You’ve spent most of the game working toward a hand, and it’s finally coming together. Then you look up, the wall is getting shorter, and the tile you were about to throw gives you pause.
It’s such an interesting part of mahjong! You can love the hand you’re building and still have a decision to make about how much risk you’re willing to take to finish it.
💡 TILE WISDOM: TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
As the game gets later, try giving yourself a moment to look beyond how close your rack feels.
What do you still need? Be specific about the tiles that would move your hand forward. Look at what’s already visible, then consider how much opportunity is left to find what you need.
What’s happening around you? Take another look at the exposures and discards. Consider all three other players, even if one person’s hand has caught most of your attention.
What are you risking with this discard? A tile that doesn’t help your hand may still be useful to someone else. Think about what you gain by letting it go and what you might be giving another player.
There won’t always be an obvious answer. Sometimes you’ll keep pursuing your hand. Sometimes you’ll decide that protecting against someone else’s win matters more. The useful habit is giving yourself room to reconsider as the information changes.
🎯 TRY THIS AT YOUR NEXT GAME
When the wall gets short, ask yourself: “What would make me change my plan?”
It might be a new exposure, seeing another tile you needed go by, or realizing that your next discard feels much riskier than your earlier ones. See what you notice!
📅 LET’S WORK THROUGH IT TOGETHER
In The Last Wall: Endgame Decisions, we’ll slow these moments down and work through table situations together. We’ll consider what your hand still needs, compare discard options, and talk about when playing for a wall game makes sense.
Monday, October 26 · 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET
Live on Zoom · $75 · Recording included
Also coming up:
Siamese Strategy with Jillian and me: October 28 at 7 p.m. ET, for players who already know Siamese and want to work on decisions across both hands. See the class.
I Know the Rules, Now Help Me Play: November 1 at 4 p.m. ET. We’ll practice finding possibilities on the card and deciding what to keep and pass, at a slower pace. See the class.
🛍️ TREAT YOURSELF: MY FAVORITE MAHJONG BAG
If you’re looking for a bag to bring to your next game, I think the Case-Mate Mahjong Jelly Tote Set is the best mahjong bag out there!
It comes with the roomy tote, a separate tile bag, a sleeve for your racks, and a pouch for your card and dice. Everything has a place, which makes packing up for mahjong a little easier. And the bows are pretty cute, too!
Use LARASMAHJONGEDIT for 20% off.
This is the mahjong-specific set, so make sure you’re looking at that version when you shop. Tiles, racks, and a card aren’t included.
I may earn a commission if you shop through my link.
🀄 A LITTLE MAHJONG BETWEEN GAMES
If you’d like a little mahjong in your day, come join my free Mini Mahj Daily group! There’s a daily challenge to work through, and I’d love to have you playing along with us.
Take a look at the game’s built-in card before you begin.
I’d love to see you in class and hear how you think through these choices!
Lara