Working outcomeA repeatable pass-ranking method that protects options.
Inventory before selecting
Group pairs, related numbers, honors, flowers, and isolated tiles. Do not choose a hand merely because one visible pattern feels familiar.
Rank candidates by usefulness
Compare how many realistic paths use each tile, how replaceable it is, and what structure is damaged by passing it.
- Never pass a joker in NMJL-derived play.
- Protect scarce structure before attractive clutter.
- Recalculate after every incoming group.
When two passes are close
Choose the pass that leaves the rack easier to reassess. False precision is not strategy; document the tradeoff and continue.
Keep the boundary visible
Basic instruction belongs to NewToMahjong; history belongs to SagesMahjong; hosting belongs to MahjongHostess. Current-card instruction may teach process but may not reproduce protected hands.