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SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

By Tom Sloper
August 25, 2013

No. #576

American Mah Jongg (2013 NMJL card). How would you defend against these exposures?

1. W-D #3. If you get that last 3C, you probably shouldn't throw it (unless she's one of those players who unwisely grouses about not having jokers, and she's doing that now; why do people ever do that?). Nor should you throw S, of course.

2. Either 369 #2 or #3. Hot tiles: 6B 6D 9C.

3. This is 369 #1. Watch to see if 6C or F go dead (if either of those key tiles goes dead, you can call her dead). Those tiles and 9C are hot.

4. Evens #1. Watch to see if 2B or 8B go dead. Those key tiles and 6B are hot.

5. She's making Consec. #2. 3D and 6C are hot.

6. No such hand; call her dead. (And yes, as I keep explaining, you should call her dead. One less player means more picks for you.)

7. Difficult read on Consec. #2; the hot tiles are twos, threes, sixes, and sevens in the other two suits.

8. Easy read on Consec. #2; 5D and 6B are hot.

9. Evens #5. 2C and 4D are key; watch to see if either goes dead. 6D is also hot.

10. There's no such hand; you know what to do.

11. Odds #2, but without a clue as to the second suit; hot tiles are sevens and nines in the other two suits.

12. Easy read on Consec. #2; 6B and 7C are hot.

13. Odds #2, easy read: 7C and 7D are hot.

14. Clearly, W-D #4; don't throw that last 4D (nor E, of course).

15. Evens #1. 2C and 8C are key, and 4C also is hot.


A tip o' the Sloper hat to sharp-eyed reader Judy A.!


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