What's the one and only strategy to use in this case?
>From: "brendarainwater
>Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 11:05 AM
>Subject: Strategy play when Charleston is stopped by opponent
>Hello Tom,
>My question is whether or not it is good strategy to do a courtesy pass to the opponent player who stops the Charleston because she is only 2 or 3 tiles away from a maj jongg. Our group of players tend to avoid a courtesy pass with her because we do not want to help her in any way. Of course we also do not get any help, so we wonder if this is a good strategy or not.
Hello Ms. Rainwater,
I have two magic words for you: "it depends."
And another interesting word comes to mind. It's kind of a funny word, actually: "oxymoron." Have you ever heard the phrase "moderation in all things"? Well, that's an oxymoron, because if you use moderation in absolutely every single thing, then you're not being moderate in your use of moderation!
The point I'm trying to make is that there is no "one and only true strategy" to use when somebody stops the Charleston. Or in any other situation, either. You have to choose the strategy based on the situation at the moment.
Most of the time, you can't count on getting useful tiles on the second Charleston, or in the courtesy. You've probably heard or even said the phrase, "same junk going around."
But occasionally you DO get useful tiles then. I've even gotten a useful tile during the courtesy. Not a lot, but it has happened, and more than once.
Your problem is how to balance your desire to build your own hand with your desire to play defensively. You have to decide which you need to do more than the other. If your tiles are crap, then you might as well go defensive, and refuse to trade in the courtesy. If you have some good stuff, though, you have a chance to win -- so maybe you want to trade with her in that case. Or maybe she's just getting on your nerves, and you want to let her know your feelings even though it's cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Get the point? There is no one and only magic strategy to use every single time this happens. You have to use your brain. It's called "being strategic." Strategy isn't a set of hard and fast rules. It's gray cells.
Besides, how do you really know she's stopping it "because she is only 2 or 3 tiles away from a maj jongg" [sic]? You don't! You can't possibly know what she's holding in her hand. Maybe she's got two hands. Or maybe she's stopping the Charleston because she knows it throws everybody off their game, messes with their heads -- and she believes she won't get anything in the second Charleston anyway. Hard to tell why she does what she does. You have to play your tiles. Personally, I don't go on the defense that early in the game.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of these Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations appreciated.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
11/13/11
Are you required to verbalize a call, part 3
>From: Lynn P
>Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 7:50 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is: Re: my email: Are you required to verbalize a call, part 2 on 11/12: You are very kind to keep the peace in your group. I like to do that too. When you personally claim a discard in this group with the lady who doesn't say she is claiming a discard, do you say that you are claiming it or just silently take the discard and display it? Is everyone else silent when they claim a discard too?
>The lady who insisted on the other player saying "call'" just emailed me saying that when you redeem a joker you have to say either "retrieve" or "redeem". I have checked out "RD&WW" but don't see any place that gives any specific words to say. Are there any or can you just say, "I'll take your joker. Ha, ha!" or something to that effect or even just take it and say nothing? It seems this player has a hang-up with mah jongg vocabulary and when to say particular words. Maybe we need a mah jongg vocabulary book and in what situation mah jongg players say which words! Thanks for quick response to former email. Lynn P.
Hi Lynn.
When you personally claim a discard in this group with the lady who doesn't say she is claiming a discard, do you say that you are claiming it
I told Paula, "I have a player in my group who doesn't bother speaking when she calls a discard instead of picking from the wall." I thought it was clearly implied that that player is the only one who makes silent claims. But to be very explicit: I always verbalize my calls.
The lady ... emailed me saying that when you redeem a joker you have to say either "retrieve" or "redeem".
"Retrieve" doesn't make any sense, because she never had that joker in the first place.
I have checked out "RD&WW" but don't see any place that gives any specific words to say.
I never intended to dictate exact words anybody has to say in that situation, or when calling a discard, or when declaring mah-jongg. The rules are not specific. Players have many different ways of saying those things. The rules do not dictate specific words that must be used.
can you just say, "I'll take your joker. Ha, ha!" or something to that effect
I think most players who understand English would get the idea from those words.
or even just take it and say nothing?
The rules do not say that anything must be said when redeeming a joker. But I think it's "best practice" to verbalize a joker exchange.
It seems this player has a hang-up with mah jongg vocabulary and when to say particular words. Maybe we need a mah jongg vocabulary book and in what situation mah jongg players say which words!
I have a glossary at the back of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," and I've ranted about misused words in my column several times (search the index for keyword "word"). But in general, harmony should be the goal. One way to get harmony is to insist on strict rules and strict etiquette (which would cause disharmony until such time as everybody toes the line). Another way is to be loose, and enforce rules when transgressed flagrantly.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of these Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations appreciated.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
11/13/11
Are you required to verbalize a call, part 2
>From: Lynn P
>Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 5:49 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is: Re 11/12 mj rules from Paula M about verbalizing a call even when it is your turn: Yesterday while playing American mah jongg not verbalizing a call caused a problem so as the mah jongg "fuzz" of our group, I was asked to check with Tom. Out came my trusty "RD&WW" and I found on page 52 #59: "to claim a discard, the player must vocalize the claim." a. ...she may simply say "I want that", "Call", or "Take." for instance. " b. "The player must speak the claim loudly and clearly enough that all players can hear the claim." My 3 groups also allow words like "wait", and "hold" for our table rules. I would think it would be better for player A to say "wait'" than to have the next player B pick from the wall and have the tile almost racked which leaves the window of opportunity open and then player A says "call" and player B has to put tile back in the wall.
>
>What happened yesterday was player A discarded a tile, player B took the discard and placed it with other tiles on her rack, player C said player B had to say "Call'" before she could take tile and display said tile but Player B wouldn't say a word so Player C insisted she couldn't take discard without saying "Call". I said Player B had to make the other players aware she had claimed discard by saying something to that effect but she remained silent. Boy this exchange brought back my days as a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher and we are all over 69!!!
>
>I gather from your response to Paula M that your group disregards the information in your book and makes its own table rules. Does only one player in your group remain silent or do all of you? The teacher in me says if there are rules to a game, everybody plays by them. If there are no rules then table rules will be OK as long as everyone knows them. Sorry nobody emailed you on 11/11/11 by 11:11 but game was at my house yesterday and I didn't get a chance to write above email until today. Again all my thanks for making mah jongg such an enjoyable game (through your book, strategy column and Q&A site) that I am playing 2-3 times a week! Lynn P.
Hi Lynn, you wrote:
What happened yesterday was player A discarded a tile, player B took the discard and placed it with other tiles on her rack, player C said player B had to say "Call'"
I was aware, when I wrote my reply to Paula earlier, what the rule is. But I am also aware that in some forms of mah-jongg, when a player is taking the discard on her own turn, her claim trumps others' claims so she is going to have that tile, and the verbalization is recognized as being a little superfluous. What you are describing is two people who are equally stubborn -- one insisting that the rules be obeyed, and one insisting that that particular rule is silly. Immovable object being pushed by irresistible force. Seen it too many times before. I'd rather not be anywhere near.
I gather from your response to Paula M that your group disregards the information in your book
Well, no, not exactly. The one lady knows the rule but it's her house, and I prefer not to try to force a showdown, so I hold my peace.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of these Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations appreciated.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
November 12, 2011
Are you required to verbalize a call, even when it's your turn?
>From: Paula M
>Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 8:29 AM
>Subject: mj rule
>Hi - My question is the following: If it is your turn and you want to pick up the tile discarded by the person who came right before you, can you just expose the tiles that make up the pung, kong etc. or do you have to say something to indicate that you are taking it like "take" or "hold to call?" If it is not a rule to indicate verbally that you are taking the tile, is it still the courteous thing to do? Thanks. Paula M
Hi Paula,
The rules say each player should verbalize a call. But have you read FAQ 14? I have a player in my group who doesn't bother speaking when she calls a discard instead of picking from the wall. I don't bother saying anything to her about it.
By the way, "hold" or "wait" is not really a by-the-rules verbalization. In my opinion, it's more courteous to know ahead of time what you want to call and what you don't. Either say "call" or don't say anything at all. But do read Frequently Asked Question 14.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this 
).
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of these Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations appreciated.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
11/12/11
11/11/11
Here it is 11/11/11 (at 11:11) - and nobody has written me a mah-jongg question all day. Well darnitall, I say! I just have to say it's 11/11/11,11:11 without being prompted, then!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations appreciated.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
11/11/11,11:11
If I'm playing a concealed hand...
>From: J R
>Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 2:19 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>In the American version. I know you cannot pick up a tile from the discarded pile if you are doing a concealed hand but can you pick up a tile
>to mah jongg with a concealed hand
>Thank you
>Janet R
Hello Janet,
Welcome to my website. You've asked something that others have asked me many times before. So to save myself having to constantly retype the answers to such questions, I have compiled them into a series of articles or FAQs ( "Frequently Asked Questions"), which I ask guests to explore before writing to me.
You have asked Frequently Asked Question 19BD.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ).
Find the link to FAQ #19 (it's marked with a red, white, and blue flashing arrow, emblazoned "AMERICAN," like this 
) and click it.
After you've landed at the FAQ 19 page, please bookmark it so you can easily return to it anytime you have a mah-jongg question. Answers to all of the most frequently-asked questions about
American (NMJL)
mah-jongg are found in FAQ 19. Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
11/10/11
Betting in American mah-jongg
>From: linda m
>Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 8:09 AM
>Subject: betting
>Hi Tom,
>I have read rule W4 regarding betting, but my group still has a question with the following: "The fifth player looks at each player's hand after the Charleston is complete and makes a note of the name of the player whom she thinks will win the hand (or if she thinks it will be a wall game)." Obviously, one needs to look at the players hands after the Charleston is complete in order to bet. However, our question involves the "looking" prior to the betting. Does "after" the Charleston is complete mean that the better cannot look at the players' hands during the Charleston to see how the hands are coming together? Some players feel that the better can only look when the Charleston is complete, and some feel that the better can observe the entire Charleston.
>Thanks in advance.
>Linda
Hi Linda, you wrote:
Does "after" the Charleston is complete mean that the better cannot look at the players' hands during the Charleston
No. It doesn't.
Some players feel that the better can only look when the Charleston is complete
They're wrong, Those players can wait if they want to, but when a group agrees to have a fifth player acting as bettor, they give up the right to object to having someone watch over their shoulders as the game begins and progresses.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
11/10/11
Are they ivory?
>From: "tcostas1
>Sent: Sunday, November 6, 2011 12:16 PM
>Subject: Question from Tamara regarding two tiles that may be ivory, please.............
>Tom,
> You're the only person I know to ask about these two tiles.
> Can you tell me anything about them.
> Here is the link to the listing on EBay.
>http://www.ebay.com/itm/190597605557?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
>Many and sincere thanks,
>Tamara
Hello Tamara,
As it says above, I don't follow links at your request. If you want me to look at pictures, you have to email them to me. But if you want to know if tiles are ivory, you need to read my "Is It Ivory" FAQ.
Please read Frequently Asked Question 7c2.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ). Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Daegu, S. Korea
11/7/11
Two frequently asked questions
>From: Martins
>Sent: Friday, November 4, 2011 9:34 AM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>1. When does a player declare they are going Atomic - Before or After Charleston??
>2. Can you pick up a discarded tile if you don't have any of that tile in your hand, but you have three Jokers or two Jokers that enables you to make a hand?
Hello, Mr. or Ms. Martin,
Welcome to my website. You've asked something that others have asked me many times before. So to save myself having to constantly retype the answers to such questions, I have compiled them into a series of articles or FAQs ( "Frequently Asked Questions"), which I ask guests to explore before writing to me.
The FAQs are above, marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ).
Find the link to FAQ #19 (it's marked with a red, white, and blue flashing arrow, emblazoned "AMERICAN," like this ) and click it.
When does a player declare they are going Atomic
Please read Frequently Asked Question 19AZ.
After you've landed at the FAQ 19 page, please bookmark it so you can easily return to it anytime you have a mah-jongg question.
Can you pick up a discarded tile if you don't have any of that tile in your hand, but you have three Jokers or two Jokers that enables you to make a hand?
Read FAQ 19L.
Answers to all of the most frequently-asked questions about
American (NMJL)
mah-jongg are found in FAQ 19. Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
November 4, 2011
Does an Exposed hand HAVE to be exposed?
>From: Moniea
>Sent: Thursday, November 3, 2011 12:46 PM
>Subject: mah-jongg question
>In the FAQ #19 rules, under question AQ, does the answer (third line) mean that a player must have previous exposures before declaring mah-jongg for an an exposed hand? The answer implies to me that if there is no previous exposure and a mah-jongg is declared, this is not a valid mah-jongg because this is a concealed hand. Correct?
>Thank you,
>Dolores
Hi Dolores,
Hmm, let's see if what I wrote could be interpreted that way:
Exposed means "there is at least one exposure (meld)."
So, if a player is displaying one or more melds (exposures), which kind of hand is the player holding...? Exposed.
Yes, I see how you could have misunderstood how Exposed hands work, given the explanation I'd written in FAQ 19AQ. I shall change it, as follows:
Exposed means "exposures are permitted."
Whereas a Concealed hand must not be exposed prior to declaring mah-jongg, the player is permitted to make one or more melds (exposures) from discarded tiles while the hand is in play if her hand is marked X on the card.
A Concealed hand (C) must be displayed all at once when declaring mah-jongg, but an Exposed hand (X) may be displayed piecemeal.
Thanks to you, that FAQ should be more understandable for future readers!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
November 3, 2011
What if everybody wants to blind pass, part 2
>From: Katherine H
>Sent: Thursday, November 3, 2011 12:08 PM
>Subject: Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>Thank you for your great answer. I like it, and it would solve the problem.
>Can't figure out how to respond on the board, but will study it later.
>Again, thanks,
>K
You figured it out! (^_^)
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
November 3, 2011
What if everybody wants to blind pass?
>From: Katherine H
>Sent: Thursday, November 3, 2011 6:58 AM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>In the Charleston, last pass, everyone wants to "steal" a tile to pass. I know three tiles must be passed. If no-one "gives," do we have to break up a pattern in our hand to come up with the third tile? Thank you.
Hi Katherine,
I have never seen an answer from the NMJL on this one, but as I interpret the rules, tiles must be passed. Consider this crazy thought:
Most likely, there's only one player (or at most two players) who absolutely cannot pass any tiles. SOMEONE has at least one tile she can pass ... the dealer, for instance. If the dealer cannot declare mah-jongg, she is going to have to start the game by discarding a tile. That means she has one tile (at least) that she can pass.
Since there is at least one player who can pass at least one tile, it's possible to satisfy the rule requiring that a Last Right pass take place. It's permissible to Blind Pass on the Last Right, as you know.
The Blind Pass is the loophole that'll get you through this impasse.
Because Blind Passing is permitted on this pass, all that's needed is at least one passable tile. And unless the dealer can declare mah-jongg, there is one. If the dealer can declare mah-jongg, just let her do that and be done with it.
So, in the worst case, then, the dealer passes one tile right and says, "I owe you two more." That player can pass it right and say, "I owe you two more," and so on, until each player has passed the tile right. Then the dealer need only repeat the process twice (saying, instead of "I owe you two more," rather "Now I owe you one more" and "Here's your third tile" on the 2nd and 3rd time, respectively). Now each player has (in effect) passed three tiles to each other player, using the Blind Pass workaround, although in actuality nobody has actually changed her hand. And the requirement that a Last Right be passed has been satisfied (thanks to the Blind Pass loophole).
Or you could just all SAY you did the above, have a good laugh, and signal the dealer to discard. It amounts to the same thing anyway. Think about it!
Also, please read column 353. You can get to the columns by clicking the purple banner atop this page.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
November 3, 2011
An inscrutable question, part 2
>From: "SANDBuckee@aol.com"
>Sent: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 10:14 PM
>Subject: Re: (no subject)
>A mah-jongg show is a convention where distributors come to sell their stuff...IS there such a thing/
>S
Hi, S.
Oh, okay, I see. You mean a retail merchandise trade show. I went to one once, and I couldn't remember its name today, so I googled "merchandise show las vegas" and turned up
ASD/AMD. You might also want to attend Toy Fair, held every winter in NYC. There may be other retail merchandise trade shows too -- try Googling that phrase. I even went to a toy trade show in Hong Kong once -- http://www.sloperama.com/hk/hkmj.htm
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
November 3, 2011
Edit my listing, and an inscrutable question
>From: "SANDBuckee at aol.com"
>Sent: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 8:41 PM
>Subject: (no subject)
>Can you please edit my teaching posting
>NY Lower CT and Westchester
>American Mah-Jongg
>Stefanie Buckley
>Thanks
>
>Do you know where / when there are Mah- jongg shows in NYC area?
>S
Hi Stefanie, you wrote:
please edit my teaching posting
Done.
Do you know where / when there are Mah- jongg shows in NYC area?
I don't even know what a "Mah- jongg show" is!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
11022011 (Palindrome Day)
Seeking a teacher
>From: Lynn Takash
>Email: takashfamily at cox.net
>Sent: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 8:00 PM
>Subject: mah jongg
>Do you know of anyone in the Phoenix area who gives lessons?
>Lynn Takash
Hello, Lynn,
Welcome to my website.
Please read Frequently Asked Questions 4a & 15 and check the Find Players bulletin board.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ). The bulletin boards are up near there too. Please always check the FAQs and boards first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
11022011 (Palindrome Day)
Looking for info on tournaments
>From: Martha K (onebamtwocrak)
>Sent: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 3:20 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is: where can I find a list of american-style mah jongg tournaments in around New York City, Long Island, Westchester, or New Jersey. Thanks.
>Martha
Hello Martha,
Welcome to my website. You've asked something that others have asked me many times before. So to save myself having to constantly retype the answer, I have compiled all my frequently given answers into a series of articles or FAQs ( "Frequently Asked Questions"), which I ask newcomers to explore before writing to me.
For tournaments: you should read FAQ 4a and the Find Players bulletin board.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ). You'll find the link to the Find Players board nearby.
Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
11022011 (Palindrome Day)
Two FAQs
>From: FC Sims
>Sent: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 3:10 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>RE: Jokers in a Dead Hand
>If your hand has been declared dead and there is a Joker exposed can other players take that Joker and exchange it for the matching number in the exposure.
>RE: 2011 1111 1111 hand.
>Can the 1's in the 2011 be Jokers instead of ones?
> Thank you
Hello FC,
Welcome to my website. You've asked something that others have asked me many times before. So to save myself having to constantly retype the answer, I have compiled all my frequently given answers into a series of articles or FAQs ( "Frequently Asked Questions"), which I ask newcomers to explore before writing to me.
Please check Frequently Asked Question 19.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ).
Find the link to FAQ #19 (it's marked with a red, white, and blue flashing arrow, emblazoned "AMERICAN," like this ) and click it.
After you've landed at the FAQ 19 page, please bookmark it so you can easily return to it anytime you have a mah-jongg question. Answers to all of the most frequently-asked questions about
American (NMJL)
mah-jongg are found in FAQ 19. Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
If your hand has been declared dead and there is a Joker exposed
Read FAQ 19P.
Can the 1's in the 2011 be Jokers instead of ones?
See FAQ 19E.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
11/1/11
A mahjong set in Swansea
>From: Ali A
>Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2011 3:28 PM
>Subject: Hello from Swansea, in the UK
>Hello
>I bought a mahjong set in a charity shop in Swansea, South Wales (UK) and since then I have been trying to find out more about it. I loved your website - thank you!
>It has helped me learn a lot more about the sets, it's really interesting.
>Having read your faqs I think my set is an American 1920s set, bone and bamboo, rosewood box. I have attached some photos to see if you think I'm on the right track...
>Here is some more info about it: It has been a bit neglected, some metal bits are sharp, the front slides on, the handle on the top drawer is missing. There is a little bamboo box with a sliding lid, but there is nothing in it (think it is missing dice). I love the way the bone is carved and slid onto the bamboo.
>My question is: howcome my box only has 2 drawers, when most have 5? Could my box just be a cheap imitation? I love it and just want to know approximately what year it could be.
>Thanks, and I hope you have time to help
>PS I am going to study your faqs to discover which set I have, I would like to be able to find the ones I am missing
>Ali
Hello Ali, you wrote:
I think my set is an American 1920s set,
I would leave "American" out of that. The sets of this type were made in China, for export -- not only to America but also to the UK and Europe.
howcome my box only has 2 drawers, when most have 5? Could my box just be a cheap imitation?
I never saw one with 2 drawers before, but I can guess that it was done for cost savings. Other than its having just the 2 drawers, the box looks genuine enough. I wouldn't worry about it -- just enjoy it for its unique attributes.
I would like to be able to find the ones I am missing
The tiles, you mean? Just try to find some that match yours in size. It'll be a Frankenstein set, but that's OK. (Try the tile vendors in FAQ 4a and on the Tiles For Sale board.)
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 30, 2011
Can 2 players continue playing, part 2
>From: "jjaclen
>Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2011 9:28 PM
>Subject:
>....Your response two my 'two dead hands' query was very funny!!!...thanks for the laugh
> (Katy's hand WAS dead though, because she exposed the 3-6-9 (c) with two flowers, and that hand calls for three separate suits
> (sorry that my note omitted that detail)
> ...What we all found a bit murky was the sentence on the back of the NMJL card under Mah Jongg in Error: "If more than one
> player, other than erring declarer........(in our case - Ellen was the initial erring player....and Katy was the second - exposing
> an incorrect Mah Jongg)............."exposes part or all of the hand, game cannot continue......
> Could you please respond with a scenario explaining this....That second sentence seems to contradict the sentence before it..
> Thank you, Tom!! Jacqueline
Hi Jacqueline, you wrote:
What we all found a bit murky was the sentence on the back of the NMJL card under Mah Jongg in Error: "If more than one
> player, other than erring declarer... exposes part or all of the hand, game cannot continue
What's murky about it?
That second sentence seems to contradict the sentence before it..
What second sentence? You quoted one sentence. I looked on the card, and the sentence before the one you quoted says what I said last time you wrote: when two players are dead, two survivors keep playing.
Could you please respond with a scenario explaining this....
Imagine two players go dead. The remaining two keep playing. Now imagine three players go dead. The sole survivor does not continue playing. The game cannot continue. It's void. Same dealer deals again. It's all what I said last time: "The game only becomes void when 3 people kill themselves." It's also void if 4 people kill themselves, naturally.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 29, 2011
My enrobed set
>From: Donna V
>Cc: myrnar
>Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 12:36 PM
>Subject: Mah Jongg set evaluation
>Hello Mr. Sloper:
>My name is Donna V[deleted]. I just began playing the great game of Mah Jongg this year, I have been looking for the right set to speak to me. My good friend Myrna (cc'd) said that her mother had a set and maybe I would like it. I recognized the age of the set right away and we both feel it is worth getting evaluated before she gives it away.
>We did our homework and read all the FAQs. If you would please give us some guidance, we would be greatly appreciative.
>WHAT WE KNOW:
>· 136 tiles complete --- 36 dots, bams, cracks each/4 red, green, soap, dragons, NEWS
>· PLUS -- 16 flowers/jokers
>· 5 Racks with chips/35 red, 25 green, 16 white, 25 blue
>· 2 dice that look original to the set
>· NO paper -- no card(s) or manual
>· Myrna's mother played with this set in the 1940s so it is at least that old
>· The tiles are enrobed
>· Condition of the case (leather) is fair
>16 EXTRA TILES:
>· There are a combination of tiles that seem to have been modified to create 16 flowers. (Why is the 6th Joker identical to number 5 but no number?)
>· Also, it seemed that "Mom" modified with some stickers and pink nail polish that we were able to clean up most of except for the Red Dragons (see dots on tiles in the photo) and one of the flowers
>We think the tiles themselves are Bakelite. There is a pinkish hue to the backs of all of them. Nine photos attached.
>As I said earlier, any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
>HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
>Donna V
Hi Donna,
You did not give me quite enough information. You didn't say what the condition of the tiles is. I don't know if the set smells funny when you open the case. That, and the bizarre combination of rare tiles and dilapidated case makes my valuation questionable.
It's a fixer-upper. In its present condition, it has value for someone willing to go through the trouble to refurbish and restore it. Once it's restored, then it will have very high value indeed. I think as it stands now, it might fetch a few hundred. But restored, its value would double. I don't know if an enrobed set in excellent condition might sell for as much as a thousand dollars. But I'm guessing it could, if it was restored.
To comment on selected things you said:
PLUS -- 16 flowers/jokers
This set has no jokers. It has 16 flowers. The tile with red fingernail polish on it is trying to be a joker. The tile with sticker residue on it was at one time a joker. Read FAQ 7E.
There are a combination of tiles that seem to have been modified to create 16 flowers.
I don't see any of those in the photos you sent. What I see are flowers that were marked to designate them as jokers.
(Why is the 6th Joker identical to number 5 but no number?)
Wrong question. I see two #5 flowers, one without the Arabic numeral 5 on it. Read FAQ 7E. I don't know why it has no numeral on it.
the Red Dragons (see dots on tiles in the photo)
I'm guessing that someone was having difficulty distinguishing the red dragon from the green dragon, and the nail polish was added as a visual aid. It should be removed, and the tiles' paint touched up expertly. See FAQ 7o.
any information would be greatly appreciated.
Read FAQ 7P. You can link to the FAQs above left.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 29, 2011
I know what "only" means, in English - but not in NMJL-ish
>From: Kathleen D
>Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 12:33 PM
>Subject: 2011 MNJL card
>In 2468, third and six down, (any 2 suits, Kong 8s Only) why "only." Does that mean no jokers, 8s only?
>(I do know what "only" means, just don't understand why it's stated in these instances.)
>Thanks... enjoy your column (and your humor)
>Kathy D
Hi Kathy, you wrote:
(I do know what "only" means, just don't understand why it's stated in these instances.)
You may know what it means in English, but you don't know what it means in NMJL-ese.
Please read Frequently Asked Question 19AO.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ).
Find the link to FAQ #19 (it's marked with a red, white, and blue flashing arrow, emblazoned "AMERICAN," like this ) and click it.
After you've landed at the FAQ 19 page, please bookmark it so you can easily return to it anytime you have a mah-jongg question. Answers to all of the most frequently-asked questions about
American (NMJL)
mah-jongg are found in FAQ 19. Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 28, 2011
Can 2 players continue playing after 2 players go dead?
>From: "jjaclen
>Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 7:33 PM
>Subject: Uncertain ruling
>Hello Tom...(American Mah Jongg)
> Ellen, Katy, Gitta and myself players;
> Ellen played (Under winds and dragons) .. GGGG..then EEE....Katy challenged her saying, are you sure this is a valid
> combination....(Ellen had erred, and her hand was declared dead)
> Katy then called out 'Mah Jongg' for herself..but under the '3-6-9-' play....her last grouping of 9999 was of the same suit as her
> 6666......so Katy's hand was declared dead..
> Gitta and I continued to play...Gitta finally coming up with a correct Mah Jongg hand...
> Question:.....Was it valid for Gitta and I to continue playing after both of the other two players had become 'dead' under those
> circumstances...Was Gitta's Mah Jongg win valid??
> (Thank you for settling this)...Jacqueline
Hi Jacqueline, you wrote:
Ellen had erred, and her hand was declared dead)
OK so far...
Katy then called out 'Mah Jongg' for herself..but under the '3-6-9-' play....her last grouping of 9999 was of the same suit as her
> 6666......so Katy's hand was declared dead..
What? That's wrong. See 369 #2. Katy is not dead. Nobody can say "she is working on an impossible hand." Because she could be working on 369 #2, with two kongs exposed (sixes and nines in the same suit).
Was it valid for Gitta and I to continue playing after both of the other two players had become 'dead' under those
> circumstances
Yes, of course. The game only becomes void when 3 people kill themselves.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 27, 2011
Reverse redemption (FAQ 19AL)
>From: Barbara Z
>Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 10:17 AM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>Can you use a joker that is in your hand to replace another player's exposed tile for - example the exposed had is a pung of 4s and you need a pair of fours, can you take your joker & exchange it for the 4 that is exposed therefore giving that player a joker, & you keeping the 4?????
>Thank you.
Welcome to my website. You've asked something that others have asked me many times before. So to save myself having to constantly retype the answers to such questions, I have compiled them into a series of articles or FAQs ( "Frequently Asked Questions"), which I ask guests to explore before writing to me.
Please read Frequently Asked Question 19AL.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ).
Find the link to FAQ #19 (it's marked with a red, white, and blue flashing arrow, emblazoned "AMERICAN," like this ) and click it.
After you've landed at the FAQ 19 page, please bookmark it so you can easily return to it anytime you have a mah-jongg question. Answers to all of the most frequently-asked questions about
American (NMJL)
mah-jongg are found in FAQ 19. Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 26, 2011
Can I redeem a joker atop my own rack? (FAQ 19M)
>From: SuZi
>Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 11:12 AM
>Subject: MJ Questions
>Yesterday I picked up a 7 dot to make a Pung exposure but instead of putting up 2 other 7 dots I put a Joker atop my rack, leaveing the 3rd 7 dot in my hand. Before my next turn I realized my error. On my next turn would it be acceptable to retrieve my Joker (after picking from Wall or picking up another discard) with the 7 dot that I mistakenly left in my hand?
>Thanks for your time!
>Susan
>South Carolina
Hi SuZi,
Yes, of course you can. As it says in Frequently Asked Question 19M (you can link to the FAQs above left), you are permitted to redeem a joker atop your own rack.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 25, 2011
How to handle a slow player? (FAQ 19BA & column 375)
>From: Lynn P
>Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 10:17 AM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is: Thank you so much for your 10/23 column #499 "Indecision". I have already emailed it to my 3 mah jongg groups since all incidents that you mentioned have come up at one time or another in all groups. Is there any way you can incorporate the following items in another one or two columns: 1. Taking a long time deciding which tile to discard - player looks from one end of rack to other and fiddles with her tiles-finally picks up tile and then changes her mind before finally discarding tile. 2. Rearranges and counts her tiles almost every time she takes a discard or picks from the wall since she has 2 or 3 hands going at the same time and the rest of us wait until she is satisfied and finally discards. She sometimes rearranges her hand when someone else discards or claims a discard. 3. Takes a long time passing 3 tiles in the Charleston-player chooses tiles from the beginning, middle and end of her rack to pass, passes, then sometimes takes one or 2 back and replaces them while we wait while she decides. I have said if the person to whom she is passing has already reached for or touched the tiles she can't take hers back. I had read this somewhere so I am hoping it is a rule or at least mah jongg etiquette. Any comments or suggestions you make will be appreciated. Looking forward to more strategy columns. Lynn P.
Hi Lynn,
I wrote about how to handle slow players in column 375 and in FAQ 19BA. And I gave advice to slow players in my book on page 110.
Also you wrote:
I have said if the person to whom she is passing has already reached for or touched the tiles she can't take hers back.
That's a good table etiquette rule, if you can get your group to agree on it. I, too, have a player who constantly changes her mind about her Charleston passes. It's at its worst when I'm seated at her left. When she passes her three tiles, I either snatch them immediately or I wait a moment, watching her to see if she is going to take them back (depending on my mood). I find it very annoying. Once I have looked at them, I never permit her to have them back.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 24, 2011
Jokerless?
>From: Phylia K
>Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2011 6:40 PM
>Subject: Mah Jongg question
>Is a hand considered Jokerless if a Joker was claimed from an exosure leaving the player with no jokers when he/she declared Mah Jong?
>From Phylia K
Hi Phylia,
I was just discussing this with Lynn P, in her post "More weird stuff my group does,"
sent Thursday, October 20. You can scroll down and read it (see point #3).
And a hand is considered jokerless if it does not now have any jokers in it. Period.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 22, 2011
More weird stuff, part 2
>From: Lynn P
>Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 5:15 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is: Referring to my 10/18 email "More Weird stuff my group does: "This happened last week with a group of ladies who have been playing for a minimum of 3-4 years : Player (B) called a discard, exposed 3 E and realized it was concealed and said she was dead which I said she couldn't do. (I was playing at the other table and was asked if she could call herself dead.) So the other 3 players decided not to call her dead and let her play." OK it gets "weirder".
>
>I just found out that another player (A) had exposures on her top rack and needed a pair. "DEAD" player (B) discarded the one tile that player A needed so she could call mah jongg.
>
>1. Can player B discard another player's winning tile so she could call it and get mah jongg? That certainly is not playing defensively. (RD&WW" p.64, 105)
>
>2. A player at today's mah jongg game (a different group) said it is a rule that a player in the group has to call a dead player "dead" and that she cannot continue to play. Obviously she has the wrong information but insists she is right. I found the answer you gave to my question on 6/3/11 which says;"no other player is obligated to call her dead, she must play until called dead by someone else."
>
>I am thinking that I should email players in the group: "It is to each player's advantage to call a "dead" player dead since that increases the availability of the wall tiles to the other players with fewer players picking from the wall." Can you add any other reasons to call a "dead" player dead? I am really thinking of taking your advice and dividing this group into 2 small groups but there is one player who is really showing improvement and she would benefit from playing with the better players. Maybe the 5 of us could draw straws to see which two will play with the other group for half the time. Any other suggestions? Thanks you for all your help. Lynn P.
Hi Lynn, you wrote:
Can player B discard another player's winning tile so she could call it and get mah jongg? That certainly is not playing defensively.
So you're saying you are still confused between "strategy" and "rules"? There is a difference. Rules are rules. Strategies are strategies. "And never the twain shall meet," Tom said markedly.
Obviously she has the wrong information but insists she is right.
What's obvious is obvious (obviously).
Can you add any other reasons to call a "dead" player dead?
No. Do I really need to?
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 21, 2011
A frequently asked question
>From: "WINJUDY
>Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 2:20 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
> Can a joker be used for either the numbers or the dragon in "2011" ?
>Thanks
>Winjudy
Hello winjudy,
Welcome to my website. You've asked questions that others have asked me many times before. So to save myself having to constantly retype the answers, I have compiled them into a series of articles or FAQs ( "Frequently Asked Questions"), which I ask newcomers to explore before writing to me.
Please read Frequently Asked Question 19E.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ).
Find the link to FAQ #19 (it's marked with a red, white, and blue flashing arrow, emblazoned "AMERICAN," like this ) and click it.
After you've landed at the FAQ 19 page, please bookmark it so you can easily return to it anytime you have a mah-jongg question. Answers to all of the most frequently-asked questions about
American (NMJL)
mah-jongg are found in FAQ 19. Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 21, 2011
Can she call me dead for a tile concealed in her hand?
>From: Claudia N
>Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 9:48 AM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>A player recently called my hand dead, saying that she was holding the tile crucial to my being able to win, and so therefore she would not be discarding it. Was that a correct call?
>Thanks!
>Claudia
Hi Claudia,
Please read the rule on when a player may call another player dead, in
Frequently Asked Question 19AA (the second bullet).
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ).
Find the link to FAQ #19 (it's marked with a red, white, and blue flashing arrow, emblazoned "AMERICAN," like this ) and click it.
After you've landed at the FAQ 19 page, please bookmark it so you can easily return to it anytime you have a mah-jongg question. Answers to all of the most frequently-asked questions about
American (NMJL)
mah-jongg are found in FAQ 19. Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 21, 2011
Is she allowed to stop the Charleston if she has 3 tiles to pass?
>From: "embassy5@
>Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 8:34 AM
>Subject: charleston passing
>hi..didn't see my question answered but maybe i just missed it so..
>if you stop the passing after first left it was always my understanding that it means you don't have 3 to pass. but then the person who stopped, passed 3 in optional. if you have 3 to pass in optional that means you could have passed three to keep the charleston going. is there a rule for this? thanks
>cynthia
Hi Cynthia,
Welcome to my website. You've asked something that others have asked me many times before. So to save myself having to constantly retype the answers, I have compiled such questions into a series of articles or FAQs ( "Frequently Asked Questions"), which I ask guests to explore before writing to me.
Please read Frequently Asked Question 19AG.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ).
Find the link to FAQ #19 (it's marked with a red, white, and blue flashing arrow, emblazoned "AMERICAN," like this ) and click it.
After you've landed at the FAQ 19 page, please bookmark it so you can easily return to it anytime you have a mah-jongg question. Answers to all of the most frequently-asked questions about
American (NMJL)
mah-jongg are found in FAQ 19. Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 21, 2011
P.S. The rule says she may stop "for any reason." That doesn't mean you have to be happy about it. But she is within her rights.
Reporting some broken links
>From: Chris Schumann
>Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 4:22 AM
>Subject: Kong88
>Hi Tom,
>Thought you might want to know that an online mahjong company went away. Kong88 is merging with another firm and took their site offline a few months ago. Their site is now a single page, but I imagine that will disappear some time.
>Best,
>Chris
>From: Chris Schumann
>Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 5:17 AM
>Subject: More Link Updates
>Hi again, Tom,
>I should have saved that last note, because I have more updates for FAQ 5.
>- The link I sent you for mahjong2.swf is dead. This is the link I share:
>http://www.niceclip.net/view/Mahjong2_play.htm
>Since the game has a "niceclip" bug in the corner, this link should have a longer life.
>In the Windows section:
>- The Real Mah Jong (Grosse) is gone, as are all compuserve links.
>- Chinitsu Mania appears to be gone.
>- Mahjong Master (and chinesesoftware.com) is gone.
>- Julian Bradfield's site is still up, but the online version at tumj.com is not.
>- zoogi.com now appears to be a link farm.
>- Your link to wmpa.net does not open in a new tab like your other links.
>- Your link to boardgamecentral.net does not open in a new tab.
>- The google directory link is dead.
>- Globalamusement.net is gone.
>- wx-e.com is gone, and proxad.net timed out.
>- majakhouse.co.kr is reported as an attack host.
>- majoritygames.com is a link farm.
>- nickmania no longer has its mahjong game, and has not been updated in some time.
>Online section:
>- jadedragonmahjong.com times out.
>- netmahjong.com goes somewhere else.
>- Andrew Feist's post about playing 4Winds online is gone.
>- Ed Pijl's site is gone.
>- teaser.fr is gone.
>- mjclub.com goes to a travel site.
>- game.sina.com times out.
>- sandboxstudios.com goes to dice.se, an EA company.
>- singaporean.per.sg is gone.
>- mahjong.sg looks like an empty web server.
>- mjonline.com.tw appears to be present, but your link is not found.
>- gmg.net is not set up properly and shows a blank page and an error.
>- hijoy.co.kr is gone.
>- sky116688 has moved to http://www.singaporemahjong.com/
>- gravon.net has rules in German, but I didn't see any way to play.
>- tomtomlabs.ch has no online play, but does make iPhone and MacOS mahjong games.
>- betluck.co.uk appears to no longer have mahjong.
>Best,
>Chris
Chris, that's awesome of you to let me know about all those. The changes have been made, in FAQs 4b and 5. Thanks very much.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 21, 2011
Column 476 and rule 92e
>From: "dkrumrei
>Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:39 PM
>Subject: Mah jongg rulings
>Hi Tom.
>I contacted you once a couple years ago, and got a great answer, and need some advice about two things that happened today.
>1). In play today, I found that I had mah jongg immediately after the last (optional) Charleston pass. I was the dealer, so I had the required 14 tiles for mah jongg, before I discarded. None of us had every had this happen before, and did not know what to do. Is this a legitimate mah jongg, or was I required to discard and continue the play? If this is a legitimate mah jongg, what should be paid, the minimum amount on the card, or double as if I had drawn the tile myself?
>2). Later in the day, we were playing with 3 people at the table. Two of the players were called dead during the play, at different times, due to an incorrect number of tiles in her hand (both had discarded before picking a tile) . When the second player was called dead, is the third player automatically the winner, or must she continue to play to mahjongg, and if she does not achieve mahjongg would it then be considered a "wall" game?
>Thanks, Tom, for your expert advice once again!
>Sharyn K
Hi Sharyn, welcome back. You wrote:
Is this a legitimate mah jongg
Yes. You never have to discard a tile if you have a complete hand. Everybody pays you double. It's regarded as being self-pick.
You can read column 476 and find out about "Heavenly Hand" (an even rarer event). You can link to the columns above left or by clicking the purple banner up top.
When the second player was called dead, is the third player automatically the winner
No. See rule 92e in my book. The hand is ruined. Everybody throw tiles in. Same dealer deals again.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 20, 2011
More weird stuff my group does
>From: Lynn P
>Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:59 AM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is: Referring back to my email question of 10/7 about why dead tiles have to go back on sloping rack: While looking in "RD & WW" for another answer, I found a good answer for previous question. On p. 101 at the end of the page it says, "When a player is called dead due to an erroneous exposure, the tiles in the erring exposure should be returned to the rack. This removes any unredeemable jokers from temptation." I would also think if there were less tiles on the exposing rack there would be less confusion as to which jokers could be redeemed.
>
>My questions are:
>1. If you are called dead for any of the reasons on Page 100 under Death, do you also put your dead tiles back on your sloping rack? So if you are called dead all but previously exposed tiles (before the dead call) go back on the rack. right?
>
>2. This happened last week with a group of ladies who have been playing for a minimum of 3-4 years : Player called a discard, exposed 3 E and realized it was concealed and said she was dead which I said she couldn't do. (I was playing at the other table and was asked if she could call herself dead.) So the other 3 players decided not to call her dead and let her play to see if she exposed any jokers or discarded any tiles they may need. Do this make sense to you? Would she be wise not to expose anything and discard any jokers she may have or pick from the wall?
>
>3. This week, same group: player E had exposed 3 red dragons and a joker, 3 4 craks, 3 6 craks.
Player W redeemed her joker and discarded it. Then the next time player W discarded a 2 crak and player E called a jokerless mah jongg. Three times more she discarded the winning tile for a pair. Both N and I questioned her playing techniques and the tiles she discarded. She didn't seem to realize that the tiles she discarded would enable the players to call mah jongg and she admitted that she had other tiles she could have discarded. One time there were 8 tiles left and she needed 2 tiles to call mah jongg and so she discarded the winning tile for me instead of breaking up her hand which she never does. What can the other players do, say, explain, etc. so she doesn't continue this kind of playing? Any help you can provide will be deeply appreciated as we are pulling our hair right now!
>
>4. Same day, different table: Three of the players had won a couple games each but one player hadn't won any games. One of the winners discarded the tile the losing player needed because, "She hadn't won any games." She felt sorry for her!!! I have told all the players that you have: to play a defensively even breaking up your own hand to prevent someone from calling mah jongg, to be very familiar with the card so you can figure out what hand other players are playing, to redeem a joker only if you can use it and I have given them printouts with mah jongg rules, etiquette, strategies, helpful hints, etc. What more can I do so we will have quicker, smoother, less stressful games. The teacher in me wants to give them a test to see what they really don't know and then have them study. One of them asked which dragons went with which suit last week!!! HELP!! Lynn P.
Hi Lynn, you wrote:
Referring back to my email question of 10/7 about why dead tiles have to go back on sloping rack: While looking in "RD & WW" for another answer, I found a good answer for previous question. On p. 101 at the end of the page it says, "When a player is called dead due to an erroneous exposure, the tiles in the erring exposure should be returned to the rack. This removes any unredeemable jokers from temptation." I would also think if there were less tiles on the exposing rack there would be less confusion as to which jokers could be redeemed.
Yes. None of this means that these are reasons why the rule exists. These are ramifications of the rule, assuredly. But I can't say definitively that these are why the rule exists. Only the NMJL can say that.
If you are called dead for any of the reasons on Page 100 under Death, do you also put your dead tiles back on your sloping rack?
No. Only erroneously-exposed jokers are excluded from redemption. Jokers exposed properly are allowed to remain exposed - and are available for subsequent redemption.
if you are called dead all but previously exposed tiles (before the dead call) go back on the rack. right?
If you are called dead for an illegal or improper exposure (for example, maj in error), then all illegally or improperly exposed tiles go back on the rack. If you are called dead for something unrelated to an exposure, and your exposures are not clearly erroneous, then your exposures remain exposed.
Do this make sense to you?
No, it doesn't make sense to me why they think it's a good idea to let her continue playing after going dead.
Would she be wise not to expose anything and discard any jokers she may have or pick from the wall?
This isn't a question of what would be "wise" for her to do after being allowed to continue playing. It's a question of the rules. Her hand is dead; everybody knows it, but for some insane reason, nobody calls her dead. She wasn't allowed to make the one exposure she did make. She certainly isn't allowed to make any more -- she should be called dead if she does. She should break up her hand and play defensively from then on out.
In fact, in Chinese Official rules, when you are "dead," that's what you are supposed to do -- keep on playing even though it's not possible for you to win.
Player W redeemed her joker and discarded it.
Why?? That's absolute nonsense. At my table, if I did that, the other 2 players would both ridicule me for making her jokerless. It's obvious that the remainder of her hand is 2 pairs, and it's obvious that she's close to making it.
What can the other players do, say, explain, etc. so she doesn't continue this kind of playing?
She doesn't care. She only wants to go for the win, no matter what. I would stop playing with her, unless she tells good jokes and bakes great cookies. (Just the jokes or the cookies alone would not be enough.) She has zero sportsmanship. Not the kind of person I would want to play with.
What more can I do so we will have quicker, smoother, less stressful games.
Your group wants to play their way, for the sake of togetherness, and the heck with "rules" and "strategy" and "doing it the way the designers intended." That is not what they are interested in.
And even beyond that, you can't ask them what they want. They would change their minds the first time you tried to give them what they say they want.
You have to understand their inner motivation for playing. They play for the social aspect of it, not to be good at it. Let them do what they will. When they ask for a ruling, you can give it. But you can't expect them to memorize it, or to change their behavior.
If there are some players who want to play "the right way," maybe you can arrange it so those people always play together, and the ones who are only in it for the social aspect can play however they want.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 20, 2011
Erroneous discard and then part 2
>From: Lynn P
>Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 4:12 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is: Referring to
>Erroneous discard and then mah-jongg from Ray & Ruth on 10/17: In "RD&WW on p. 63 #100 it says "If a player plays out of turn...". As I understand the question, it was the player's turn, she didn't want the discard, forgot to pick from the wall and discarded from her rack leaving her with 12 tiles. Her discard was called for mah jongg. It doesn't say anyone called her dead so according to "RD&WW" p. 101, lower 1/2 of page it says "You are supposed to play defensively until someone else calls you dead." So for that particular player she would have to be called dead in order to stop playing but I would think player would have called mah jongg with the green dragon before another player noticed/counted her tiles. If no player called her dead before mah jongg was declared I would think everyone should pay winner and green dragon discarder would pay double. Does this make sense? Miss your strategy column. Lynn P
Hi Lynn, you wrote:
As I understand the question, it was the player's turn
Interesting. As I understood it, it wasn't. A player can call a discard out of turn. Then, changing her mind (why is it we keep coming back to players changing their minds??), she can be flustered and discard erroneously.
The important thing about what you say is that perhaps this is a case where seat position (of the caller relative to the discarder) may determine what the penalty should be.
If the discarder was seated to the player's left, then it was her turn, but she essentially discarded before picking, and her discard gave another player the win. She should pay double, as you say.
If the discarder was seated across from the player or at her right, then it was not her turn, but she is allowed to call the discard - then after she changed her mind and discarded, she was playing out of turn, so should pay for the table.
So, which was it? I wasn't paying attention as closely as I should have, but Ruth said East was the erroneous discarder, and North won on her discard. Ruth didn't say, however, who discarded the tile East initially called and then changed her mind about taking.
Ruth's question assumed that the fact that East killed herself with her discard was important. It wasn't. The important thing was that East's discard completed someone's hand. The "mah-jongg trumps everything" rule kicks in. Somebody said mah-jongg, so the hand has to stop. And somebody has to pay.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 18, 2011
Value of my Lowe set
>From: Jennie & Bill
>Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 4:15 PM
>Subject: ES Lowe Mah Jong Set Circa 1951 What is it Worth?
>Hi Tom,
>Thanks for posting your column - as a new MJ player, it has been such a help! I just purchased this E.S. Lowe set for $30 and am wondering what its worth is. I am thinking of keeping the set and putting stickers on the extra flowers to make them jokers. Two questions: Will putting stickers on the flowers decrease the set's worth? Also, what is the approximate worth of this set. Thanks in advance for your help and expertise.Jennie [last name and hometown deleted]
>Items in Set:
>152 tiles - all bams, cracks and dots are present; Total of 14 flowers; 2 jokers labeled "Mah-Lowe Joker" 1 is green, 1 is red; Condition: Good to Very good. I don't see any cracks in the tiles on front or back. The paint is worn off in a few spots on the flowers, but all tiles are still easy to read. The tiles are a deep butterscotch color. There are 2 types of flowers - 5 "travelers" and 9 "emperors". Size of Tiles: 13/16" x 1 3/16" x 1/2"
>4 plastic Catalin racks: Condition Fair. Plastic is in good condition with no cracks.. Metal chip holder on each rack has bend-over type chip pole, but metal looks like brass coating is tarnished and flaked off and in poor condition.
>2 Red plastic dice - Condition: Very good. No noticeable defects.
>1 Bettor Wheel - Condition: Very good.
>2 plastic boxes for the tiles. Condition - Good to Very good. No funny smells. They are clean, but 2 lower corners on the underside of the boxes are slightly worn
>Carrying Case: Condition - Fair to Poor. The outside of the box is an artificial alligator look, and there is scotch tape on the box, which may be able to be removed. The inside of the box is in very good shape - the inside cover is lined with green felt. There is a fabric label in the upper right hand corner that says: E.S. Lowe N.Y., Made in USA, Exclusive Lowe Creation. The metal clasps, etc. all work and the case opens and closes easily.
>There are no instruction manuals or any type of betting chips.
>What are Tiles Made of and Age of Set: after looking at the Charli's Mah Jong website, it appears to be a circa early 1950's Catalin set. He has pictures of one posted that looks just like this one.
>Please see attached photos - thanks again.
Hello Jennie, you asked:
Will putting stickers on the flowers decrease the set's worth?
It depends. It depends on the attractiveness of the stickers and on the intent of the buyer (her reason for buying the set). If she's a collector, don't put stickers on. If she wants to play with the set, it needs stickers -- but she can pick them out and put them on.
what is the approximate worth of this set.
Well, let's see. The case is crappy on the outside, with that tape all around it. The rack metal is tarnished and the plating is flaking off. The tiles themselves are in reasonable condition, you say, but I wonder if they are shiny or worn, dull. No coins, but players of American mah-jongg won't care about that.
The set may be fixable. If the tape can be removed and the case surface cleaned, and if the brass can be shined up, so that the set looks attractive, and you write a skillful pitch, it might go for $150-200. But as it is, it's a fixer-upper. Under $100 (but probably more than the $30 that you paid).
Your actual mileage may vary.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 18, 2011
Erroneous discard and then mah-jongg
From: Ray & Ruth S
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 3:19 PM
Subject: discard in error
Tom,
When a tile is discarded in error, may it be claimed for Maj Jongg? A question came up today that we had never dealt with before. In the middle of play, East called for a tile, which she did not pick up, then decided that she didn't want it. She then discarded (in error) a green dragon which north claimed for Mah Jongg. Is this a valid Mah Jongg? Obviously, East now has only 12 tiles and is dead.
Thanks for your help.
Ruth
Hello Ruth,
Look in the official NMJL rulebook. This is covered. The discarder pays four times the value of the hand (in other words, she "pays for the table"), and nobody else pays. In my book, this is rule #100, on page 63.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 17, 2011
Graduation time, part 2
>From: Joe Carl P
>Cc: Berry P; Danny F; Lee C
>Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2011 9:20 PM
>Subject: Followup on your reply to my previous query 10/14
>Tom
>The game I think we play is somewhere between Classical Chinese and "Vanilla" Western" - in fact, in FAQ 2b, I don't see much difference between the two. As I said earlier, I learned the game when I was 12, in the 50s, from some kids who had lived in Thailand and learned the game there (from other Americans). That was in Australia (my dad was a diplomat). Since then almost everybody I have played with is someone to whom I taught the game. I've recommended Thompson & Maloney to everyone - it was my favorite until I discovered The Red Dragon & The West Wind, and still in fact is simpler and more graphic for beginners.
>
>The way we play: The dealer does both rolls of the dice; the deal proceeds through the wall in a counterclockwise direction, as you describe in "Chinese Official," as opposed to the clockwise deal in your simplified rules; discards are placed at random, not lined up. Other than that, the rules we play by seem to closely resemble the ones you give in the "Chinese Official" section of TRDTWW. Of course, we have many little idiosyncratic rules that reflect the whims that kids develop, since I learned as a child.
>
>Now, the rules I use for change of round: when the new round starts, the identity of seats doesn't change, but the deal shifts counterclockwise so that the new dealer is the new prevailing wind. I have also had the seat identity change, but the deal skips to the new prevailing wind. I have never done the actual physical seat change you describe in TRDTWW, but that sounds intriguing. How is the round change accomplished in the Classical Chinese and the "Vanilla" Western? And, what method do you recommend for me?
>
>Tom, I just recently discovered sloperama.com, and you, after over 50 years of playing the game. What a wonderful thing it is that you have done! Thanks for dealing with my problem, and just for being there. May the lucky Winds and Dragons smile on your fortune.
>Regards, Joe Carl
Hi Joe Carl et al,
Joe Carl wrote:
The game I think we play is somewhere between Classical Chinese and "Vanilla" Western" - in fact, in FAQ 2b, I don't see much difference between the two.
The difference is that in Western (which I also refer to as "British Empire mah-jongg"), there are numerous special hands that were created by Westerners, and are not found in any Chinese variant. And Western/British rules also add a special move called the goulash. Some Western/British variants also add special restrictions such as a limit on the number of chows in a freeform hand - and other variations as well. See, for instance, my column on Mumbai Style, and my report on my trip to India. See
column 399 and http://www.sloperama.com/Mumbai/mumbai1.htm.
The dealer does both rolls of the dice;
Okay, so the dealer rolls twice. Once to determine which wall to break, and once for the count on that wall -- without adding the two rolls together?
the deal proceeds through the wall in a counterclockwise direction, as you describe in "Chinese Official," as opposed to the clockwise deal in your simplified rules;
In FAQ 10, I state: "Players take turns counterclockwise, removing tiles clockwise from the wall." That's the same way it works in all forms of mah-jongg, including Chinese Official. See the diagram in FAQ 10 and in my book.
Of course, we have many little idiosyncratic rules
That's okay. As I wrote in FAQ 14.
the rules I use for change of round: when the new round starts, the identity of seats doesn't change, but the deal shifts counterclockwise so that the new dealer is the new prevailing wind.
The way it's supposed to work is that the dealer is always East. Counterclockwise from the dealer, the seats are ordered ESWN. Always. So every time the deal moves, a player's seat wind changes, and everybody who has truly "graduated" from Simplified Rules learns to "deal with it."
I have also had the seat identity change, but the deal skips to the new prevailing wind.
I don't understand, but it sounds incorrect to me. The dice always move counterclockwise around the table, only staying with a dealer if the dealer wins. The dealer is always East.
I have never done the actual physical seat change you describe in TRDTWW, but that sounds intriguing.
That's only done when players have played continuously for a fair amount of time. Chinese Official makes it happen every round, because it's a tournament situation and players need to not be hamstrung by an unfortunate seating arrangement. In ordinary circumstances (when not at a tournament), it needn't be done more than once every 2 hours or so (that would probably be two rounds).
How is the round change accomplished in the Classical Chinese
Seats aren't changed. The wind indicator is flipped or changed (depending on type of wind indicator - see FAQ 7D). Whereas in the first round, the first dealer was "double East," now his seat is East again but the round is South - and the player to his right is "double South."
and the "Vanilla" Western? And, what method do you recommend for me?
Same as for CC. Western/British is a modification of CC, and this practice was not modified. And that's what I recommend for you.
Tom, I just recently discovered sloperama.com, and you, after over 50 years of playing the game. What a wonderful thing it is that you have done!
I love hearing that! (^_^) May the mah-jongg gods not mess with your head too much henceforth.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 15, 2011
Graduation time
>From: Joe Carl P
>To: Webmaster
>Cc: Berry P; Danny F; Lee C
>Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 2:01 PM
>Subject: Expansion on the question of what happens between rounds..
>Tom--
>Under "Game Structure" in your wonderful simplified rules, you say "I don't want to complicate things by describing the way it's really done." Me and my partners have played it several ways (I'm 68, and have been playing since I was 12!), but we'd like to know how the Chinese really do it - "it" meaning how the transition takes place from one prevailing wind to another. Please complicate things!
>Thanks, and may the lucky dragons look favorably on you.
>Regards - Joe Carl
Hi Joe Carl (and Berry and Danny and Lee),
So, you're ready to graduate from simplified rules to a real Chinese rule set (not Japanese, not Filipino, not Vietnamese, not British Empire). Now it's a matter of which Chinese rules.
Taiwanese? Shanghai? Hong Kong? Official Competition? World Series?
My recommendation is that you read FAQ 2a, see how those 5 (the 5 most widely played and/or best documented) differ, and pick one based on your group's needs. Do you want simple scoring, or highest scoring, or do you want to play in a world tournament? Then, using the info in FAQ 2a and 2b, you ought to be able to decide which rule set you want to play.
Then you ought to get a book (FAQ 3) or (almost as good) a print out the rules from a website (FAQ 4b).
Once I know which rule set you decided on, tell me what ways of changing winds you've tried, and I can tell you what's what. But right now I don't know which way you want to go or what you've tried, so I'm kind of stuck.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 14, 2011
Yet another "change of heart" question (not covered by the rules)
>From: Lynn P
>Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 3:48 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is: While playing American mah jongg today player A had 3 red dragons and a joker exposed on her rack. Player B picked a red dragon from the wall and redeemed player A's joker but before she racked it she said she had made a mistake and couldn't use it. She discarded it but questioned that since she hadn't racked it, could she have taken back the red dragon and put the joker back on player A's rack. (In our discussion another player said by taking a joker and then just discarding it could maybe make a player jokeless if she happened to call mah jongg and was not a good play to make.) I checked "RD&WW" but could not find reference to this occurrence, only that a player could not do a reverse redemption.
>The discussion ended with a player saying, "Let Lynn ask Tom." See you are on first name basis with my mah jongg group. They are eagerly awaiting your response. Below are their questions:
>1. Could Player B take back the red dragon and return the joker to its former place since she didn't rack the joker? 2. Would not racking joker have any bearing on what she could or couldn't do? 3. Is redeeming a joker like taking from the wall-you move or lift it and it's yours? 4. Any thing else we should know about above occurrence? We all enjoy your columns and thank you immensely for all your excellent information. Lynn P.
Hi Lynn, you wrote:
She discarded [the redeemed joker and then asked,] since she hadn't racked it, could she have taken back the red dragon and put the joker back on player A's rack.
People can't go around always blithely changing their minds after doing every darned thing. There shouldn't be an expectation that player's remorse should always translate into forgiveness.
I checked "RD&WW" but could not find reference to this occurrence
No, because not every possible manner in which player's remorse could evidence itself can be predicted -- and also because the NMJL has not issued a ruling on this case in the period of time for which I have yearly NMJL bulletins.
So, what to do when there is no official rule? Compare the situation with similar situations that are covered by the official rules. See if there is a parallel, a logic that might apply.
And in this case, we have a number of "change of heart" rules that do point us in a direction. If you check all the "change of heart" rules, you can see a common thread: once the player has made a physical move, she has committed herself to the move. Most of the time. (The one case where they draw an exception is the one about taking a discard: FAQ 19AM.2.)
So, how about using the same logic: once a player has put a tile down somewhere, she's committed to leave it there, and can't take it back. Unless your group wants to be more forgiving. Just know that you will have to document all your forgiveable changes of heart, and make sure the group knows exactly what those are. So there, I think I've answered your 1 and 4.
Yes - since she hadn't racked it, she could either rack it or discard it.
Sure, why not.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 14, 2011
O vaunted math genius, perform some combinatorial calculations for me
>From: howard f
>Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 2:47 PM
>Subject: What are the odds?
>As a long-time Mahj player, I had a very exciting experience at a tournament yesterday. I picked the 75 cent hand in both the morning and afternoon sessions of a 9 table tournament which enabled me to win both sessions. I've never seen this happen before and I wonder if you know what the odds are.
>I enjoy your column and look forward to reading your answer.
>Carol F
>Port Charlotte, FL
Hi Carol,
Well, you can stop wondering. I have no idea. If I was that talented with math, I would be an astrophysicist instead of a game producer.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 13, 2011
A mah-jongg program for my handheld
>From: Paula L
>Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 3:09 PM
>Subject: Mahjong applic. for IPod Touch
>Hi Tom,
>Does anyone know of a multiplayer mahjong application to install on an IPod Touch, preferably of the Chinese Official category? I could only find solitaire mahjong apps in my research...
>Tks in advance
>Paula L
Hi Paula,
I have compiled everything I know into a series of articles or FAQs ( "Frequently Asked Questions"), which I ask guests to explore before writing to me.
The one you want is FAQ 5. I can't guarantee it contains what you seek, but it contains everything I know about software for mah-jongg.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ).
Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 13, 2011
I miss your column!!
>From: Nancy W
>Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 4:38 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>I miss your column!! hope all is well.
>Nancy W
All is well, Nancy, but I have been focusing my energies on my teaching and an upcoming speech, and a recent trip back east to see family. Didn't have enough energy left over for continuing the column every week. Will be revisiting the column from time to time - especially whenever a new card comes out.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
10/10/11
A computer mah-jongg program with A.I. bots to play against (FAQ 5)
>From: Louise R
>Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 2:25 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>I love your column. The examples of offense and defense are especially helpful. I do not want to play with people on line-but I would love a site that allows you to play against the computer. Is this an option? I have only played a few months-but I play often. I am looking for ways to practice.
>Thank you.
Hi Louise,
I'm going out on a limb and guessing that you play American mah-jongg. FAQ 5
("Frequently Asked Question" #5) lists one place you can find American-style software with A.I. bots to play against.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ), and click FAQ 5. American-style mah-jongg is the first-listed category.
Glad you find the column helpful!
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
10/10/2011
Am I ready for this?
>From: Lynn M
>Sent: Saturday, October 8, 2011 6:43 PM
>Subject: Contemplating going to my first tournament
>Hi Tom,
>How do I know when I'm ready to go to an American MJ tournament? I've been playing for a few years and feel pretty confident in the game, but the group I play with doesn't play quickly, so I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up. We often take 30 minutes for a game (although I think I'm one of the faster players). We're also not sticklers for the rules, although we know them (for instance, we probably wouldn't call someone dead except for MJ in error... just let them correct their mistake and keep playing, for less major goofs.) I'm not expecting to win; just want to experience a tournament. But I don't want to ruin it for anyone else, either. Any tips on how to prepare or on how to know one is ready?
>Lynn
Hi Lynn,
Hmm. Lotta points to reply to.
How do I know when I'm ready... I've been playing for a few years...
If you wait until you know you're ready, you may never make it. Just sign up and go.
the group I play with doesn't play quickly, so I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up.
I wrote about this in my book. When I started playing, I quickly realized that my main challenge was simply keeping up. If you just set your mind to keep up, and stop worrying about winning, you'll learn to keep up, and the winning will come.
We often take 30 minutes for a game
Normal length of one hand is 15 minutes. You can do it.
We're also not sticklers for the rules
You don't have to be the one to call someone dead at the tournament. There'll be plenty of players ready to take on that duty. But be ready to get called dead. It's happened to me. Just suck it up and sit it out, then jump into the next hand with both feet.
I'm not expecting to win; just want to experience a tournament.
That attitude will work.
I don't want to ruin it for anyone else
Just focus on playing quickly (same speed as everyone else). You will be surprised how easy it is.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 8, 2011
Please explain why
>From: Lynn P
>Sent: Friday, October 7, 2011 5:39 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is: Playing American mah jongg today, a player called mah jongg but was called dead. (She had exposed a kong of flowers and her hand was concealed.) I said she should put all her tiles except the flowers in her sloping rack. She said she didn't have to and another player agreed. I said that was the "rule" and the fourth player said it didn't make any difference where the tiles were since we couldn't take any of the jokers. Please explain why a dead player should put her tiles back on her sloping rack and not leave them exposed other than it being a rule if it is. I really enjoyed your emails about teaching a class how to play mah jongg the past few emails. I learned something new!! The tiles have been with me lately so I am a happy mah jongger. Thanks for your continued help. I missed your strategy columns last month. You must have been busy! Lynn P.
Hi Lynn, you wrote:
Please explain why a dead player should put her tiles back on her sloping rack
I can't. I can make guesses, but only the NMJL can justify their rules. I recommend you send them a letter, not call them by phone (see FAQ 19BN).
I really enjoyed your emails about teaching a class how to play mah jongg the past few emails.
Good - I'm glad!
I missed your strategy columns last month. You must have been busy!
Most definitely. Thanks for understanding. Even busier times coming up...
May the tiles continue to be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 7, 2011
Teaching how to select a hand, Part 3
>From: Lynn M
>Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 1:32 PM
>Subject: Teaching how to select a hand, Part 3
>Hooray, Tom, I followed your advice of having just ONE table playing and having everyone's tiles exposed while we played, and it worked BEAUTIFULLY! I had eleven students today, and stressed the importance of letting me do most of the talking so everyone could hear. I saw the lightbulbs lighting up over several students' heads as they began to really "get" the game. They loved it, and said they want to do it this way again next week, rather than playing several tables with tiles hidden. I was worried that the more advanced students would be bored, but I asked for four volunteers to sit at the racks who were feeling pretty comfortable with the game, and of course the more experienced ones volunteered, so their interest was maintained throughout. I had them each "think out loud" about what hand they were leaning toward, why they were discarding what they were discarding, etc. This prompted lots of questions from the observers, which was great once they got the idea that they had to raise their hands and ask one at a time, and ask ME rather than each other! So, thanks for your great suggestion.
>BTW, I thought you'd like to know about a mah jongg small world experience that you & I have just had! My good friend, Laurie, was visiting last weekend from Cincinnati and I told her that I had been corresponding with you about my MJ class (she isn't a MJ player). She said, "Tom Sloper... that sounds familiar. I think my friend Sandy has a friend by that name." Sure enough, a phone call to Sandy confirmed that she has known you for decades. I've only met Sandy (who isn't a MJ player, either, as I understand it) a few times, but it was fun to discover this unexpected connection.
>Lynn
Lynn,
I'm delighted that my random meandering diatribe actually contained some gems of useful advice for you! And that's really amazing that you found a connection through my dear friend Sandy (from my pre-mah-jongg Cincinnati days)!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 6, 2011
When can I redeem a joker? (FAQ 19M)
>From: Geoffrey V. W
>Sent: Monday, October 3, 2011 8:12 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is: If I want to take a joker from a part of a hand that is exposed and replace it with the tile to complete the exposed pung or kong, must I do that before I pick a tile? Which is the proper order to do this?
>Thank you
Welcome to my website, Geoffrey. You've asked questions that others have asked me many times before. So to save myself having to constantly retype the answers, I have compiled them into a series of articles or FAQs ( "Frequently Asked Questions"), which I ask newcomers to explore before writing to me.
Please read Frequently Asked Question 19M.
Scroll up and look for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow (emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this ).
Find the link to FAQ #19 (it's marked with a red, white, and blue flashing arrow, emblazoned "AMERICAN," like this ) and click it.
After you've landed at the FAQ 19 page, please bookmark it so you can easily return to it anytime you have a mah-jongg question. Answers to all of the most frequently-asked questions about
American (NMJL)
mah-jongg are found in FAQ 19. Please always check the FAQs first, before asking me a question. Thanks!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 3, 2011
Teaching the NMJL card, part 2
>From: Lynn M
>Sent: Monday, October 3, 2011 11:01 AM
>Subject: More on teaching how to select a hand
>Hi again, Tom
>Thanks for your detailed answer about teaching the NMJL card. I was interested in your statement that you want the students to be playing at every session so that learning can be fun. I have tried to do this, too, using just components of the game, or simplified versions of the game in the early sessions.
>Re: your comment about the difficulty of having several tables of students, we're doing *pretty* well in this regard (with reminders from me to keep the talking to a minimum, so everyone can hear!). I've thought of getting MJ kards (and an oversized rack to put them on) so that I can demonstrate from the front of the classroom, and they can then follow along using the tiles at their table. But I haven't actually tried this yet.
>But actually, my question is more focused on how to teach selecting a hand once you've been dealt your tiles. I taught the NMJL card in the 2nd session and I think most of my students "got" it. In the 3rd session (how to select a hand), I talked about following the steps of (1) organizing the tiles by suits, etc. (2) looking for pairs & then hand(s) that use all pairs, (3) rearranging tiles to match various sections (odds, evens, high, low, jokers, no jokers, etc.), (4) counting how many tiles apply to each section & going for one or two sections, and (5) choosing one or two hands that use the most tiles on your rack. (and I gave them a handout with this info). Then I had them build/break the wall, deal and start to play. But I think they were overwhelmed with selecting a hand - most felt as though all they had was a "jumble" (and I remember feeling that way when I was learning, too!). Can you suggest any strategies/exercises for breaking down the process into more manageable pieces, or do they really just need to jump in and start playing (and eventually it will start to make sense)?
>Ever grateful,
>Lynn
Hi Lynn,
I, too, teach the same thing as your step 1.
But I don't point them to pairs hands in step 2. I stress the importance of the pairs, only as a clue to a direction to go in. The thing I stress for step 2 is to identify possible "families" of hands (2468, 13579, Consec., etc.) based on pairs and tile count.
I don't tell them to do your step 3. Instead, I go around the table (to the 4 racks, since there is only one table), and offer examples based on a random deal. Each rack's tiles are on top of the rack for all to see, and I show how the tiles might be used.
Your step 4 is reasonable. What I do instead, though, is to have them do a process of elimination on families for the first 1 or 2 passes, before narrowing down to 1 or 2 hands (unless the tiles are clearly 1 or 2 hands).
Your step 5 is reasonable.
No, I do not tell them to just jump in and start playing after one explanation. I have them play lesson 3, at one table, with their tiles all exposed, so I can advise (and so everyone can learn from how I answer their questions during the play). The point of lesson 3 is to learn, not to win (some of them don't get that).
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 3, 2011
Individual replacement hanafuda, part 2
>From: Brandi W
>Sent: Monday, October 3, 2011 6:03 AM
>Subject: Re[2]: Any help on how to find extra hanafuda cards?
>No worries. I can't say I'm surprised about the cards, but I suspect
>that I can probably figure out a scan from a gaming book that can be
>printed on some contact paper and put onto the blank to make it at
>least look nicer.
>Thank you again.
>--
>Brandi
Hope that works out satisfactorily, Brandi. Glad you have the blank card.
Tom Sloper
トム·スローパー
탐 슬로퍼
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 3, 2011
Individual replacement hanafuda cards
>From: Brandi W
>Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 2:56 PM
>Subject: Any help on how to find extra hanafuda cards?
> While your Mah Jongg FAQ covers searching for new tiles well, I
> didn't really see anything in your Hanafuda section. I found a
> pretty little deck at a local thrift store, but one card was missing
> (the blank was there to fill its place). I'd like to figure out how
> to find the replacement (or the best way to print up a new face to
> stick on the blank!).
>--
>Brandi
Hi Brandi,
I owe you an apology. You emailed me almost 2 weeks ago and your email fell through the cracks.
So I'm doubly sorry to have to tell you that yours is an impossible quest.
Replacement mahjong tiles are strictly a Western phenomenon. In China, players are very superstitious about everything - including used mahjong sets. Chinese people don't buy used mahjong sets, and would not want to get a replacement tile for an old set. They'd throw out the old set (and throw out all its bad joss, its bad karma, its bad luck, along with it).
And the Japanese are very status-conscious. It looks bad to the neighbors if someone can't just dump a mahjong set when a tile goes bad or missing -- the thing to do would be to buy a new set.
So that's the story on mahjong tiles. Now let's talk about hanafuda.
Japanese hanafuda players would just dump an old deck and buy a new one rather than expect to find a replacement somewhere. If you had a particular deck of playing cards, and your dog chewed the Queen of Diamonds, wouldn't you just go get a new deck? A new QD would be shinier and be obviously out of place with the rest, even if it was a perfect match.
Here in the US, mahjong is vastly more popular than hanafuda. The market here supports the concept of replacement tiles. For mahjong. But consider: if you tell 10 people in America that you play mahjong, 9 of them will ask "what's that?" But if you tell 100 people in America that you play hanafuda, 99.9 of them will have no idea what you're talking about. The hanafuda market here does not support the concept of replacement tiles.
But you're welcome to post a request on the mahjong tiles wanted bulletin board, if you want to try.
Another possibility would be to make one yourself. It would only work if your deck has a spare card. You could sticker over the face of the spare.
My apologies again for letting your question slip through the cracks. And sorry again that I couldn't give you a happier answer. May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 2, 2011
Paint, part 2
>From: Michael Stanwick
>Sent: Sunday, October 2, 2011 2:32 PM
>Subject: Paint
>Tom, i regularly had to put paint into my counting sticks. I used fine tipped felt pens of the colours needed. If necessary I shaved the felt tips to get very fine points. Worked a treat!
>Cheers
>Michael Stanwick
>Sent from my iPad
Thanks, Michael. I'll add that tip to FAQ 7o.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 2, 2011
Broken link
>From: "d23shearer
>Sent: Saturday, October 1, 2011 8:13 PM
>Subject: Web site link problem
>Dear Tom,
>Just thought you would like to know about a link that needs fixing.
>When I tried to go to the link in yellow below, it went to a shopping site that is in Korean. I was trying to follow the link you meant to go to Korean 3 player rules. Can you let me know the correct URL?
>Thanks for everything! We are having so much fun learning about Mah Jong and like your site for all its variety. YOU are the MASTER of Mah Jong!
>Linda from East Moline
>FAQ 13B. ... You can also click here to jump to http://koreanmahjong.ce.ro/ where the Korean 3-player rules are described. ...
Hi Linda,
Thanks for letting me know that link was sending people to a paid links parking site (guess the site's creator didn't renew the domain, and it got highjacked by the, um, whatever kind of company owns URLs once they expire). I Googled three-player Korean mahjong and found a replacement site to link to instead.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Creator of the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations welcome.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 2, 2011
FAQ 13B (3 players, Western rules) - part 2
>From: "d23shearer
>Sent: Saturday, October 1, 2011 9:17 AM
>Subject: Re: Mah-Jongg Q+A about Western Play with 3 players
>Dear Tom,
>Thanks for the speedy reply about Western play with less than 4 players! And the links to the FAQ answer made it easy to find, too.
>Since I am the one that made up our "score card reference" for our growing group, I will use your wise advice and put together a proposed set of Table Rules for less than 4 players.
>We share our books with new players until they can purchase their own, so more and more players are learning from the book to which you added new material! And now I can tell them about your website, as more of them are wanting to buy their own Mah Jong sets, or have inherited one from someone.
>And may the tiles be WITH YOU, TOM!
>Linda
So glad my answer was helpful, Linda. Keep on playin'!
Tom Sloper
トム·スローパー
湯姆 斯洛珀
탐 슬로퍼
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Rochester, NY
October 2, 2011
Teaching the NMJL card
>From: Lynn M
>Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 7:49 PM
>Subject: Question about teaching mah jongg
>I'm a first-time mah jongg teacher (volunteer position teaching age 50+ folks) and have been creating lesson plans and handouts as I go. Today was the 3rd of 10 sessions, and I started the topic of "how to select a hand from the NMJL card" and I think the students were a tad overwhelmed - is this unavoidable at this point in learning the game, or do you have any suggestions/resources for fun group exercises that can help this feel more manageable to beginners? (I have 14 students.) I think the exercises in your strategy column are too advanced at this point. I've ordered a CD called "Teach/Learn American Mah Jongg" from the Jewish Heritage Museum in NYC hoping for some ideas, but do you have any other suggestions?
>Thanks a million. I LOVE your website!
>Lynn
Hi Lynn,
The card IS the most difficult thing to teach (and the most difficult thing for an NMJL player to learn). First I make sure the students all know how to understand what the hands on the cards are about. I show them examples, by making hands with actual tiles, and encouraging them to use tiles to make hands from the card. I start at the upper left corner and explain the 2011 hands first. Then I walk them down to 2468.
With a large group (you said 14?!) I have to go slower, because there are bound to be some who are slower to pick it up. It often happens that someone in the group simply can't get it (the NMJL card is not for everyone).
Also, with 14 people, it would be hard to have them all at one table with one set of tiles (you need an oversized table, and long-handled backscratchers to reach for tiles). But it becomes impossible to teach 14 ladies if they're at different tables, because then they wind up talking to each other, with the slower students asking the quicker students for a translation of what the teacher is saying, and getting possibly erroneous or confusing explanations. The teacher can spend more time trying to get everyone's attention than conveying information.
I find that the Consecutive Runs section is the section that gives the slower players the most trouble. So I don't get to that one until after Quints.
It must be repeated numerous times (and stated in numerous ways so that the point gets across) that the colors do not dictate a suit, and that in Consec., a number does not necessarily dictate a number. Examples must be shown. It takes sufficiently long to teach the reading of the card that that particular lesson can be tedious, especially for the quicker players who already get it -- and they put pressure on the slower players (or the slower players perceive pressure), and the slower players may even pretend to get it just so the class can move on. I want the students to be playing in every session, so that the learning can be fun. This session is often not nearly as much fun as the others.
Hmm... I kind of rattled on there. And I don't know if I helped you or not!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
トム·スローパー
湯姆 斯洛珀
탐 슬로퍼
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Rochester, NY
October 2, 2011
FAQ 13B (3 players, Western rules)
>From: "d23shearer
>Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 8:44 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A about Western Play with 3 players
>My Mah Jong comment or question is:
>Our novice Mah Jong group is using the following book: Mah Jong, Anyone? A Manual of Western Play Revis ed Edition by Kitty Strauser, Lucille Evans w i th new material b y Tom S l oper.
>1. Western Play, with 3players (instead of 4), does the fourth wall get treated as a player: e.g. do we draw tiles for that position or not?
>2. And when Charleston or Ding Dong trades are made, who does the East Wind player trade with first? To the right, the left or the "wall?" When do the other two players trade...after the East Wind player has traded with them both?
>3. And when trading, where in the wall does one draw from, ...and where in the wall does a player place the tiles given up in the trade?
>Thank you so much for helping us with these questions, as sometimes we have less than 4 players at a table.
>I also enjoy visiting your extensive and informative web site. I have checked it to learn that my 1920's set is probably bone and bamboo, and how to clean it. I like all the history you have as well! Keep up the good work!
>Linda
Hi Linda,
Welcome to my website.
The wall is the wall. The wall has nothing to do with how many people are seated at the table, or where people are seated at the table. If it was a cards drawpile instead of a wall, you wouldn't skip using 1/4 of the deck starting 1/4 of the way into the deck because seat 2 is empty. Or, if you were asking if tiles should be dealt to that seat, the answer is no.
Personally, I would skip the trading entirely when playing with 3 players. But check FAQ 13B and see if that works for you. If it doesn't work for you, then work out the details to suit your group's preferences. Read FAQ 14 also.
You'll have to try some things and decide what method your group prefers. It's probable that there are a variety of different table practices, as explained in FAQ 14. Personally, I would skip the passing, if I could convince my group to do so.
I'm glad you find my site helpful, Linda. Sorry that this particular question doesn't come with a happy straightforward cut-and-dried answer.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
トム·スローパー
湯姆 斯洛珀
탐 슬로퍼
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Rochester, NY
10/1/11
Paint
>From: Michael M
>Sent: Saturday, October 1, 2011 1:50 AM
>Subject: Mah Jong counters
>Tom
> Are you aware of any way of putting red and blue colour back into the dots on counting sticks? I assume it is some paste type paint that you wipe in and quickly wipe off ???
> Michael M
Hi Michael,
Personally, I would try using model airplane paint (hobbyist miniature paint), and a fine brush (as described in FAQ 7o (seven oh, not seventy - FAQ links are above left). Sorry that I'm not knowledgeable in the area of wipe-able paints... then again, I suppose artists' acrylic paint might work.
You might need to experiment a little. Good luck, and have fun!
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
トム·スローパー
湯姆 斯洛珀
탐 슬로퍼
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
Rochester, NY
10/1/11
Color key
Blue = an FAQ, a question that's been asked frequently.
Purple = an unhappy email from a dissatisfied reader.
Green = a happy email from a grateful reader.
Red = a technical support question about a computer game.
Orange = a weird or off-topic email.
Black = none of the above. Regular question or comment.
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SITE LINKS 
Sloperama.com. I answer mah-jongg questions that are submitted by email only - telephoned questions are not welcome. And don't ask me to click links, either. Give me all the information in your email.
The size of the tiles is consistent with Hong Kong.
Read FAQs 7B and 7E.
Read FAQ 7D.
To answer your original questions, the set could be anywhere from 30 to 50 years old (possibly as young as 20 years old). And coincidentally its value is anywhere from $30 to $50. It is not useful for players who cannot read the Chinese markings, and it is not useful for players of American-style mah-jongg.
Perhaps a clearer way for three or four kong hands in Chinese Official mahjong?
