SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

By Tom Sloper
4/20, 2024
Column #804

American Mah Jongg (2024 NMJL card). Various quandaries.

First across. What would you pass?

Second across. WWYP?

Courtesy. WWYP?

What would you discard?

1. Four jokers?? Do you accept that this can happen sometimes, or do you disclaim, "we didn't shuffle the tiles enough"? Just kidding. The tiles are always shuffled enough. Random happens! Keep eights (Any Like) and bams (Consec); pass 5D 9C W.

2. Obviously the 7-9 combo is much stronger than the twos. Pass 2C 6C 2B.

3. The sixes are sore thumbs; you can offer ptwo.

4. Let's consider specific high-Odds hands, not counting jokers: seven tiles each towards #2 (dots and craks), #3 (F, dots, soap) and #6 (dots, craks, G). None of those options needs 9B. Break it up, move along, nothing to see here.

A player is showing the following exposures. Defend.

5. Is this an Evens hand? Yeah, could be #1 (hot tiles 2C and 8D). But don't stop looking. Always check Consec when numbers are not too far apart! Could also be Consec #7 (hot tiles are 3C 5C 5D 7D). Both hands are two pungs and two kongs (no key tiles to watch for). Look for clues: if any of her hot tiles are dead on the table, and/or she appears unhappy...

6. Odds hand, right? Could be #2 (hot tiles 7B 9C). But don't stop looking. Always check Consec! Could also be Consec #7 (hot tiles are 4B 6B 6C 8C). Look for clues (dead tiles, body language, joker whereabouts...).

7. Is this a 369 hand? Could be #1 (hot tiles 6D 9B 9C). But don't stop looking. Always check Consec! Could also be Consec #7 (hot tiles are 4D 5B). Survey the table and the player for the usual clues.

8. Is this an Evens hand? Yeah, could be #4 (hot tiles: F 2D 4D, with the dots being key tiles). But don't stop looking. Always check Consec! Could also be Consec #3 (hot tiles are F 5D; flowers are key, but flowers make lousy keys since there are so many flowers in the deck).

麻雀

COMMENTS
Email . Hit me with your best shot!

Column 804

On Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 07:07:11 PM EDT, deba... wrote:
Column 804 #1 First Across WWYP
Hi Tom:
I finally had a chance to read your latest column. Looking at #1 (First Across. WWYP?) I counted 5 tiles towards W-D #5 (7B, 8B, 8B, 9B and W) and only 4 towards Any Like. Since this is relatively early in the Charleston when Winds are often passed around, I would keep W and pass 5D, 8D and 9C. Did you reject this option because the hand is missing the pair of 7Bs and 9Bs? The Consecutive option is still in play.
Thanks for the quandaries; they are so helpful in becoming familiar with the card.
Best,
Deborah

Hi, Deborah!
The absence of the pairs is a huge reason to avoid W-D #5 when holding four jokers. It has happened plenty of times that someone holding jokers can't win because their pairs never came in.
But I like your thought about winds going around. Still, better to target W-D #3, in which case one might want to hang onto 9C.
Good comments! Play safe out there. And may the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Rochester, New York, USA
4/24/24
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind"
Donations appreciated

Questions about the 2024 NMJL card? See FAQ 16

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! You'll thank me later.

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. Note that every owner of the book also needs the errata, which are updated ongoing, as needed. 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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