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September 23, The Year Of The Pig
Mahjong Competition Rules. Some snapshots from the Online European Mahjong Championship on MahjongTime the 2nd weekend of September. What would you discard? My answers in italics below.
Column #336
1. I threw 2C. Having previously punged North, I was now going to have to pung 1C or R to make my 8 points. Didn't throw 4C just yet, because All Pungs might also add to the score (if a 5 or 6 also came into my hand before then).
2. You want to go Full Flush if possible, but you might have to settle for Mixed Shifted Chows. So, rather than throw the 6D, my play right now would be 7B. Hate those inside chows.
3. If you throw 6C, you're waiting for W for All Types.
4. Throwing 8B sets you up for Mixed Straight on 1C.
5. I threw 8D, trying for Knitted with Honors. Already have 258 in Bams, so the 147 will be in Craks and the 369 in Dots. Could also have thrown 2B 4B or Wh, but I hate to break up a 4-in-a-row (2345B) or a dragon pair when there's this much distance to go yet.
6. I threw 6B, waitng for Mixed Triple Chow on 9C.
7. Throwing 3B leaves you waiting for 3D for Mixed Shifted Chows.
8. Pure Straight is too far, but Mixed Straight is a possibility if you throw 6B or 8B. Still kinda far, though...
9. Mixed Shifted Chows is a very real possibility. Rule of thumb: shift everything inwards (in other words, vote Pluto out of this solar system). So I threw 9C.
10. Definitely want to make Mixed Triple Chow. Two pairs is one too many if you also have a two-ended chow-in-waiting, so I threw 1D.
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Column commentary
From: Tina Christensen
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 2:56 AM
Subject: Column #336
> Hi Tom,
> Feedback to the hands in your column #336:
>
> 1. I agree, having opened on the North, the shortest road is punging, so
> 2C is a good choice. If you want a more expensive hand, you could go for
> Pure Shifted Chows: 234-456-678, you'd need three specific tiles: 3,6 and
> 7. It's less flexible, and you'd have to break the pair of 8's. I'd
> probably do like you here.
>
> 2. I don't agree that Mixed Shifted Chows is an option. Pure Shifted
> Chows, on the other hand: 123-234-345. You need 2 and 4. You have a pair
> of 8's. For a fast hand, the bamboo chow may come in handy. You should get
> rid of 6 dots first. Of course the bamboo will go if you pick more
> character tiles, since Full Flush is definitely an option here.
>
> 3.-7. I agree.
>
> 8. Both Pure Straight and Mixed Straight are quite close. You should throw
> 8B. If you get either 5D or 9C, you are waiting for the other. If instead
> you pick 4B or 5B, your Pure Straight needs only one more tile. So don't
> throw 6B until you get the 5D or 9C; keep that Pure Straight option a
> while yet.
>
> 9. I would get rid of 1D and 2D in order to keep alive the Mixed Straight
> option, along with more options of Mixed Shifted Chows. If you throw 9C,
> you can't really use an 8C or 7D anymore, if they come your way. A 123D
> chow, doesn't help any of the Chow options in the hand.
>
> 10. I agree.
>
> Tina
Good morning, Tina.
2. Whoa, Pure Shifted Chows. I totally missed that one. 6D had been my first instinct, but I thought too much (without arriving at the best conclusion, as you did). I'm going to need to remember to keep Pure Shifted Chows in mind, going forward.
1, 3-10. Great! (^_^)
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper / トム·スローパー
/
湯姆·斯洛珀 /
탐 슬로퍼
MJ溌Sloperama中com
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
September 25, 2007
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," available at bookstores and Amazon.com
Photos of the 2007 OEMC in Copenhagen.
Photos of the Fourth China Majiang Championship and Forum in Tianjin, 2006.
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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