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[DATE], The Year Of The Dog
Chinese Official Tournament Rules.
In this week's column, we'll take a look at some memorable hands played by Danish player Henrik Leth at the Japan Championship last month.
The first hand earned some oohs and aahs when everyone got a good look at it. Concealed hand with two pungs, two chows, and a pair - reversible!
Column #278
Henrik noted, "This was apparently considered quite special by several of the Japanese." Probably because it was made without Wh. How would you score this hand? Answer #1 below.
Another hand Henrik made, this time playing against a Chinese player, fellow Danish player (European champion) Sune Korreman, and Saga-san:
How would you score this one? Answer #2 below.
Henrik's "absolutely best hand ever" happened when he was playing at the Hon Atsugi janso of the mother of Sugako Suzuki, a player who did very well at the Third China Majiang Championship & Forum in Beijing last fall. Henrik's opponents were Suzuki-san, Yagi-san, and Sune.
Henrik was holding several honors, and some craks. He had a clear direction, so when 1C and 9C were thrown, he didn't hesitate to pung them. To Henrik's own astonishment, here's what he had left in his hand at that point:
He was tempted to chow, but bided his time and picked R, then Wh, discarding the simples along the way. Finally he picked a third Wh. How much does it score? Answer #3 below.
Henrik won't be at the Fourth China Majiang Championship & Forum in Tianjin on October 20-23, but he'll be one of the organizers at the 2007 OEMC in Copenhagen, June 21-24.
1. Reversible, No Honors, Concealed, Two Concealed Pungs, Single Wait. 8+1+2+2+1=14. Add 8 for discarder: 22.
2. Pure Triple Chow, Lower Four, Self-Drawn, One Voided Suit, All Chows. 24+12+1+1+2=40. Plus 8=48 from each player.
3. Self-Drawn, Two Concealed Pungs, Half Flush, All Terminals and Honors, Little Three Dragons. 1+2+6+32+64=105. The group was using an 88-point limit, so Henrik "only" got 96 from each. Suzuki-san won the evening, despite this great hand.
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Photos of the Third China Majiang Championship and Forum in Beijing, 2005.
The official website of the Third China Majiang Championship and Forum in Beijing, 2005.
The official website of the Open European Mahjong Championship
Photos of the 2005 OEMC
Photos of the 2003 CMOC.
Photos of the 2002 WCMJ.
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© 2006 Tom Sloper. All rights reserved.