How do I get momentum at the start of a Mother's Day Mahjong Solitaire board?

[AARPTeri]

At the beginning, it’s tempting to grab the first match you see... but a little scouting pays off. Start by clearing tiles on the top layers and along the long outer edges, because those removals tend to open up more tiles underneath. Before you make your first few matches, scan the board for duplicates of the same tile that are currently playable. If you have a choice between two matches, pick the one that frees up a new tile (or two) right away. More open tiles = more options = fewer dead ends.

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