New players may be intimidated by experienced players. You can learn the rules without all that. From the Lobby, just click New Game. That brings up the Create New Table box:
![[Image: create5.png]](https://faqs.nmjlonline.com/forums/pix/create5.png)
Choose if you want Safety ON or OFF. The main difference is that Auto Pass works in Safety On mode, and Safety ON mode doesn't allow you to declare Mah Jongg in error.
The timers don't work in solo games vs. three bots, so you can ignore the Timer settings.
Assigned seating and Random seating are options you can use in a Public game, not a Private game. If you're playing with bots, you can ignore this setting.
To play a game with 3 bots, choose Private game. If you start a Public game, some other player might jump into an available seat.
Then click Create. This takes you to the Game Setup page.
![[Image: setup7.png]](https://faqs.nmjlonline.com/forums/pix/setup7.png)
Add three bots to take up the other seats. For starters, you can just use the default Beginner bots in all three seats. The Beginner bots aren't dummies, exactly... they might sometimes make a mistake or discard a dangerous tile once in a while, but they can still be a challenge.
The bot types are:
Beginner: Does not consider multiple hand options; eager to make exposures; moves seem random
Advanced: Tries to play as well as possible
Cagey: Prefers not to expose jokers
High Scorer: Prefers to make hands worth more than 25
Open: Avoids Concealed hands.
Gardener: Prefers to make hands with flowers; is more reluctant to discard flowers
Defensive: Pays close attention to others' exposures so as not to throw a win.
The Advanced bot is the toughest.
Once you have four seats filled, click Start Match.
Choose if you want Safety ON or OFF. The main difference is that Auto Pass works in Safety On mode, and Safety ON mode doesn't allow you to declare Mah Jongg in error.
The timers don't work in solo games vs. three bots, so you can ignore the Timer settings.
Assigned seating and Random seating are options you can use in a Public game, not a Private game. If you're playing with bots, you can ignore this setting.
To play a game with 3 bots, choose Private game. If you start a Public game, some other player might jump into an available seat.
Then click Create. This takes you to the Game Setup page.
Add three bots to take up the other seats. For starters, you can just use the default Beginner bots in all three seats. The Beginner bots aren't dummies, exactly... they might sometimes make a mistake or discard a dangerous tile once in a while, but they can still be a challenge.
The bot types are:
Beginner: Does not consider multiple hand options; eager to make exposures; moves seem random
Advanced: Tries to play as well as possible
Cagey: Prefers not to expose jokers
High Scorer: Prefers to make hands worth more than 25
Open: Avoids Concealed hands.
Gardener: Prefers to make hands with flowers; is more reluctant to discard flowers
Defensive: Pays close attention to others' exposures so as not to throw a win.
The Advanced bot is the toughest.
Once you have four seats filled, click Start Match.