Tuesday, May 24, 2011

We moved!

Yes, it took awhile, but I finally figured out how to transfer our blog posts from this site to our NEW site:


The new blog is plural, as it should be....mahjonggdrs.blogspot.com

Add the s....and change your bookmark (we certainly hope you've book marked us) and you'll see all of our posts at the new site. New design, too!

PS: our email address is: mahjonggdrs@gmail.com (should you want to contact us)
the new site allows you to be added to our email list.

Monday, May 23, 2011

The Charleston, or some guidelines for passing

Whoa, that was fast!
A comment sometimes heard when you open your hand and immediately pick three tiles and put them out for the person on your right.

Sometimes you see the strength in a hand even as you're putting your tiles up on your rack!

5BAM, W, and 7DOT obviously go...leaving a 2, 4 6,8 hand. That makes for some fast passing.

And then there are the times you open with nothing that goes with anything...no pairs, no tiles in the same 'family'....and passing is more difficult. Then I look at high numbers or low numbers. Or just pass something, anything, to see what I pick up first. Maybe that will give me direction!
Here I guess I would start be passing the W, 5BAM, and 7DOT....or maybe the 1DOT. Your choice.

Some general rules about passing:

  • Try not to pass flowers. Even if you don't need them. You might need them later as a different hand evolves....or discard them early in the game if you really don't want them. Too many hands need flowers and getting one in a pass can make a player very happy. She might even rethink the hand she's looking at.
  • Try not to pass pairs. If you have a pair you don't need, split them and pass them separately.
  • A pass that consists of 3 tiles from the same section on the card. For example: a 2BAM, 4BAM and 8BAM or a 1CRAK, 4CRAK, 5CRAK.
  • Don't pass three winds together. That can also make the receiver rethink her hand. I also try not to pass a S and N together or a E and W together. There are hands on the 2011 card that use only S and N or E and W.

All of the above rules are sometimes broken, of course.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Online Play

The doctors have been busy. Just finished our spring beginners Mah Jongg class last night. There are 8 new Mah Jongg players out there heading for addiction to the game.

We'll be back in the fall with another "Beginners" class and a "Beginners 2" class. We'll keep you posted if you happen to live in northern Westchester County and are looking to learn or improve your game.

But...if you can't get a game together you can always play online for free. With folks from around the world. They also have a Mah Jongg 'school' where you can practice. This is a pretty hilarious commercial for their site: Mah Jong Time



When he mentions the 6 kinds of Mah Jongg, he leaves out American Mah Jongg....but believe me. It's there. I play on the site as: mahjonggdr

See you there!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Is Mah Jongg just for Women?

I found this today. Not just a man....but young!



I can't wait for that next rush of adrenaline!