SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

American Mah Jongg (2022 NMJL card). Charleston. What would you pass in these random deals from a computer game?

1. Step one, check for pairs. I don't count jokers, and these two just tell me not to go for S&P (step zero). The lack of any pairs tells me not to go for Quints. So, skipping step two, what do we have the most of? Step three: seven highs vs. only two lows, and seven odds vs. two evens. High odds win. It's not necessary to think any more just now. Pass 1D 2C and soap. I don't love passing dragons (especially soap), but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

2. There's a pair: 6D. Step two: what friends does it have? Sixes are friends with evens, and with threes and nines - and, of course, with near numerical neighbors. This hodgepodge doesn't look good for Evens or 369, so let's go Consec. Pass all distant numbers: 1D, 1C, 9C.

3. One pair: 2C. Do those three odd winds make you want to go Winds - Dragons? Six tiles towards W-D #4, but darn, not enough pairs. If you want to preserve a 2468 option, you know 7B can go, but those dots are all near numerical neighbors, so shouldn't be broken up just yet. High odds and G can go.

4. The mah-jongg goddesses are playing with us! Three pairs and a pung. The question is, how many of those four sets can go together? The ones and twos all work for Consec #4. The fives, the fives! Sigh if you wish (people often sigh in the Charleston), and break'em up. They will mess you up if you don't. If you don't want to pass two winds, R can go. Yes, it's ugly. It's all ugly.

5. Speaking of ugly! Pairs of nines, threes, and ones. No hand can use all three pairs. Ones and threes work for Consec or Odds. The nines can go with either the ones or the threes for Odds, and the nines can go with the threes for 369, but not well. All options cannot be preserved. Forget 369; safest pass is 4D 6D R.

6. Two pairs: ones and twos. High numbers and E are expendable.

7. One pair: ones. But it has precious few friends. 1C 1C 2B 3D work together for Consec #3, but that's just four tiles. Maybe those high numbers offer better chances. 6C 7C 8B 9B go together for most powerful hand on the card, Consec #5. Red goes with 6C 7C 8C for Consec #7, but again just four tiles. Passing 1D 6D N keeps options open.

8. Incredible luck: four flowers. Twos and fours might go together for Any Like Nos. Pass anything else.

COMMENTS Email . Hit me with your best shot!

Join Johni Levene's popular Facebook group, "Mah Jongg, That's It!" and Donna and Dara's newer group, "Mahjong Community" for lively conversations about American mah-jongg and all things mah-jongg.

Where to order the yearly NMJL card: Read FAQ 7i.

Need rules for American mah-jongg? Tom Sloper's book, The Red Dragon & The West Wind, is the most comprehensive book about the American game, a good supplement to the League's official rulebook. AND see FAQ 19 for fine points of the American rules (and commonly misunderstood rules). AND every player should have a copy of Mah Jongg Made Easy, the official rulebook of the National Mah Jongg League (see FAQ 3 for info on mah-jongg books).

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