New year, new you? Nah- the old you is lovely!
Just because the calendar has flipped to the next page doesn’t mean we have to start from scratch and reinvent ourselves. That said, lots of people like to use this marker in time to make some tweaks and small changes. Sure. Why not?
If you’re looking for ways to stop biting your nails, snacking after midnight, or sniping at an irritating co-worker, I can’t help you. But I can help you nix some bad habits in your mahjong play. Let’s not talk etiquette habits- everyone knows to silence their phones, to not touch each other's tiles, and to pay attention to when to chat or not chat. Right? Right!!
New and relatively new players sometimes develop habits they don’t realize are working against them. That’s the stuff I can help you with!
Bad habit #1: Choosing a tile and not racking it immediately. While you’re dilly dallying about- holding your freshly picked tile in your hand and deciding if you need it and where on your rack to put it- anyone one else at the table can call (pick up) the previously discarded tile. If they do, you must return the tile to the wall regardless of having seen it or needing it. Bummer.
The fix: Pick a tile from the wall and rack it right away. One fell swoop. No pause to gaze, no hunting for a spot. Just get it on your rack in one fluid motion. Then take all the time you need (within reason!) to decide if you need it. Try leaving a space on one end of your rack so there’s always room.
Bad habit #2: Leaving gaps between tiles in your rack. Every gap gives clues about your hand. Those two tiles on the far left of your rack tell us you may have flowers. That group of four tiles on the far right that you are discarding from tells us you have four tiles you don’t need- meaning you’re five tiles away from making a hand. Since the card has many repeating patterns it’s not too difficult to look at the way tiles are grouped on a rack and at least have a sense of what’s happening there.
The fix: This one is simple. Snug up your tiles. Always. Let me repeat that. Always! For new players it’s challenging to keep track of your hand without the spaces between potential pungs and kongs, but it’s an essential skill to learn. Just like any other new skill- the more you do it- the easier it becomes.
Bad habit #3: Stopping the Charleston when you’re between two hands. No. Just no. Don’t do it. It’s soooo tempting, but statistically you’re running with scissors. There’s actual research on this! The only time to stop the Charleston is when you have ten or more tiles toward a single hand. When you have six or seven (ugh, I did not mean to say six seven!) tiles toward one hand and six or seven toward another hand, with tiles that cross over into both, it’s understandable why you would think you don’t have three tiles to pass.
The fix: Choose one hand. It’s better to work on one full hand rather than two halves. And choose the hand that is easier to achieve- the one without singles or pairs unless you already have them. It may mean that nearly half the tiles on your rack are no longer helpful. That’s okay!
Bad habit #4: Not committing to a hand. You’ve chosen a section but halfway through the game you still haven’t chosen a hand. You’re keeping your options open- waiting for something to magically make it clear which one to go with. But your indecision has meant many useful tiles have not been called while you’re waiting for a sign, and now your options are narrowing quickly.
The fix: Make a choice! Sorry, not really fair- if you don’t have a clear path you should be flexible for a bit. But before half the tiles in the walls have been used you need to get off the fence and pick a hand. Again, always choose the more achievable one.
If any of these habits sound familiar to you, then 2026 is your year to grow. As Oprah always says, “When you know better, you do better”. And now you know. Happy 2026!