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By Tom Sloper
June 4, 2023 Column #791 |
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By Tom Sloper
June 4, 2023 Column #791 |
American Mah Jongg (2023 NMJL card). Various quandaries.
1. Garbage hand, no pairs. Counting highs vs. lows,
highs win. Counting odds vs. evens, evens win. Evens #4 is a reasonable starting point. Pass 4D 6D R N.
2. Again with the no pairs. It wouldn't be optimal to give a neighbor R G N, although you could. More highs than lows (barely), and a lot more evens than odds, but in general, Consec is more flexible than other sections. Pass N 1D 3C.
3. The mah-jongg goddesses aren't endowing us with goodies. 5D, 7C 7D, and Wh work together for Odds #4. 1C and G can go, and 4C can go along with.
4. Evens #4. Pass 6D 8D S.
5. Problem: there's no hand that can use all those bams and those opposite dragons. There's no reason to stop the Charleston. Pass Wh R W (break up all three pairs).
6. This is very high-heavy. The pair of ones is a red herring. Preserving high Consec and high Odds in two suits, pass 1D 3C 5B.
7. Any Like #2 isn't that far off, but you'll have to pick lucky. Anything except nines and dragons can go. 1C 7C 3B.
8. Lotta high numbers, no reason to pass any. Offer your opposite two: 1B 3B.
9. Why am I even asking? Should be obvious that this is going towards high numbers. 2B or 4C can go now.
10. Got eight tiles towards Odds #2 and eight towards Consec #3 #2. Either way, we can discard 1D or 1B, then think about what to discard next while the others are taking their turns. Call 3B if it goes out.
QUESTIONS about the 2023 NMJL card? See FAQ 16.
COMMENTS
Column 791
Column 791
Email 
. Hit me with your best shot!
On Monday, June 5, 2023 at 06:47:42 PM EDT, Julia S wrote:
Column #791
Hello Tom,
1. You say "Evens #4 is a reasonable starting point. Pass 4D R N." But this doesn't have 4D (?) I would pass 2C, R, and N, looking at Consec #2.
10. You say " Got eight tiles towards Odds #2 and eight towards Consec #3." Did you mean Consec #5?
It's good to see the column again.
Julia
Sharp eye, Julia!
1. I was thinking about that 6D when I wrote "4D." My pass keeps Consec #2 and Evens #4 both open for the time being.
10. I was thinking about Consec #2 when I wrote "Consec #3." My fingers are starting to get arthritic, yeah, I'll blame it on my fingers!
Good work. Keep me honest! Glad to see that somebody read that column already!
Play safe out there. And
may the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Rochester, New York, USA
June 5, 2023
Donations appreciated
On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 08:11:58 PM EDT, <debaronstam wrote:
Column #791
Hi Tom
I am finally getting a chance to look at Column #791 and I have a question. In your solution to 3, you write 5D, 7C, and Wh work together for Odds #4. 7C? I think this is a typo…did you mean to write 7D?
Best,
Deborah
Yep! That's my usual type o' typo, Deborah. Thanks, I'm fixing that right now.
Play safe out there. And
may the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Rochester, New York, USA
June 20, 2023
Donations appreciated
Join Johni Levene's popular Facebook group, "Mah Jongg, That's It!" for lively conversations about American mah-jongg and all things mah-jongg.
Where to order the yearly NMJL card: Read FAQ 7i. But you're missing a bet if you don't order your NMJL card directly from the National Mah Jongg League!
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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