SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

A look at a new mah-jongg book: Mahjong from A to Zhú (麻將从A到竹), by Scott D. Miller. Rules for over 40 different versions of Mahjong [sic]. Also includes games like Meow Meow Mahjong, Sap Tim Pun, and Ten Phases.

Miller gives descriptions of some variants I had not heard of before, including: Turkish Okey, Xiamen rules, Kuala Lumpur rules, and "Full Monty Mahjong." The descriptions of some variants are about as short as my descriptions in FAQ 2B (useful for understanding just a little about a variant's differences). The description of National Mah Jongg League rules is just 11 bullets, and contains a contradiction. Mumbai and Wright-Patterson styles are covered in two pages. The description of Majiang Competition Rules is a little over four pages, so of course omits a lot. The section on riichi/dora majan goes into much more detail: it covers a full 20 pages. All in all, I recommend the book for those interested in sampling the varied flavors of mah-jongg, and in learning about alternate games that can be played with mah-jongg tiles.
Paperback: MSRP $14.95 ISBN 978-1-105-65498-5
Hardback: MSRP $32.99 ISBN 978-1-300-09202-5
ePub ISBN 978-1-300-44726-9

And just out this weekend: the NMJL's January 2013 bulletin. The League announces a new rule, permitting a caller to put a taken discard into the hand just prior to exposing it for mahj. A vital resource for all NMJL players, the bulletin is sent to those members who buy the card direct from the League.

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Links about Japanese-style mah-jongg:

• Tom's 1st Mah-Jongg Adventure in Japan
• Vega Mah-Jongg Parlor - in ENGLISH
• Vega Mah-Jongg Parlor - in JAPANESE
• Riichi-ing out in Shibuya, 2002
• More Adventures in Japan
• Little Tokyo no tomodachi
• Janyou no tomodachi
• Tokyo Kaikan Tournament, 2009.
• Japanese Mah-Jongg is usually played on automatic dealing machines.
• http://www.japanesemahjong.com/ - Ryan Morris' excellent English-language guide to Japanese mahjong is finally back online! Ryan Morris is a representative for the Mahjong Museum in Japan, and a columnist for Japan's manga, Kindai Majan.
• Reach Mahjong ( http://reachmahjong.com/) features columns by Jenn Barr, Garthe Nelson, and Gemma about Japanese majan.
• Osamuko's Mahjong Blog offers strategy tips for Japanese riichi/dora majan. http://www.osamuko.com/

Want to play riichi/dora majan on your computer?

• MahjongLogic went online in 2009. It supports Chinese Classical, International (MCR), and Japanese riichi/dora majan.
• Ron2.jp Japanese rules, Japanese language. One of the top "reach" ("riichi") sites for those who've graduated to playing online versus other human players. And of course, make sure you've read FAQ 25 and understand the furiten and iihan shibari rules so you don't frustrate yourself. English language instructions are available at reachmahjong.com.
• Wortex's Bamboo Majan wait-training exercises are very useful for learning some hard truths about majan: http://www.gamedesign.jp/flash/bamboo/bamboo.html

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  © 2012 Tom Sloper. All rights reserved.