SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

American Mah Jongg (2023 NMJL card). Various quandaries.

1. Pairs of threes and eights, which don't go together except in S&P #5... if they were in the same suit. So, which pair has the most friends? Answer: the eights (high numbers). 2023 is too unlikely here, but you can hang onto the threes for now, possible joker bait. Pass W 2C and soap. I hate passing a two with a soap so early, but this is clearly a high Consec hand. If you'd rather, you could pass 5B instead of soap.

2. Two pairs: flowers and threes. Low numbers outnumber highs, so ditch 7D 9C and W.

3. Like Numbers #2, with either twos or sixes, requires us to keep the dragons. That leaves only 1B 3B to pass, so we have to decide between twos and sixes.

4. This could go Consec #1 (6 tiles), Odds #2 (6 tiles), or some other ways. As per the Charleston-stop decision flowchart in FAQ 8 and FAQ 28, there aren't just two hands, both equal, and more than seven tiles each. So don't stop. Pass 2D 5D 9C.

5. I'd stop the Charleston, because all I can comfortably pass are the two ones. I can go Like Numbers with either eights or nines. With all those jokers, I don't have to pick eights or nines right at this moment, especially since I also have Consec #s 3, 5, or 6 to switch to, and I don't have to choose one of those right this minute. As for that flowchart I mentioned in #4 above? All strategies are made to be rethought at any time, dependent on the circumstances. I am not bound by my flowchart. And neither are you.

6. The 2468 family seemed like a reasonable general direction up to this point, but now it's time to focus on hands. Wanna make use of those fours and flowers for sure, right? That means Like Nos. #1. The really only good thing G is good for is 2468 #6, which doesn't want dots, and one 4B is superfluous. Ditch G for now, and save 2D for joker bait until the time is right.

7. The player's hot tiles are S, 3D, and 4D. Those dots are key tiles: if either one is dead on the table, you're good to throw anything. Otherwise, this might be a good time to dog your hand.

QUESTIONS about the 2023 NMJL card? See FAQ 16.

COMMENTS
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Where to order the yearly NMJL card: Read FAQ 7i. But you're missing a bet if you don't order your NMJL card directly from the National Mah Jongg League!

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, a good supplement to the League's 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).

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