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The Hand Builder gives you 14 tiles from a 152-tile set, and a target hand. On each turn, you discard one tile and draw another. It tells you how many tiles are still needed. You can use jokers in pungs and kongs, but not in pairs. If you complete the hand, you win. If the wall or the turn limit runs out, that is normal, and you can deal again.
These hands are original to this site. They are not National Mah Jongg League hands, and they do not replace the League’s card. To play standard American mahjong, buy the card from the League.
The practice hands
| Practice hand | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Harbor | Four pungs of anything, plus one pair |
| Three Rooms | Two kongs and two pungs |
| Trellis | Three kongs and one pair |
| Pantry | One kong, two pungs, and two pairs |
What you are practicing
- Working toward a target. You will start to judge what to keep and what to throw.
- Using jokers. Notice when a joker saves a set, and when one is wasted.
- Staying flexible. You can change your target at any time, and see how far you are from each one.
What it does not do
It does not teach the League’s hands, which are more specific than ours and change each year. It also does not simulate other players, exposures, or calling. For those, read about calling and exposures.