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SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

By Tom Sloper
August 11, 2013
No. #574

American Mah Jongg (2013 NMJL card). Second left. What would you pass?

1. Like Numbers or Sevens #1. 2D E and 5C can go.

2. High Consec., but no specific hand. Lows can go, but hang onto that dragon for now.

3. Sevens #1 or Consec. #2. Anything to the right of 5C can go. Keep 5B for now, I guess.

4. Consec. #2 is strong with this one. Keep the low dots, pass winds (I just love saying that) and craks. (Guess I could have said "crak winds" instead of "pass winds.")

5. Like Numbers or Sevens. 2B 4B W can go across.

6. Looking very Consec. G 2C 3B can go.

7. Sevens or Consec. #2. 5B N W can go.

8. Consec. #1 or #2. 5C 6C E can go.

9. N W 5B are the obvious candidates for last rites. (Intentionally punny spelling; it's time for the "last right.")

10. Nothing useful gained; pass 6C 9C E.

11. Same old stuff; pass 2B 4B W.

12. Get rid of G 3B 2C.

Hand #9 belongs to our player #1 from last week's column. She offers two across (2C 3B). Player #3 (hand #11) gives back 9C E. Player #2 (this week's hand #10) offers three across (5C N W) but player #4 says "just one." The players trade Ws, acknowledging the irony. As play begins, then, this is what our group is holding:

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Question or comment about this column? I often, um... intentionally... "miss" something; maybe you'll be the first one to spot it! Email and the discussion will be posted on the Mah-Jongg Q&A Bulletin Board.

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Need rules for American mah-jongg? Tom Sloper's book, The Red Dragon & The West Wind, is the most comprehensive book in existence about the American game. AND see FAQ 19 for fine points of the American rules (and commonly misunderstood rules). AND get the official rulebook from the NMJL (see FAQ 3). Linda Fisher's website is the only website that describes American rules: http://sites.google.com/site/mahjrules/.