SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

By Tom Sloper
October 9, 2022
Column #776

American Mah Jongg (2022 NMJL card). Various Charleston passes.

First across. What would you pass?

1. Pairs of ones and threes. There are lots of low-number friends, so ditch high numbers and E.

2. Pairs: threes, fives, and eights. Can't use all three pairs, so which two pairs have the most friends? High numbers win; ditch low numbers and E.

3. No pairs. Five high numbers, four low numbers. High numbers win. Odds outnumber evens, so maybe just ditch evens and N.

Second left. Would you stop the dance?

4. You can see that this player has sorted their tiles for two possibilities; Consec #3 and Consec #1. There are a lot more tiles for Consec #1, but there is only 1B. Going a second Charleston would be a good idea, and the heck with Consec #3. Don't stop; pass 7D N and break up either 2C or 1D.

5. This player is shooting for Consec #5 , and hanging onto eights for possible Like Numbers option. Obvious passers, so don't stop. 6D 1C 3B.

6. This player is going for a high Odds hand (unspecified). Long ways to go. Don't stop; they passed 8D E and a three. Probably should have kept the 8D for possible Consec option.

Courtesy. What would you offer across?

7. No mystery. Offer three (6D 2C 8C), saving the 1D pair for a possible joker bait ploy later on.

8. This hand has two possibilities: Consec #5 and Like Numbers (#1 seems more likely than #3). Offer three: E 3D 1B.

9. Still high Odds, still not definite. That soap should be retained for #5, but R can go. Offer three: 2C N R.

麻雀

COMMENTS
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