The smartest transition is not to memorize every new hand. It is to separate stable rules from seasonal patterns.
Session one: reset
Put the 2025 card away during 2026 play. Read the new card once from top to bottom, then identify three sections that use tile shapes you recognize quickly. Play open-handed practice and explain each discard.
Session two: narrow
During the Charleston, select a section rather than a single hand. After the Charleston, narrow to two compatible hands. Check whether they share useful tiles so you can pivot without destroying the rack.
Session three: add normal calls
Return to regular concealed play. Before every call, confirm that the exposure belongs to a valid 2026 hand and does not violate a concealed requirement. Keep joker exchanges deliberate.
The annual patterns change; table courtesy does not. Name discards clearly, pause for calls, and settle house conventions before the deal.