🧨️ Happy Mah Jongg Monday!️
AROUND THE TABLE by Dottie
Hi! I'm Patty. I've been best friends with Dottie since middle school, and although she describes me as her "steady, loyal, somehow always five minutes early" friend, I'm here to tell you that is all 100% true. And, I still know how to have fun.
Which is why I scouted out a new Friday game at a senior center. Helen, who runs it, said they play fast and competitive. Perfect for getting tournament-ready.
I'm proposing it at Wednesday's game. Actually, I already told Helen we're all coming at the end of the month. Well, everyone but Hal. He's got his standing tee time and I'm not fighting that battle. We need the practice before Vegas, so I'm not giving the gals a choice.
Marlene will happily go if I tell her I'm bringing homemade oatmeal scotchies. Dottie might take some convincing. She says she only plays Mah Jongg for fun.
— Patty
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 — Say this the moment someone wins.
🖐🏻 A Hand to Play — Which three tiles do you pass?
🧳 Winning Picks — Take your game on the road.
🎥 Max's Minute — Can you take back a called tile?
🎟️ Featured Events — Win a New Orleans getaway.
🥠 Ask Auntie — When one player sours the game.
📸 Spotlight — Themed nights done right.
🎂 Birthdays — This week's AMJA members.
🙋🏻♀️ Free Practice Sessions — See if we called your name.
🏁 Milestones — Progress inside The Winning Hand app.
… and more!
When Someone Else Wins, Celebrate Them 🥳
When another player says "Mah Jongg," make their win the focus. Your reaction helps set the tone for the entire table.
Most of us know the excitement of completing a hand. Whether you pick your winning tile or someone discards it, winning feels great. That's why it can be disappointing when the first response is, "I only needed one more tile."
Even when it's true, the conversation immediately shifts away from the winner.
Instead, start with congratulations. A simple "Congratulations!" or "Great hand, let's see it!" allows the winner to enjoy the moment. Once the hand has been validated and everyone has had a chance to appreciate it, then the post-game discussion can begin.
Why It Matters
Celebrating another player's win creates a more enjoyable game for everyone. It also serves a practical purpose.
When players keep their tiles on their racks until the congratulations are over and the hand is verified, each player's game remains protected. If the hand is declared a Mah Jongg in error, the remaining players may still have an opportunity to win.
For groups that play for money, settle payouts after the congratulations. For groups that play socially, consider using points or tokens to recognize wins. It can add a sense of fun to the game.
These small moments of recognition help build a positive playing experience.
Key Takeaway
When someone wins, congratulate them first and verify the hand second. Save discussions about your own hand until the celebration is over.
Last Week’s 🖐🏻 Hand to Play Results:
6,552 Insiders played, 46% chose right.
👉 See the correct answer & explanation here.
The first pass of the Charleston is often your first opportunity to shape the direction of your hand.
Which three tiles would you pass?
As you evaluate the deal, look for tiles that are doing the least work for you. Are there tiles that don't fit the Section you're considering? Are any of them standing alone with no obvious partner or purpose?
Remember, a strong first pass is not just about getting rid of random tiles. It's about keeping the tiles that give you the most flexibility while passing the ones that are least likely to help you build a winning hand.
Study the rack carefully and choose the three tiles you would send across.
Once you've made your decision, vote and see how your choice compares with other players.
Which three tiles are least useful for your strategy?
Made for Traveling
Late-summer getaways and the start of tournament and snowbird season mean this week is built for the woman who takes her game on the road.
🀄 Mah Jongg Luggage Tag Your bag is the first one you spot on the carousel, and fellow players clock it from across the terminal. Practical travel help with a wink. Spot your bag first →
🧳 Packing Cubes Everything lands in its place and stays there, so you open your suitcase to order instead of a jumble. The trick seasoned travelers never pack without. Pack it neat →
🧴 Travel Skincare Set Your full routine in carry-on sizes, so your skin doesn't skip a beat while you're away from your own bathroom. No decanting, no guessing. Keep your routine →
🖼️ Digital Photo Frame Your favorite photos land on the frame from anyone's phone, so the grandkids stay on the shelf even when they are three states away. Set it up in a minute, no subscription ever. Share your favorites →
💤 Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow Real support that keeps your head from bobbing on a long flight or drive, so you arrive rested instead of stiff. Folds down small, comes along easy. Rest on the way →
Take the game, and your comfort, wherever you go. Traveling season is in full swing.
(As an Amazon Associate, The Mah Jongg Insider earns from qualifying purchases.)
Max takes two questions from Insiders and answers both in a quick 60-second video.
🕔 This week’s questions:
1️⃣ Do you have to display your exposures in the order they appear on the Card?
2️⃣ Can a player put a tile back that they called for if they still have their hand on it?
Max’s answers are ready.
🎥 [Click to watch]
Have a question for Max?
🎤 [Click to leave a voicemail]
Enter to Win a New Orleans Mah Jongg Getaway
Here’s one worth jumping on. For just $40, you can enter to win a trip to the sold-out New Orleans Mahjong Classic on October 24th, complete with VIP access to Sips & Sweets with Mahjong Molly and a two-night stay at the historic Hotel Monteleone in the heart of the French Quarter.
Even better, every ticket benefits Trinity Loaves & Fishes, which provides more than 55,000 meals a year to families and seniors across Greater New Orleans. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold, and the raffle closes September 15th.
🎫 Get your raffle ticket here
⬅️ Last Week’s Question
Auntie, I play with two different groups and find the same issue with both. When a player calls Mah Jongg, some of the other players immediately start showing their tiles and explaining what hand they were going for, totally ignoring the winner and the hand that gave her the win. One time I made a comment like, "Let's see what Mary had," but no one got the hint. I find it very annoying and rude. What to do?!
- Anonymous
🥠 Auntie’s Advice 🥠
🗨 My friend, this is one of those small table habits that matters more than people realize. When someone calls Mah Jongg, the attention belongs to the winner and the winning hand.
Almost winning is not unusual. Everyone at the table has been one tile away. But when players immediately show their own hands and explain what they almost had, they take the moment away from the person who actually won.
A simple table standard helps: congratulate the winner first, look at the winning hand, and let that moment land. If you were the one who won, you would want the same courtesy.
Good manners are not complicated. Let the winner have her win. (And maybe show your group this article at your next game.)
📢 Readers’ Responses 📢
🗨 A natural challenge is for people to be so focused on themselves that they don’t let the one who got Mah Jongg “have their moment.” When someone calls Mah Jongg, everyone should congratulate them. It’s fun to even clap. I have one friend who dumps her own tiles immediately, and focuses on the beauty of the Mah Jongg created.
I think this issue is at the heart of this beautiful game. Something lovely has been made. The creator deserves his/her moment.
- Karen T.
🗨 Within my Mah Jongg group, when someone declares a Mah Jongg, that person shares their hand with others, and identifies their hand on the Card using the Section first and then the Line. Everyone finds it on their Card and then congratulates the person with the Mah Jongg. Sometimes other players share the Line they were working toward and how close or far they were to a Mah Jongg. This takes less than a minute. We feel it is important to acknowledge and compliment the win.
- Heidi N.
🗨 Agreed about the annoying and rude, but it’s worse than that. (1) You could try pointing out that they should verify Mary’s hand first, explaining that if Mary’s Mah Jongg is in error, the rest of the players still have a chance at winning unless they’ve started to display their own tiles. (2) You could call Mah Jongg with any old random collection of tiles on every hand and wait to see how long it is before someone notices. (3) Start playing for money. They might decide to look at Mary’s hand before displaying their own “almost win.”
- Carol D.
Whose response do you like best?
➡️ This Week’s Question
Dear Auntie,
There is one player in our group who is very negative. She constantly complains about the hand she is dealt, and she's loud. I would like to leave the group, but I don't want to leave the other players (two regulars and one intermittent player) in the lurch. How would you handle this?
- Anonymous
🤗 Want to share your advice?
🤔 Have a Mah Jongg manners or table moment dilemma?
📩 Send it to Auntie: [email protected]
We do love a theme. My ladies stepped up and we had a great night being wild! Fun!
- Debbie L.
Here is a fun group from our group of 30 this last weekend in Katy, TX. We had a "Mah Jongg & MuMus" themed tournament!
- Candace S.
📸 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]
The American Mah Jongg Association would like to wish these members a very Happy Birthday!
August 17
Donna S. (FL), Joel C. (TX), Kathy S. (MI)
August 18
Denise N. (MI), Laura D. (LA), Rosalyn T. (CA), Stephanie F. (TX)
August 19
Karen D. (FL), Megan P. (TN), Susan L. (SC)
August 20
Jane S. (UT), Jeanne D. (NY), Michael R. (CA), Pat L. (TX), Rebecca J. (IA), Susie B. (FL), Terri B. (CO)
August 21
Arlene B. (CA), Deb E. (NY), Debbie P. (MN), Gay J. (TN), Sharon T. (TN)
August 22
Cris P. (CA), John K. (AZ), Kathleen A. (PA), Sharon F. (IN)
August 23
Elizabeth Y. (CA), Janet D. (MO), Kristin J. (VA), Lee G. (IL)
If your name is Melinda, enjoy a FREE Practice Session 🙋🏻♀️ on us!*
*Just reply to this email by this Friday at midnight, your email name must match!
These milestones come from players using The Winning Hand, the practice app included with membership in the American Mah Jongg Association. [Join Here]
15,000+ members use it in different ways: To warm up. To stay sharp. Or simply to spend more time with the game you already love.
🔥🔥🔥 300 games played
Marsha Jenkins
🔥 100 games played
Judy Frame
Jean Kerry
Peg Laugh
Susan Printy
Sarah Ranier
Maureen Reiter
👏 The more you play, the better your game gets.
🎥 New to The Winning Hand app?
Short videos walk through each game mode:
➕ Hand Builder | ☑️ Finish the Hand | 🔄 Scrambled Hand | 💃🏻 Charleston
Reach Our Readers
The Mah Jongg Insider reaches 150,000 readers who gather weekly around the Mah Jongg table. We’re exploring a small number of sponsorships with brands that fit that setting.
Email: [email protected]
Share the Insider with your Mah Jongg friends 👇
3 → Winning Mah Jongg Strategies PDF
5 → AMJA Sticker
10 → 30-Day Practice Plan PDF
15 → Free Practice Session w/ Max or Phyllis
25 → Large 2026 NMJL Card
50 → Virtual Bootcamp Access
100 → Mahj Insiders Club Membership
1000 → Self-Shuffling Table
{{rp_personalized_text}}
📧 How to Share The Mah Jongg Insider
1️⃣ Copy the message below.
2️⃣ Paste it into an email.
3️⃣ Add your friends’ email addresses in the “To” field.
4️⃣ Hit send!
✂️ Message to Copy:
Have you checked out this fantastic weekly newsletter all about American Mah Jongg? I think you’ll love it! Click this link to join for FREE:
👉 {{rp_refer_url}}
That’s it! 🎁 When your friends subscribe, you’ll earn free gifts as a thank-you.
