Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player - Learn the "Secrets of Success" to Strategize, Excel and Win at Mah Jongg Paperback – Illustrated, March 10, 2012

I am a beginner player of Mahjongg. This book was very helpful.

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.

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!

I have her first book as well. She does a very good job of explaing and with plenty of pictures. I would highly recommend this book. I am new at American Mahjong, but I feel that even a seasoned player could learn a thing or two from this book.

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.

Disappointing. Only a beginner's book. If you already have been plating Mah Jonng a while, you will find nothing new here.

The importance of this book to me is that it is a guide for setting up a hand after it is first dealt and a step by step process for secondary arrangements and even subsequent arrangements so that the player is able to "see" potential by following a rote pattern of handling one's tiles instead of just staring at the entire hand and trying to visually discriminate without moving them around. This is key in most new hands. Of course there are situations where your tiles "talk to you" and you need do nothing more than just go with what is the obvious.... but the "foggy hand" is the one that this book addresses and where the directions for "what to do routinely" should be followed for quick and clear path to a fun game. So the strategies taught in this book are actually forms which you adhere to in the beginning and then of course you would expect some tips for strategizing as is included as well, as you progress in the game AFTER the Charleston.

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.