SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

By Tom Sloper
June 18, 2024
Column #810

American Mah Jongg (2024 NMJL card). Various quandaries.

1. Wow, four jokers. If you don't get cocky or greedy, you can probably win this. One pair: E, which has friends. If you want to go W-D #3, you'd have to pass 1C 2C 3C, arguably an ugly pass. Maybe it's a little early to target one hand. Do you have seven tiles towards W-D #3? No, just five tiles, but two ways. Other hands, like Quints #2, are even farther away, so W-D #3 isn't a bad one to consider, for now. You can worry too much about defense during the Charleston. There's always an exception to every strategic principle, so I like the 123 pass in this case, because when you have four jokers, you want to go for a hand that doesn't need pairs (unless you already have them). W-D #3 is two pungs and two kongs, and chances are you're going to get winds passed, and nobody's going to guess your numbers. Keep 5D 6C 7B E W.

2. Pung of eights, with friends for Any Like Numbers. Pass 2C 9B 2D.

3. Threes and fours. Keep 2D and 5D (as a third tile for either 2-3-4 or 3-4-5). Pass 9B 2C 3C.

4. Your best hand here is Consec #7 (the most powerful hand on the card) in two suits (4-5-6-7, seven tiles not counting J). Lots of tiles you can pass (F 2B 4B 4C 5C), so don't stop.

5. This is a must-across, and the hand is all low consec numbers except 6D and R. Add 1C to the pass.

6. You're four tiles away from Consec #1, which does not need another 2D. Pass.

7. Could be 369 #1 or Consec #7. Hot tiles are 3B 6D 7B 8D.

8. 369 #7 is a concealed hand and she has exposures.

9. Player apparently didn't realize she can NEVER use a joker as a single. Must be new to the game.

麻雀

COMMENTS
Email . Hit me with your best shot!

Column 810

On Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 10:20:51 AM EDT, <debaronstam wrote:
Subject: FW: Column #810 Question 3
Hi Tom
I know you usually reply to emails, and I just noticed Outlook inserted an invalid email address to the original email. See below.
Deborah

From: debaronstam
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2024 8:20 PM
To: 'tomster@sloperama.co'
Subject: Column #810 Question 3
Hi Tom:
Keeping in mind your strategy to go for the high score, and this being only the first across pass with more passes to come, I would aim for Consecutive Run #8 and keep 3C. I would pass 9B, 2C and 5C. This would give me 7 tiles towards the hand: 3B 3B 3B 3C 4C 4C 5D. Even though CR#8 is concealed, I have two Jokers, and one of the two required tiles for the pair. I would also still have the tiles for either 2-3-4 or 3-4-5.
What do you think?
Best,
Deborah

That's some good thinking, Deborah!
Play safe out there. And may the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Rochester, New York, USA
June 2, 2024
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind"
Donations appreciated

Questions about the 2024 NMJL card? See FAQ 16

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! You'll thank me later.

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. Note that every owner of the book also needs the errata, which are updated ongoing, as needed. 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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