To view nav frame at left and columns list above, click here.
 To display only this frame and view this column full-screen, touch here.

This column contains an "oopsie" that was reported by a reader on the Q&A Bulletin Board, and is included below this column. Before you report an "oopsie" in this column, please scroll down and read everything. Reporting oopsies is fun! Always read these columns with a keen eye, and maybe you can be the first to report one and get a tip o' the Sloper hat!

SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

By Tom Sloper
July 16, 2017

Column #682

American Mah Jongg (2017 NMJL card). What would you discard?

1. You've collected low numbers and it's time to make a decision. Consec #4 (7 tiles), #3 (7 tiles), or #6 (6 tiles). You don't need 3C for anything, really, do you?

2. Consec #2 versus Consec #5. Just count: 8 tiles towards the former, 9 tiles towards the latter. Discard a dot.

3. Evens? Like Numbers? Consec? S&P? Keep it simple. Ditch G or a nine.

4. High odds, with no fives. That's awkward! Odds #3 is not your strongest option, so discard G.

5. Consec #2 (6 tiles), #3 (6 tiles), #4 (7 tiles), #6 (6 tiles). One of the disposable tiles is 9B, so let's go with that one.

6. S&P #4 isn't working out, so head back to Evens. Green can go (the dragon to keep for Evens #5 is R). Not that that's the only alternative; there are several (none particularly appetizing).

7. LN #1 (7 tiles), LN #2 (6 tiles), Thirteens #3 (7 tiles), 369 #2 (6 tiles)... and other stuff. 6C can go.

8. Six tiles for Odds #6. Seven tiles for Odds #3. Six tiles for LN #1. Five tiles for W-D #6. 5B and R and soap aren't helping; ditch R now, 5B next.

9. Consec #1 (5 tiles), Consec #3 (5 tiles), Consec #4 (6 tiles), Consec #6 (7 tiles), Odds #2 (5 tiles). Evens didn't even submit an entry, so discard 2B or 4C.

10. You've collected threes, sixes, and nines, and you have to discard something. The only reason to keep dragons is for W-D #6 (6 tiles). You can keep G for LN #1 (threes or nines, 6 tiles). R makes sense for a weak 369 #1, but soap needs to slip away quietly.*

*That's just a saying. Of course you should say its name when you discard it.



To read more columns, Click the entries in the header frame, above. Can't see header frame because you're viewing this column in full screen? Tap  this icon to see the list of columns with nav frames. Anytime you want to get rid of nav frames, you can just tap a  mobile icon.

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. Like this...


If you appreciate the free information on this site, your donation would be gratefully accepted,
and would help keep this site running as a free service. Thank you!

    DONATE!    

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

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, including official rules not in the outdated official rulebook. 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).

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


© 2017 Tom Sloper. All rights reserved.