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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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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.

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Need rules for American mah-jongg? Tom Sloper's book, The Red Dragon & The West Wind, is the most comprehensive book in existence about the American game. 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). Linda Fisher's website is the only website that describes American rules: http://sites.google.com/site/mahjrules/.