In recent years, top players of the online mahjong platform "Tenhou" have been publishing strategy books one after another.
The content varies, but some books only make you feel stronger after reading them.
Furthermore, even if a book contains correct information, many of its contents are not practical enough to translate into real-world application.
Among them, the recently released "301 Selections of Standard Discard Strategies" is a particularly excellent book.
Its features and selling points include the following:
Content for intermediate and advanced users.
- This section includes the answers and opinions of the four top contenders, where they all agreed.
Not only the number of tiles that can be accepted, but also the rate of good hand shapes when in tenpai, points, ease of calling, etc.
The answer is determined by comprehensively assessing the expected value.
...I suppose that's the point.
The term "tile efficiency" has been around for a long time, but in modern times, you can't really improve just by focusing on the number of tiles you can accept.
Instead of simply seeking instantaneous reception, it's necessary to understand theories such as the 5-block theory, the 2-head theory, and the 1-shanten peak theory (which are now becoming standard theories).
You can find out what this is by searching online, but this book also includes very useful columns about modern mahjong.
The important thing is to look at the problems in this book and actually try to solve them.
Look at the tile arrangement, and at the same speed as you would in a real game, choose which tile you would discard, then check your answer.
I suspect there are quite a few incorrect answers.
However, the fact that you got some answers wrong means there's room for improvement, so this is actually a very fortunate thing.
For the questions you answered incorrectly, read the explanation carefully and make sure you can choose the correct answer next time.
Instead of simply memorizing, make sure you understand the perspective from which that answer is correct.
If you can do that, you'll be able to choose the correct answer in other situations as well.
Furthermore, I think it's quite difficult to consistently choose the correct move in an actual game of mahjong.
However, as Makoto Fukuchi also states in his books, "the important thing is to avoid making A-class mistakes."
It's not that getting a perfect score is the most important thing; even answers that are 70-80 points are fine. Just be mindful of not giving completely absurd or impossible answers, and try not to be too tense while reading.
I also bought the previous book, "300 Discard Options," but I would recommend this one even more as a strategy book.
If you master this one book, I think you'll significantly improve your ability to decide what to cut.
301 Mahjong Standard "What to Discard" Suggestions(Amazon)
A collection of articles on improving your mahjong skills, techniques, mental game, Tenhou (online mahjong platform), etc.