SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

American Mah Jongg (2022 NMJL card). Various quandaries.

1. One pair of eights and a hodgepodge, without jokers or flowers. One thing for sure: the threes and winds can go.

2. Pair of nines with pung of flowers. The other tiles don't support Like Nos. One six isn't enough to go on for a 369 hand. 5B 7C say maybe go Odds. But why are we even thinking this hard? Those winds can all go. So pass winds already.

3. Three pairs: ones, fives, and nines in three suits. Obvious start for Odds #1. Pass non-odds: 6D R S.

4. Reasonable combo for Evens #2 or a Like Nos. hand. If you want to preserve both options (eight tiles both ways), you can pass 9D and 3C only. But is it worth stopping the Charleston for? That depends on your playing style and how your group views stoppages. If you often stop, and/or if your group hates it when you stop, don't stop. Pick a hand. Evens #2 is a bit of a problem since you have only one each of 2C and 8C, and you need pairs of both. Like Nos. #2 is a little less of a problem (only one incomplete pair). Flip a coin or go Like Nos. As for myself, I might stop the Chas.

5. Stopping the Charleston makes no sense with these. Those dragons might be red herrings (and white and green herrings), but pass 4C 7C 5B.

6. You must pass three tiles across. There are a couple of Like Nos. possibilities, and seven tiles towards Consec #7. Pass 4C R S.

7. You've got the two dragon pairs you need for Like Nos. #2, so G can go. You also have Evens #2 as an alternate hand. Eight tiles either way, not counting J.

8. Consec #7. 2C, 3C, and R are hot. 2C and 3C are key tiles. If either is dead on the table, call the player dead.

9. Like Nos. #1 or #3. Flowers and soap are hot.

COMMENTS
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