I needed a specific tile for my hand. Within minutes, it was discarded by my opponent and taken out of play. Time for a new plan.

• Pivoting happens a lot in mahjong. It's also kind of the point, Axios' Sami Sparber writes.

🀄 Why it matters: Mahjong, the centuries-old Chinese game, isn't just trending. It's "one of the best things that you can do for your brain," says Gregg Swain, a historian of the game with a doctorate in clinical psychology.

• Players draw, discard and strategize toward a winning hand of tiles. The game has long been a cherished pastime, first among Asian families, then Jewish communities.
• Now, 20-somethings are picking it up (me included).

💡 Research shows mahjong is good for brain health:

• A 2024 review of 53 studies found that mahjong is linked to better cognitive and psychological outcomes in older adults — though researchers say more work is needed to understand exactly why.
• The game fires up strategic thinking, pattern recognition and memory, which can support healthy aging.
• Honing that ability to adapt — revising your plan based on every draw and discard — builds mental flexibility that psychologists link to better mental health.

💭 Sami's thought bubble: As a remote worker, my favorite part of mahjong is the togetherness.

• My friends and I have gathered every Tuesday for the past year to play mahjong — marking birthdays, holidays and even an engagement along the way.
• Our phones get tossed aside. There's no room to worry about anything else when you need to pay attention to the tiles.
• I've noticed I make faster decisions since playing. Less overthinking. Instead of stressing over every sentence I write, I move on.

✨ What's next: A new mahjong card drops this April, bringing fresh hands for players to master — and more practice at the art of pivoting.

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Baird Bay, on South Australia's remote Eyre Peninsula, is known for its calm turquoise waters and wildlife encounters.

• Visitors can wade in to swim with wild sea lions and dolphins.

Finish Liner Jeff Turner writes: "With all the bad things happening in the world, some lovely things endure."