In this article, we will show you how to play spontaneous live games with other players on the I Love Mahj platform. There are 3 ways this can be done.


1. Answering "Yes" when starting a bots game


The first, and perhaps the simplest, is to start a game with bots and answer "Yes" to the question "Are you open to receiving invites for live games?" Once Yes is clicked, several things happen behind the scenes. Firstly, the system will check whether another member is waiting for additional players to join their table. If so, you’ll receive an invitation and upon acceptance you’ll be transported to their table for live games. 


Note that you have 10 seconds to accept or reject an invitation. If you click No, or the timer runs out, your game with bots will resume. As you continue to play with bots, you may receive further invitations and can choose to accept or reject these. To ensure you’re not bombarded with requests, we’ve restricted invitations to one every 5 minutes.

If you choose to abandon a bot game in order to join a live game, there will be no penalty for leaving the game part way through.


There is another scenario that could occur if you click Yes at the beginning of a bot game. If, at this point, the system knows there is at least one other member currently playing with bots, but also interested in playing live games, you will be transported to a table and the other member will be invited to join you. While this occurs you will see the moving heart icon indicating that this is taking place. If the other member accepts your invitation they will be transported to your table and you can decide together to continue waiting for others, or use the “Stop Searching” button and start a game - bots will fill in where necessary. 


If your invitation is not accepted, the system will continue to search for other live players, and you can choose to stop searching at any time. If your search was unsuccessful, you’ll find yourself in a bot game and you can continue playing. You’ll receive invitations from others once a place becomes available at a live table.



2. Play Now with Online Players 


The second way is to choose "Play Now with Online Players" from the Game Launchpad.


When selecting this option, the system will begin searching for other players immediately. It will look for those who made the same choice from the Game Launchpad as well as members playing bots who answered "Yes" they’re open to live games. Invitations will then be sent. 


Once two players are at a table together, they will be able to see and hear each other, and can chat while the system continues to search for additional players. 


At any point, they can click the "Stop Searching" button and the system will finalize pending invitations. Bots will take the place of any missing live players and the game can start.


If your search is not turning up any players that are currently open to live games you can click the Stop Searching button. You’ll now be in a bot game, open to receiving invitations to live games. Hopefully an invitation will arrive very soon!


These first 2 options for spontaneous live games are great for members who don’t have friends on the platform, those who don't like to plan games in advance and those who like to meet new people. And by the way, if you do meet someone you'd like to play with again, you can click the heart under their name to add them to your friends list. You can even add a few notes to their file, things you'd like to remember for the next time you play together… where they’re from, or how many grandchildren they have, for example.


The last option is useful when you want to play with a friend who's already online on the plattform.



3Play with Friends and Fellow Group Members 


Click the "Play with Friends and Fellow Group Members" option on the Game Launchpad and check the box that says "Show only players currently online". Now the dropdown lists will show only your friends and group members that are currently online and playing with bots. 


And you can invite them to a live game by selecting their name in the dropdown and clicking "Start Table and Invite Players". They will receive an invitation and, if they accept, will join you at a live table.