As the calendar turns to 2005, I find myself reflecting on what has been, without question, the most pivotal year in my mahjong career. And I use the word "career" deliberately. What I do at this table is not a hobby. It is a discipline, a practice, and frankly, a public service to those willing to listen.

This blog launched in January 2004. Twelve posts later (thirteen, if you count this one), I believe it has become an important voice in the American mahjong landscape. I have heard from readers. Not in large numbers—the comment section is still disabled due to the spam situation, which I continue to investigate—but the emails I've received have been encouraging. People are reading. People are thinking about the ideas I've put forward. That matters.

By the Numbers

Let me share some statistics from my 2004 play. I keep detailed records of every session I play in, including date, opponents, hands attempted, hands completed, and final score. This is not obsessive. This is preparation.

Category 2004
Sessions played 47
Individual games played ~188 (est.)
Mahjongs declared 23
Sessions finished with positive score 11
Tournaments entered 1
Tournament placement 14th of 28
Blog posts written 12 (this post is #13)
Blog visitors (hit counter) See sidebar

I know what some of you are looking at. 23 mahjongs across ~188 games. 11 positive sessions out of 47. A 14th-place tournament finish. These are not the numbers I envisioned at the start of the year.

But numbers, in isolation, do not tell the story.

Reframing the Narrative

Here is what the numbers don't show:

Strategic growth. In 2004, I committed to playing a more analytical game. I began using the LODP (my opening discard protocol, described in a previous post). I began documenting every session. I began thinking about the game the way a chess player thinks about chess—not just move by move, but system by system. The 23 mahjongs I declared this year were, on average, higher-value and more strategically complex than the mahjongs I declared in 2003. Quality over quantity.

The Tuesday experiment. From April through June, I deliberately played a more aggressive style to test some strategic hypotheses I'd been developing. During this period, my win rate dropped significantly. But the data I collected during this period has been invaluable in refining my approach for the second half of the year. An experiment that produces negative results is still a successful experiment if the data is useful.

Community building. This year, the Greater Tri-County Mahjong Society maintained its membership of 11, despite two members going on probationary status (reasons discussed in an earlier post). That stability is not accidental. It is the result of ongoing investment—mine, primarily, but also the contributions of others who understand that community doesn't maintain itself.

The blog. Twelve posts. Thirteen strategic analyses, equipment reviews, and etiquette discussions that did not exist before this year. This body of work is, to my knowledge, the most comprehensive resource of its kind for American mahjong players. I am proud of it.

The Gary Situation

I addressed the incident from May in a dedicated post. I will not re-litigate it here. What I will say is that Gary and I have, after several conversations, reached an accommodation. We are not, at present, seated at the same table on Wednesday nights. This is, I believe, a reasonable interim arrangement while trust is rebuilt. The table leg has been re-shimmed. The napkin has been replaced with a more permanent solution (a small piece of cardboard, folded twice). Progress.

Looking Ahead to 2005

I have several goals for the coming year:

1. Tournament performance. The 2005 Tri-County Open will be held in February. I have already begun preparation. My goal is a top-10 finish. I believe this is achievable with the strategic improvements I've made this year.

2. Expanded blog content. I plan to increase posting frequency to at least two posts per month. I also want to explore new content formats. I am, in fact, considering launching a podcast. The technology is becoming accessible, and I believe there is an audience for a serious American mahjong audio program. The working title is "Tile Talk with Bob Loblaw." If you have thoughts on this, email me.

3. Rules reform. My petition to the NMJL Rules Committee regarding the joker substitution question (detailed in my March post) has now garnered six signatures, up from four. I intend to submit the petition formally by the end of Q1 2005. I am also compiling a list of other rules clarifications that I believe would benefit the community.

4. Equipment upgrade. I have been saving for a premium mahjong set—possibly the Yellow Dragon Deluxe or, if the reviews are favorable, a Japanese-made set that I've been researching. More on this when a decision is made.

5. Personal improvement. I want to acknowledge something that my family and friends have pointed out to me this year: I can be intense. At the table, in discussion, in my approach to the game generally. I take things seriously. This is part of who I am. But I recognize that intensity can be, for some people, overwhelming. In 2005, I am committing to being more aware of this. I am committing to listening more and speaking less (in appropriate situations). I am committing to remembering that the people at the table with me are, first and foremost, friends and community members, and that the game is a vehicle for connection, not just competition.

I am not committing to winning less. I am still a competitor. But I can be a competitor who is also, when the moment calls for it, a gracious host.

Thank You

If you've read this blog in 2004, thank you. If you've emailed me with feedback, thank you. If you've implemented even one of the strategies I've described and found it useful, that is the best compliment I can imagine.

Mahjong is a lifelong game. We are all, in some sense, beginners. The depth of the game reveals itself slowly, and I believe I am only beginning to scratch the surface of what American mahjong has to offer. The 2005 NMJL card will arrive soon, and I will be analyzing it with the same rigor I brought to the 2004 card. Expect a post in January.

Happy New Year to everyone in the mahjong community. May 2005 bring good tiles, good hands, and good company.

— Bob Loblaw, Attorney at Tiles

P.S. — If anyone has experience with podcasting equipment (microphones, recording software, hosting platforms), please get in touch. I want to do this right.