps going around and is discarded without interest, no one is playing a hand that requires it. If the other matching tiles go out unclaimed, this backs up your theory that it’s not needed.
Use this information to eliminate hands that your opponents could be playing. If you selected an 8 Bam, for example, and someone exposes two and six Bams, it’s likely they are playing a 2026 hand or a 2468 hand that uses eights from a different suit.
If the tile does not come around again, someone is holding it and using it for their hand.
This information, along with other exposures, gives you an advantage: an additional tile they may be using, allowing you to know the hand they are playing before others do.
Be careful throwing the same tile late in the game to avoid giving them Mah Jongg.
This simple exercise will help you build your awareness. Once you can do it for a single tile, try tracking several tiles until you can identify which tiles you passed that never showed up again.
With Winds, pay attention to the N/S and E/W combination. If the North stops but the West continues to go around, this lends valuable intelligence.
With Dragons, did your Red Dragon stop, but Green Dragons are going around the table? Now you know they’re playing a hand that uses Dragons, not a Dragon-based hand.
Key Takeaway: Building awareness of the tiles being held during the Charleston can help you determine which tiles are safe to throw and the hand someone is playing. Build this ability as soon as you can, starting with a single tile.
🖐🏻 A Hand to Play
Last Week’s 🖐🏻 Hand to Play Results:
4,623 Insiders Played, 80% chose right.
👉 See the correct answer & explanation here.
When the Charleston begins, you won’t always get three tiles that clearly don’t fit. When that happens, your first job is to decide which Section of the card deserves your attention.
If you tend to default to a Consecutive Run, challenge yourself to look at the deal differently. Sort your tiles by rank instead of by suit. Shift them around to see how many tiles support each Section.
Here is your challenge: study the deal below and evaluate your options. Count how many tiles point toward each Section of the card, then decide which direction gives you the strongest start for the Charleston.
Once you’ve made your choice, cast your vote and see how your instincts compare with those of other players.
🀄 Tile Spotlight: Today’s Hand to Play uses Mah Jongg Maven’s tiles.
Which Section would you play based on this starting deal?
🌿 Winning Picks: Easy Summer Hosting
Summer is made for simple get-togethers: a few friends, something to sip, and maybe a Mahj table in the corner. These picks keep hosting easy, relaxed, and just a little more pulled together.
🌟 Outdoor String Lights
Soft lighting that instantly makes a patio or backyard feel inviting. Easy to hang, easy to enjoy. Set the mood →
🍽️ Serving Trays
Carry drinks, snacks, or desserts in one trip — and keep everything looking neat on the table. Serve with ease →
🍹 Cocktail Mixers
A quick way to make something good without standing behind the bar all night. Just add your favorite spirit (or keep it alcohol-free). Mix it up →
🀄 Mah Jongg Ice Cube Tray
A fun detail that guests notice right away. Easy to use and a nice little nod to the game. Add some flair →
🧀 Appetizer Board with Lid
Keeps everything covered, fresh, and ready until it’s time to serve. No last-minute scrambling. Keep it ready →
(As an Amazon Associate, The Mah Jongg Insider earns from qualifying purchases.)
This week’s top questions:
1️⃣ Why do you think so few men play Mah Jongg?
2️⃣ Are you still able to do the optional across even if you stop the Charleston?
Max’s 1-minute answer is ready.
🎥 [Click to watch]
Have a question for Max?
🎤 [Click to leave a voicemail]
⬅️ Last Week’s Question
Auntie, some players keep their phones on the table and look at every ding, disrupting concentration. How should this be handled?
- Addie
🥠 Auntie’s Advice 🥠
🗨 My friend, it helps to start with why this is bothering you. You expect the table to be focused, and the phones out break that expectation. However, others at the table may not share your viewpoint, and that difference is what you’re feeling.
A simple, “Do we want to keep phones off the table while we play?” lets the group decide together. If the table agrees, the issue resolves itself. If not, you can decide whether that style of play works for you.
📢 Readers’ Responses 📢
🗨 Ask your players to turn the “ding” off. You may need to show them how to do that. The phone should be nearby only if they are expecting an important call, such as from a doctor’s office or during a family crisis. I have learned that I seldom need my phone during Mah Jongg, so I keep it tucked away and bring it out only during breaks to show off pictures of the grandchildren!
- Catherine B.
🗨 This drives me nuts. We all usually have our purses, so leave the phone in there. It is rude to place it on the table. Players take offense because it sends the signal that something is more important than Mah Jongg and that someone else might need your attention.
- Kathie S.
🗨 Most of our group keeps phones on a side table. Friendly calls are answered with, “I’m playing Mahj. Can I call you back?” We also like to look up information at times. No one abuses it. We never made a rule, just common courtesy.
- Debbie S.
Whose response do you like best?
➡️ This Week’s Question
Two players consistently struggle with rules after years of playing and slow down every turn. It is causing others to leave the group. What can be done?
- Jane M.
🤗 Want to share your advice?
🤔 Have a Mah Jongg manners or table moment dilemma?
📩 Send it to Auntie: [email protected]
📸 Get In the Spotlight
We have a great Mah Jongg group in The Laurels neighborhood in Germantown, Tennessee! Pam, in the white shirt in the back left, started this group, and she and I, Josie Walker, taught around 20 people how to play. Now we meet every Wednesday afternoon and usually have 8 to 12 people who play consistently, sometimes more, as you can see here.
Our one-year anniversary of learning and playing together is this month. Now several members are teaching other groups how to play. Kudos to Pam Evans for getting this group together!
- Josie Walker
This is my wonderful group from Stockton, California. Several members have been playing for about six years. I’m a “newbie” and have been with them for two years.
We meet weekly and love to celebrate birthdays together. This photo was taken at our meetup, which we called Mah Jongg in the Valley, since Stockton is in a valley.
We normally head up to one member’s cabin in the mountains. Of course, that’s called Mah Jongg in the Mountains. Since that couldn’t happen this year, this is what we did instead.
The goal in the mountains is to play as many games as the year, so last year, 24 games were played. We are holding “25” tiles in the photo. We didn’t make it to 25 this time because it was a one-day get-together. Usually, it’s two nights away together.
We also celebrated one member’s 86th birthday. Love my group!
- Rosalynne Lopez
4 Blondes Mahjong San Antonio Had a blast bringing Mah Jongg and the Derby together.
📸 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!
May 14
Gerry G. (NY)
May 18
Cheryll S. (VA), Dot C. (NC), Janet B. (IL)
May 19
Lynda B. (TX), Marlene F. (MI), Ritu D. (CT), Robin B. (NY)
May 20
Jeannine S. (MO), Jeannine S. (MO), Kelly H. (OR)
May 21
Donna T. (CT), Hilary T. (NC), Hildy D. (CA), Kathy G. (AZ)
May 22
Barbara S. (WY)
May 23
Carin M. (CA), Carol E. (SD), Cindy L. (GA), Deb L. (FL), Teresa B. (OH)
May 24
Amber Sue H. (TX), Cesta N. (FL), Linda HT. (NY), Tina W. (CA)
If your name is Brenda, 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]
10,000 + members use it in different ways: To warm up. To stay sharp. Or simply to spend more time with the game you already love.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 500 games played
Leo Immonen
🔥🔥🔥 300 games played
Ann May
Julie Holmes
Nancy Mendell
🔥🔥 200 games played
Holly Murray
Stephanie Tobin
Ronni Craig
Kate Durst
🔥 100 games played
MK King
Nancy Erickson
Kenni Eberlin
Cindy Jackson
Karen Miller
Carole Garner
Charlotte Irish
Christine Mattachioni
Cynthia Honess
Mary Kilbride
Mary Kline
Susan Huhndorf
Jan Gill
Lauren Silver
Linda Kubis
👏 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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