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SLOPER ON MAH-JONGG

By Tom Sloper
October 14, 2012
No. #541

American Mah Jongg (2012 NMJL card). What would you discard?

1. Most likely Odds #7. You have eleven tiles if you use 5D for your kong, so discard 7D or 9D.

2. Nine tiles towards Consec. #1 (low) and ten towards Odds #1. Neither hand needs 6D or 8D, so throw either of those. There are only seven tiles towards Consec. #1 (high), which is why I didn't list it as an option. And yes, there are 11 tiles towards S&P #2. If you're feeling gutsy, you could throw 1D (or 5D if you're feeling extremely gutsy).

3. Nine tiles towards Odds #6, with #2 and #3 as fall-backs. Your junkers are 2D 1C 4C.

4. This is good for Quints #2, but 4D needs a mate. I'd throw 1D, since it's numerically too far from four.

5. Seven tiles (plus J) towards Consec. #2 (4-5-4-5-6). I'd keep 7D for possible #3; the tossers are 6C 7C 8C 7B.

6. This has a long way to go. I'd slay a dragon and hope for clues.

7. Could go Consec. #2, but #1 is much stronger. Like Nos. and S&P are not in play. I'd throw 1C to free up my thinking.

8. Seven tiles towards Consec. #3 and Evens #1. Chop flowers.

9. Seven tiles for 369 #1 or #4. Give 9B the heave-ho.

10. Seven tiles for Consec. #3 (two ways). 9B can go. Consec. #1 is out of the running due to the lack of fives.

11. Eight tiles for Consec. #1, nine for Odds #2. Both options cannot be preserved, so go for the stronger. Jettison 2C 4C 5C.

12. Seven tiles towards Consec. #1, #2, #3, and S&P #6. Throw 5D and hope to pick lucky.

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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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Where to order the yearly NMJL card: Read FAQ 7i.

Need rules for American mah-jongg? Tom Sloper's book, The Red Dragon & The West Wind, is the most comprehensive book in existence about the American game. AND see FAQ 19 for fine points of the American rules (and commonly misunderstood rules). AND get the official rulebook from the NMJL (see FAQ 3). Linda Fisher's website is the only website that describes American rules: http://sites.google.com/site/mahjrules/.