SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

American Mah Jongg (2022 NMJL card). A motherlode of Charleston exercises with the new card. What would you pass with these random deals?

1. Wow, three jokers! Take care. You don't want to mess this up. I really mean it! People get cocky when they have three jokers, and it's not unusual to go for a hand where jokers don't help finish the hand. Think Quints or a hand with no pairs (unless you already have them). The four steps, step #1: identify any pairs or better. You've got ones and threes. Ones and threes absolutely go together (they're "friends," step #2). And they are Low (step #3) and Odd (step #4). So you want to work in the middle of the card. And you have several options in Consec (not so for Quints, this time, unfortunately). Check Consec #3 (6 tiles plus 3 jokers). Pass 4D 8C E. The main problem is you're going to have to pick a flower. That's a risk, but the odds are with you. Still: don't get cocky, kid! Han Solo said that. Sorta.

2. No jokers this time. Pair of threes. It has odd friends in low places. Pass high: 6D 7C N.

3. Pair of fives. Look for friends. Only two winds, which makes W-D #4 look remote. And Any Like #2 is also a long shot. But you can preserve those options and see what else might come in if you pass 1C 2B 8D. 6C and 7B might be useful in Consec, and some people say "never pass a flower."

4. Pairs of eights look good for the Any Like family. Keep all high numbers, pass 1B 3B. One of those fives will have to go, too. Take your pick.

5. Those winds and dragons suggest Winds - Dragons, don't they? And keep the eights. If you want to shoot for 2022, a long shot because you have zero zeroes, you can keep 1B 2B, and pass fives, but there is such a thing as aiming too high.

6. Three pairs: twos, sevens, and eights. The eights are friends with both pairs, but which is the stronger friendship? Eights and sevens are powerful for Consec (#1, #2, #4, #5, #8). Consec #8 is a Concealed hand, but don't let that Cow you. I hear a lot of people say "I never go for those," but that's a Cowardly way to go. Twos and eights go together for the Evens family, but there aren't any fours, and it would be foolhardy to go that way. The main question is whether you need to keep that R. It works for Consec #4. I'd say pass 6D 5B and break up 2C.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there!

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. Hit me with your best shot!

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Column 758

On Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 11:55:12 AM EDT, Carolyn C wrote:
Column #758
Tom,
Just starting to get up to speed on the 2022 card and start playing again. I have a question on column 758 from last Mother’s Day. For hand #5, you recommend passing fives, but I see no fives in the hand.
Best regards,
Carolyn

囧 You're right, Carolyn! Surprised nobody else caught that. Not sure what I meant to say there (it's been so long) - maybe I meant dragons.
Play safe out there. And may the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Author of the Sloper On Mah-Jongg column and the Mah-Jongg FAQs
Donations appreciated
Wednesday, August 10, 2022, 3:00 pm
Rochester, New York, USA

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Column #758

On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, 06:39:10 PM EDT, Julia S wrote:
Column #758
Hello Tom,
In #6, you say "Twos and eights go together for the Evens family, but there aren't any fours, and it would be foolhardy to go that way." I was thinking about Evens #6 (flowers, twos and eights). I probably would have passed 5B, 6B and 6D, hoping that the next pass would help for either Consec #4 or Evens #6 before breaking up a pair.
(Just noting that on the 2022 card, not all Evens hands require a four.)
Julia

Good call, Julia! Yes, I did ignore that hand. It is indeed a hand without fours, and my old habitual thinking met its match with the 2022 card.
Let's take it a step further, having identified a non-Consec hand.
1. The dealt tiles we're talking about: 3 pairs, 2C 7B 8D
2. The 2468 hand I missed: 5 tiles.
3. Consec #1: also 5 tiles.
4. Consec #2: also 5.
5. Consec #5: 5 again, two ways.
6. Consec #4: 7 tiles.
7. Consec #8 (the concealed hand): 8 tiles.



And one step further yet: which tiles we can pass in the Charleston. We should preserve the two best hands (Consec #4 and #8). Every number below 6 is expendable, as is the flower. It's best not to pass a pair, and it's less than optimal to pass a flower. Break up the twos, pass F 2C 5B. So, I change my mind about passing 6D as I previously said.
In the past, I've called Consec #5 the most powerful hand on the card. Look at those two ways of making the hand. That flexibility in one hand gives you wiggle room during play. If you want to preserve this hand as well, then you'd have to pass F 2C 2C now. It's not unthinkable to break a strategic principle now and then. But aren't two options enough?

Thanks for giving us more insights into that problem, Julia! Play safely and stay healthy. And may the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Author of the Sloper On Mah-Jongg column and the Mah-Jongg FAQs
Donations appreciated
Tuesday, May 10, 2022, 9:45 pm
Rochester, New York, USA

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