By Tom Sloper (湯姆 斯洛珀)
February 10, The Year Of The Rat Column #352 |
Mahjong Competition Rules. More snapshots from the WCMJ in E Mei Shan, last November. Final day of the tournament. How would you play these?
1. Can you believe this is what I got in the deal? Five pairs! I kept G for a possible All Types. As I picked and threw, I threw out four pairs (who knew when I picked the first one that I'd pick its mate soon thereafter?) and a complete pung! It was frustrating to say the least. But I eventually picked it myself.
2. I'd wanted to make a Mixed Straight with this, but it wasn't happening. I threw 9C, shooting for Mixed Shifted instead, and breathed easier.
3. Waiting to call 8D, of course, for Mixed Triple Chows.
4. Waiting to make All Types and All Pungs. But when I threw 6C, I heard that dreaded word: "hu!"
5. Had been targeting Mixed Triple Chows, but it wasn't working out. When I picked 8B, the plan changed. I threw 8C. Next I chowed 1B and threw 7C. But still two tiles from Pure Straight, and no pair.
6. In the last session I got four pairs in the initial deal. But Seven Pairs can be so darned elusive. This deal tempted me further with Lower Four, but I didn't want to get rid of the S pair right away. After discarding 4D I picked another 3B. Waiting for 2C for Seven Pairs (but I could drop 2C if another pick looked more likely).
7. Someone threw the case Wh, but I chose not to kong it. The two concealed pungs are better. (The other tiles in the hand don't factor in so are not shown.)
8. Picking 4B made me set for Mixed Triple Chows. I threw 4C and was waiting for 5 or 8D.
9. I missed the first chance to call S but got another opp later. Punged G and picked another Wh. With two Rs dead on the discard floor, I bit my nails hoping to get the case R one way or another and complete the hand in a big way, but, well, that didn't happen.
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Question or comment about this column? Email and the discussion will be posted on the Mah-Jongg Q&A Bulletin Board.
See? I wasn't kidding!
From: "Tina Christensen"
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 2:29 AM
Subject: Column #352
> Hi Tom,
> In Column #352, Hand #5, I would discard 5C. You have Mixed Shifted Chows:
> 789B 567D and 678C. The 2345B gives you a two-sided wait for the pair.
> Tina
> --
> Tina Christensen
> tina中mahjong.dk
Doh! I knew I wasn't seeing something in that hand in particular. And I knew you would see it, Tina! (^_^)
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper / トム·スローパー
/
湯姆 斯洛珀
斯洛珀 /
탐 슬로퍼
MJ溌Sloperama中com
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
February 11, 2008
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West. Available at bookstores, BN.com, and Amazon.com.
Photos of the 2007 WMJC in E Mei Shan, China.
Photos of the 2007 OEMC in Copenhagen.
Photos of the Fourth China Majiang Championship and Forum in Tianjin, 2006.
Photos of the Third China Majiang Championship and Forum in Beijing, 2005.
The official website of the Third China Majiang Championship and Forum in Beijing, 2005.
The official website of the Open European Mahjong Championship
Photos of the 2005 OEMC
Photos of the 2003 CMOC.
Photos of the 2002 WCMJ.
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© 2008 Tom Sloper. All rights reserved.