SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

American Mah Jongg (2019 NMJL card). When I look at a new NMJL card, I look for certain things: dragon pungs, and (these days) flower pungs, and recurring patterns. On several past cards, dragon pungs have been "dead giveaways," because they were used only in Concealed hands. The 2018 card (last year's) contained seven dragon pung hands, while the 2019 card contains six. Four of the seven were eXposable last year, and this year just three are. If someone exposes a dragon pung, you know she can be making one of only three hands.

FFF 1111 2222 DDD
FFF DDDD DDD DDDD
3333 666 9999 DDD

If she shows a flower pung in addition to the dragon pung, she is making Consec #5 or W-D #6. If instead her additional exposure is a number kong, she is making 369 #3 or Consec #5. If her second exposure is a pung of sixes, you know she's making 369 #3.

Flower pungs are easy to make, and this is the second year of pungalicious flowers. If someone exposes a flower pung, you know she's making one of only three hands.

FFF 22 44 666 8888
FFF 1111 2222 DDD
FFF DDDD DDD DDDD

Not many clues needed to figure out what she's doing.

I also look for "four pungs and a pair" hands, as Concealed hands at the bottom of card sections. "Four pungs and a pair" is the easiest pattern to make in American mah-jongg. "Four pungs and two singles" is actually a little easier, but it's basically the same as four pungs and a pair.

222 44 666 888 888
111 22 333 222 222
111 3 555 555 7 999
FF NNN EEE WWW SSS
FF 333 666 999 DDD

Don't be intimidated; these Concealed hands are actually not too difficult to make.

As usual, we have the biannual "pung-kong, pung-kong" shape for Evens #2, Consec #2, Odds #2, and 369 #2.

222 4444 666 8888
111 2222 333 4444
111 3333 333 5555
333 6666 666 9999

This collection of hands works well together strategically, allowing a player to fool opponents into thinking she's making one of the others (as frequently described in these strategy columns).

Next week: I'll discuss the positive changes in the left pane of the back of the card, and more analysis.

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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. If you want your full name to appear, let me know in a short sentence in the email (I'll omit that sentence when posting). Hit me with your best shot!

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

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

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 every player should have a copy of Mah Jongg Made Easy, the official rulebook of the National Mah Jongg League (see FAQ 3 for info on mah-jongg books).

© 2019 Tom Sloper. All rights reserved.