Top 3 most effective tile sequences in Mahjong
Advanced strategies to improve your chances of winning a hand in Mahjong
Mahjong is a relatively fast-paced game, and requires analytical thinking to increase your chances of winning a hand. However, analysing all 13 cards in the first instance may not be easy, especially for new players. A systematic analysis of individual tile and tile combinations which are of high value will thus significantly help players improve their chances of winning.
Previously, we have assessed how to evaluate the value of each individual mahjong tile. In this post, we will focus on the tile combinations that are worth keeping because these combinations have high tile efficiency and increases the chances of winning a hand.
Before going in depth into the top value tile sequences, there is a fundamental concept that should be mastered when analysing mahjong tiles. To win a mahjong game, you need to form 5 blocks: 4 groups of 3 tiles and 1 identical pair (“eyes”). In order to form a group of 3 tiles, you will have to first possess at least one of the following combinations:
Some obvious patterns:
- Pairs which are in sequence are most ideal, as the chances of a 2-sided wait is generally high. The exception is 1–2 and 8–9 pairs which are edge waits.
- Identical pair can function as “eyes” or you can call a “pon”. However, this is usually considered as a poor wait, as there are only 4 possibilities of getting the tile.
- Edge or closed waits are poor waits (one-sided wait), because there are only 4 possibilities of winning. Doing a riichi on a one-sided wait can be potentially risky as the chances of winning is poor. Hence, I would recommend calling riichi only if your hand value is high, or if you can do a suji trap.
- Single waits are usually poor waits, which is why seven pairs wait is difficult. However, single waits have high flexibility to potentially improve your existing hand.
To win in mahjong, you will need to identify the 5 blocks quickly, one of which is an identical pair to form the “eyes.” With this concept in mind, we will now highlight the following tile combinations that I believe are most efficient:
4 consecutive sequences
Example: 3–4–5–6, 4–5–6–7
We will use 4–5–6–7 as a case study. If you are seeing this combination as one group of 3 and discard the 4 or 7, then you have wasted an opportunity. The correct strategy should be to see this combination as a 4–5 and 6–7 pair. Drawing a 3/6 and 5/8 will thus net 2 groups of 3. Moreover, there is an additional benefit of drawing 3 or 8, as this melds into a 3-sided wait! Drawing 2 and 9 can also be useful, for a one-sided wait for 4 and 8 respectively. Finally, drawing a 4 or a 7 can form 1 set of 3 and 1 set of eyes. Based on the above analyses, the possibility of advancing this hand is 28 possibilities, where drawing either 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 9 can advance your hand. Note that 3–4–5–6 and 4–5–6–7 are slightly better than 2–3–4–5 and 5–6–6–8, with 4 additional possibilities for a one-sided wait.
One triplet with an adjacent tile.
Examples: 3–3–3–4, 4–4–4–5, 3–4–4–4
Let’s take 4–5–5–5 as an example. If you have taken this hand as one triplet and thrown away 4, then you have wasted an opportunity. The reason is because there is a possibility of drawing 3 or 6 to meld a group of 3 and a pair. Drawing 3 also allows you to have an opportunity to draw a 2 to meld two groups of 3. If a 4 is drawn, then you would have 1 triplet and one pair. Finally, if you draw 2, you can potentially wait for 3, which the chances of waiting may be higher as most of the 5s are already in your hand. Based on the above analysis, the possibilities for advancing this hand is 15 possibilities.
Sequences with repeated copies in the middle tile.
Example: 3–4–4–5, 4–5–5–6, 5–6–6–7 etc..
We will use 4–5–5–6 as a case study to illustrate the strength of this combination. Some players may throw 5 at the first instance to form a group of 3. This is a wasted opportunity, as you should be seeing this combination as a 4–5 pair and a 5–6 pair. If you see it that way then drawing the 3/6 and 4/7 (notice both pairs are 2-sided waits) will yield a total of 2 groups of 3, which is of a much higher value if you had only seen this combination as only one group of 3. The possibilities of advancing this hand is 16.
Next time, if you see the above tile sequences in your hand, consider keeping them and discard the one-sided waits. You will see that your chances of winning will be greatly enhanced!
Kuan Rong Chan
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