Mah Jongg Academy
®
The Future
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I think Mah Jongg is truly the fastest growing table-top game in the Country; .........and Mah Jongg Tournaments are popping up all over. Those of you who attend these events see great improvement in your own skills; and that could be the direct
result of our belief that...."
you will never improve your game unless you play with different players." Not faster players. Not better players. Just other players.
Tournaments certainly offer that opportunity.
Also, Tournaments, with their fair-play, equitable playing field, and clear and logical rules are the next obvious level in the evolution of American-style Mah Jongg.
Further, i
n the last few years, we've seen the advent of alternative cards; and last year's MJM End-of-the-Year-Challenge card that provided several additional hands to spice up your games, was very well received. In addition, the last 3 or 4 months with the old card seems to bring out the creativity in players. They've tried playing with 4 old cards in one game; they've added birthday hands and birth year hands, etc.
I've benefited from my High School and College players, inadvertently showing me the wave of the future in gaming. These young players want faster game-satisfaction (they want to win faster, and win more). They became somewhat bored when the playing slowed down, or they sat for hours and hours without winning even a single hand. Some of you with statistical experience have mentioned that there is a mere 20% chance of getting a winning MJ hand when all players at the table are of equal skill. That could translate into only 1 game every hour and 15 minutes. (Ouch)
So to spice up their games, I added the following changes to the rules, which affected and facilitated different strategies:
(Don't knock 'em, until you try 'em)
1) PROPOSED:
When the tiles are dealt, everyone starts out with
ONE (1) JOKER.
PRESUMPTION:
In previous early years, Flowers were considered "wild" and used like a Joker is used today. In 1950, there were 24 Flowers, and every player started with 2! Jokers weren't introduced until later...and subsequently, their number and the number of Flowers were then reduced considerably. In Asian games, Flowers are given point value in certain exposures, ...and also, players are able to pick additional tiles when they draw a Flower.
The element-of -luck (the "LUCK FACTOR") is reduced if everyone starts out with an even chance of receiving at least one of the ever-popular wild-tiles.
2) PROPOSED:
You may exchange a Joker tile for a symbol-tile in an exposure.
PRESUMPTION:
It is logical that if you can exchange a symbol-tile for a Joker from an exposure, then you can reverse that process, and do just the opposite. As a strategy you can use a Joker to prevent an opponent from achieving a Joker-less hand. A player can also prevent having a "dead hand" of their own, when their much-needed tile has been used in an exposure on another's rack.
3) PROPOSED: When it is a player's turn, that player may change an exposure on their rack by adding one or 2 tiles per exposure; i.e., change a pung to a kong, or a kong to a quint using matching tiles or Joker(s).
PRESUMPTION
: If one or two exposures are on a player's rack and clearly define a hand, the player may use this as a strategy to throw off an opponent; or to change the exposure(s) to preserve a player's hand from being declared "dead," as witnessed by exposed tiles. Therein, if a player's exposures are found to be part of a "dead hand" (as shown by discarded tiles) the player's hand can be changed. For instance:
11
222 3333 444 55
(using the 2017 card; and the 1's or 5's are dead)
The hand can be changed to
222
4444
666
8888
(on 2017 card)
The player has now preserved their hand, and protected their ability to continue playing.
4) PROPOSED: If a player declares another player's hand is "dead," and in fact, the hand is not "dead"....then the declarer's hand is "dead."
PRESUMPTION:
Declaring an opponent's hand "dead" is an advantage to other players because there will be one less player in the game; thereby providing additional tiles to the others from which to complete their own Mah Jongg. Careless or indiscriminate declarations of "I think you're dead" may be avoided.
NOTE: This Rule is currently used in most Tournament Play.
5) PROPOSED: If you discard a tile in error, and another player does not claim it, you may claim that tile...but it MUST be used in an exposure.
PRESUMPTION:
It is apparently logical to assume that the discard is a legitimate tile-in-play, (especially since no other player at the table has claimed it), and the discarder should then be able to claim that tile to make a legitimate exposure.
6) (Optional) PROPOSED:
If you make a stupid mistake, you can swear.
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EXQUISITELY MADE MAH JONGG TABLE CLOTHS BY DESIGNER
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A quieter, smoother and better looking way to play...on this exquisite soft Mesh with Embroidered or printed Mahjtop cloth. Includes soft felted pad for no additional charge.
$45.00 to $75.00
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FREE SHIPPING
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NEW UPCOMING
SARASOTA TOURNAMENTS
PLEASE CALL SOON FOR INFORMATION
941-351-9420
Some rates will increase after April 1
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MAH JONGG MASTER POINT TOURNAMENTS
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NEW SARASOTA FLORIDA LOCATION
#226
FRI - SUN
JUNE 1-3, 2018
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SARASOTA
HYATT REGENCY
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GREAT LOW SEASONAL RATE
$274.95 PP Dbl Occ;
$249.95 PP Trpl Occ;
$399.95 Single Occ
$124.95 Commuter
SATURDAY LUNCHEON FOR ALL
Free Parking
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ALWAYS SELLS OUT
#229 FRI-SUN
AUG 10-12, 2018
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HOLIDAY INN AIRPORT
Boutique Design
NOT your Gramma's Holiday Inn
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$269.95 PP Dbl Occ;
$249.95 PP Trpl Occ;
$409.95 Single Occ
$124.95 Commuter
SATURDAY LUNCHEON FOR ALL
FREE PARKING
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NEW HOTEL - NEW LOCATION
#228
FRI - SUN
OCT 12-14 2018
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 SARASOTA
EMBASSY SUITES
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2 ROOM SUITES
$269.95 PP Dbl Occup;
$244.95 PP Trpl Occup;
$414.95 Single occup
$119.95 Commuter.
SATURDAY LUNCH
Free Parking
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SIAMESE MAH JONGG IS NOW
INTERNATIONAL !!!
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We just got a call from South Africa (!!) asking about the rules. It is also being played with Wright Patterson (Military) Rules; Chinese Classical, Hong Kong; Philippine; Riichi (Japan), in
Israel, England, and Canada.
Coming soon.....Siamese on the Web, at
http://www.mahjongtime.com
Q. First person in line claims a tile for her first Mahj but next person claims same tile for double Mahj and the win. Who gets the tile.
I would say the one for the double Mahj and win gets it, but the table was mixed about the ruling. Kristy
A.
The first person in succession gets the tile.
6. A DISCARDED TILE IS CLAIMED FOR MAH JONGG BY 2 PLAYERS: the discarded tile may be claimed by the player CLOSEST in succession to the discarder....regardless if it is for a 1st or 2nd Mah Jongg. (A 2nd Mah Jongg does NOT take precedence in this case.)
COMMENTS FROM PAMELA U
from Texas
Let me tell you what we have been playing here in San Angelo, Texas-after you introduced us to Siamese, we loved it, but soon began to think of more ways to play,-so basically we tend to play 2 people/2 sets/4 racks each person-BUT-we have also begun playing "SIAMESE DRAW", which is even MORE fun and MORE challenging! The hands on the NML card are numbered 1-52, and the corresponding numbers put into a bowl, from which each player draws four at the beginning of each game, keeping their numbers secret.
Each player is then required to play only the four hands they have drawn!
You can imagine the chagrin of drawing more than one wind hand to play when you have a hand full of dragons or other "useless" tiles! CHALLENGING!! Also, if you are in the habit of playing with the same partners all the time, you have grown accustomed to them tending to always playing winds hands, or 13579 hands, or 2468 hands, but playing "draw" will not let you CHOOSE-you play what you draw, see? So you can't anticipate what your opponent will play, nor they you, making the game even better.
I realize that this is our own idea and not "kosher", but we find it immensely fun-try it-you'll like it!!
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DOUBLE RACKS
From Only $27.00 per set of 2
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NEW
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&
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*
CUSTOM MAH JONGG CARRYING CASES
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CUSTOM 3-ZIPPER GOOD LUCK BAGS
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CUSTOM MAH JONGG TUMBLERS &
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Our WEBSITE offers handy hints for conducting your own TOURNAMENTS, with sample SCORE SHEETS, RULES, upcoming tournaments and cruises, and information about MAH JONGG MASTER POINTS.
Feel free to contact us with your questions and comments.
Looking forward to having you join us.
Sincerely,
Gladys Grad
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$25.00 TOURNAMENT DISCOUNT COUPON
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Save $25.00
(No, your class in Chess, Current Events, and How-to-Use-A-Computer, etc doesn't count!)
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DISCOUNT COUPON
We invite MEN, and STUDENTS (students under 26 years of age) to join us for $25.00 off the cost of our tournaments.
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Offer Good for any and all Tournament events
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ARE YOU A GUY? Has anyone noticed that not enough men are playing in tournaments? Are you staying away because you're shy or intimidated? Show your Mom, your Wife, your Sister, your Girlfriend that you can play too. Come and show off your skills; and put your Dragons on the line.
ARE YOU A COLLEGE OR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT?
The same challenge is offered to you. We know you think this game is terrific.
We're giving you a $25.00 discount to sweeten the deal.
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