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SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

By Tom Sloper
May 13, 2012
Column #519

American Mah Jongg (2012 NMJL card). An opponent is showing two exposures. What's your defense?

1. Possibilities include Like Numbers, Consec. #4, and Odds #5. Look for clues among the discards and exposures. If R is dead (more than two visible), the hand is Like Numbers. If R is alive, then the hot tiles are 2C, 9C, and R. If 1B and 1D are dead, it's not Like Numbers.

2. This is Quints #2. She needs to make 1123 in dots to finish the hand.

3. Clearly Quints #3 (the only Quint hand with flowers). Dragons are hot.

4. Again, clearly Quints #3. Flowers are hot.

5. Quints #1. 5C is hot.

6. Again, Quints #1. This time 3D is hot.

7. Quints #4 this time. Hot tile is 3B.

8. Consec. #2. 1B, 1D, and 3C are hot. Look to see if 1B or 1D is dead; if either one is dead, so is the hand.

9. Consec. #3. Fours and fives in the other two suits are hot.

10. This one is Evens #5. Sixes and eights in the other two suits are hot.

11. Like Numbers. 2B and F are hot. See if 2B is dead.

12. Consec. #4. Flowers and G are hot.

13. This one is Consec. #5. Flowers are hot, and the final set is either 1B or 4B.

14. Consec. #5, with 3B in the middle. 3B and F are hot.

15. Evens #1. The hot tiles are 6C and 8C.

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Question or comment about this column? I often, um... intentionally... "miss" something; maybe you'll be the first one to spot it! Email and the discussion will be posted on the Mah-Jongg Q&A Bulletin Board.

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