SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

American Mah Jongg (2022 NMJL card). Charleston problems. First across. What would you pass?

1. Pairs of fours, sevens, and nines. Can't use all three pairs. The fours and sevens can go together for Consec. The sevens and nines can go together for Consec or high Odds. No need to decide which two pairs to keep just now. Pass 1C W S.

2. One pair: 5C. The ones and 2D are the most distant numbers, consecutively speaking. The R and G could work with a Consec hand, so I'm loath to pass those just now. Pass 1B 2D N.

3. Pair of threes. This can go Consec or 369 or even Odds. The eights are out. Pass W 8C 8D.

4. No pairs. Highs outnumber lows. The dragons could be useful, depending on what comes in next. When dealing with a wide range of numbers, an Asian strategy can be used; eliminate from the ends of the number spectrum, working the middle. Pass N E 2D.

5. Those dots fairly scream 369. Any numbers other than 3 or 6 or 9 should go. Pass S 7B and 1D or 2C.

6. Pairs of flowers and fours. The fours have near-neighbor friends. Think Consec, and eliminate numbers far-removed numerically from the number foud. Pass 9B and a couple of eights (your pick).

7. The pair of fours doesn't go with the pair of nines. But you don't have to choose which to keep just yet, since you can pass N W 1D.

8. The ones don't go with the sixes, so which to keep? You can pass the N and W, but one other tile has to go. How about, hmm, the 1C.

COMMENTS
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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 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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