Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player - Learn the "Secrets of Success" to Strategize, Excel and Win at Mah Jongg

I joined an American Mah Jongg group and needed to learn how to play this version. It has very clear explanations, pictures and questions to test your knowledge. A small-size cut out copy of the National Mah Jongg League's copyrighted Card of Hands is in book, used with "generous permission, for learning purposes only." Very helpful book! I recommend to anyone wanting to learn American Mah Jongg. p.s. I am a Chinese Mahjong player and it was helpful to learn the American Mah Jongg.

This book is great for beginners like me and very helpful with learning the strategies involved to assist you in playing the game. And of course I didn't know there was a test at the end of the book which made me reread it. Elaine Sandberg explains things and makes you the player feel good about the steps it takes to go from novice to expert (which I hope to someday become)

Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player did not provide me with new information. However, and most importantly, it reminded me of things I had previously heard from other players or my instructor, but did not necessarily remember to think about as I played. I have been playing less than a year (5 months with a 5 month break in the middle), and liked analyzing the examples included. I thought that the final questions in the book using a different year's example were especially helpful as it made me think about different hand combinations. The only improvement would have been to include this book's information as an appendix within Elaine Sandberg's earlier book A Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg "How to Play the Game & Win" Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg: How to Play the Game & Win . But perhaps it is actually easier to pick up a smaller size book to review the various strategies prior to playing. It was definitely worth the time to read and understand its contents. It has helped me to play with more confidence although there are always hands that you just never seem to make. Happy Mah Jongg!

This is a high quality set with what appears to be ceramic tiles that have good heft and a pleasing tactile texture. They make a satisfying click that adds to the enjoy of using them. The rack/pushers are sturdy plastic. The set comes in a neat carry bag that makes it easy to transport.

At first I was put off this book by so many reviews griping that she discusses the 2010 card during her book for examples and then puts a 2009 card in the back of the book which, for some unknown reason, "confused" or irritated people. I thought that for whatever reason, it must have mattered. But, folks, it doesn't matter at all. You have to pick some card to use for book examples -- and every single time she gives an example, she first gives the entire hand as it appears on the 2010 card. You never have to have the 2010 card in front of you. (At least one reviewer apparently has tried to purchase the 2010 card. Don't bother. You truly do not need it.) At the end, she gives a sort of quiz where you use the 2009 card she had permission to print. There's absolutely no reason why her examples couldn't be from one card and the quiz from another that she provides readers -- because you're supposed to pick up principles of play here and not memorize any particular card. It would be impossible, then, to have a book that lasted more than a year. So ignore those complaints. The book does exactly what it sets out to do. It gives clear strategies to help make better decisions faster during the Charleston and subsequent game play. You possibly have heard pieces before, but it's a nice collection of organized chapters pulling these ideas together. I'm pleased to have it in my collection along with Sandberg's Beginner's Guide as well as Karen Gooen's Searching for Bubbe Fischer -- all three books will take a brand new player into competency and nuanced play -- no matter what year it is or what NMJL card you're playing.

I just started to learn Mah Jongg in March of this year but knew a lot of what was in the book. The examples are from over 10 years ago and I have only seen the card for 2021 and 2022. I think from what I am learning though the cards are similar and the patterns of what you need just change a bit. Glad I purchased it though and I am circulating it with others.

I have been playing Mah Jongg since 1968. Then I went on a hiatus in 1971 because I moved to Staten Island and, lol, couldn't find anyone who was interested in playing it. Finally I found some lovely women who wanted to learn how to play and some who already knew, but hadn't played in a while. Well we got up and running very fast, but I was still not good and switching hands and strategies. So I purchased this book and in between games I read it. I try to apply the concepts and my game is improving. I recomment this book to anyone who wants to get better at Mah Jongg. It is well written and very easy to apply to actually playing. My grandchildren picked it up so fast, it amazed me.

I really like this book but wish that the author had provided a copy of the 2010 card that she refers to throughout the book to make it easier to follow along. That card not available from NMJL, but I made a copy from a friend's. This book has helped to make it more comfortable in choosing a section first, then a hand. The author does a nice job of explaining each step and I feel all beginners could benefit from it. I plan to read it over and over in order to boost my confidence and speed. I was told it takes about a year of playing to have a good handle on it; meanwhile, I am having fun playing it and play as often as I can. It's addictive! I just learned how to play in December 2011 and, what is most comforting, is that even experienced players can make mistakes such as exposing the "year" tiles, etc. It makes me smile when I hear newer beginners say the same words I used to say when I first started, which the author comments about throughout the book.

This book is well written and easy to follow. Excellent resource for beginners

Although the book said Winning at American Mahjong it mentioned Chinese Mahjong but was not helpful for a beginner. The sample did not really demonstrate this. The book was expensive and not value for money. Would not recommend.

Very helpful as I love Mah Jongg

Elaine Sandberg is a Mah Jongg instructor. This book is a follow-up on her bestseller A Beginner's Guide to Mah Jongg, which I found to be the best book out there for beginners. In Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies, Sandberg's strategies and tips are excellent and clearly written. She shows you how to choose a hand, know your power tiles, learn what to keep and what to discard, how to change a hand when you have to and basically how to sharpen your skills. There are Summaries and Practice Exercises available. At the end of the Guide, there is a quiz which poses questions and situations that you will face in every game. The answers are also given. Although this Guide is excellent, I felt the last twenty pages could have been better used. In place of the origin of Chinese Mah Jongg vs American Mah Jongg, I would have liked to see more games and strategies in its place. Also, there was an error when Sandberg referred to the wrong game card year. Every year there is a new game card printed. However, this didn't affect the strategies and tips used. I highly recommend this Guide for the Novice Player.

Great source of information for novice player.