SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

By Tom Sloper
July 20, 2014
Column #612

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American Mah Jongg (2014 NMJL card). Charleston exercises.

1. Would you go for S&P #2 with this? I don't think I would (only one pair). Consec. #1 seems doable, if another 1C or 2C comes in; Odds (something in 1-3-5) seems more likely. Pass E W and... what? I'd probably pass 2C or 4C. If you like S&P, pass 3B or 3D.

2. Would you go for S&P #7 with this? Tempting! But besides S and 3B, what else can you pass? Probably F, since chances are you could get another.

3. Would you go for S&P #4 with this? Why not! Pass 3B 7D G, and prepare to stop the Charleston. Alternatively, you could go for Evens (same pass).

4. You should probably go for S&P #1 with this, over Odds or Like Nos. But you have to pass three. Pass 5C 9D and break up either wind pair - you could well get it back.

5. Whether or not you want to go for S&P #6, pass 2B 8D and F.

6. How very odd! Does this suggest S&P #3 to you? Pass 5D 6D 9D; you still retain the Odds #1 option.

7. Pass 1B 3C N, going for S&P #5. J is a problem!

8. S&P #6; a quandary! Must pass three, and can't pass J. Must break up pairs; pass 6B 6D 9C.

9. Obviously S&P #3, but those darn jokers won't let you. Pass 3C 8B 3D and go for Odds #1 instead.

10. A great start for S&P #5, except for the sixes and J, and absence of any Fs. Pass 6D pair and flip a coin on breaking up a four or five pair. Like Nos. is a fallback.

11. Could go S&P #2, but need flowers. Pass G S 3C.

12. Great start for S&P #7, but not enough tiles to pass. Can't pass J - can only pass 3B, right? May have to pass F and one of the dots, too!

13. Three jokers; it'd be foolhardy to go S&P. Pick an Evens hand, like #2, or #3; pass accordingly.

Thanks to sharp-eyed reader Lori P!

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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/.