Watching the table
American mahjong, lesson 9. What other players' sets and discards tell you, and which tiles are safer to throw.
1. Read their sets
Sets that other players have face up (exposed) show what they are building.
- Left shows 2 and 4 Craks (They may want even Craks.): 3 × 2 Crak, 3 × 4 Crak
- Across shows North and East (They may want winds.): 4 × North, 3 × East
Note: Think about this each time you pick a tile to throw.
Go to step 12. Safer discards
Some tiles are less likely to help anyone.
- Safer (Already thrown. No one called it.): 8 Bam, 8 Bam
- Safer (No exposed set uses Dots.): 5 Dot
- Risky (Left shows even Craks.): 6 Crak
- Risky (Across shows winds.): West
3. Late in the game
- When the wall gets short, players are close to winning.
- Don't throw a tile that could finish someone's hand.
- If your discard gives someone mahjong, you pay double.
- Sometimes it's better to throw a tile you need than a risky one.
4. Pick the safest tile
The wall is almost gone. Your hand doesn't use the 8 Bam, 6 Crak or West. Which is safest to throw?
Try it: Pick the safest tile to throw. Your hand: 111 333 555 777 99.
- 8 Bam: Yes. Two 8 Bams are already out, and no one shows Bams.
- 6 Crak: Left shows 2 and 4 Craks. They may need a 6 Crak.
- West: Across shows North and East. They may need West.
5. When to switch hands
Sometimes the hand you want can't be finished. Then go for another one.
- Three 9 Dots are out (You need a pair of 9 Dots. Only one is left.): 3 × 9 Dot
- No 5 Craks left (Left shows all four. Only jokers could fill your set now.): 4 × 5 Crak
- Another hand is closer (Switch to it. Keep the tiles it uses.)
Note: Jokers can't fill a pair. So check your pair first.
Go to step 56. Quiz: Watching the table
Question: A tile was thrown and no one called it. Is it a safer discard?
Answer: Yes. No one needed it then. It's less likely to help anyone now.
Question: Left shows these sets. Late in the game, is a 6 Crak safe to throw? [2 Crak, 2 Crak, 2 Crak, 4 Crak, 4 Crak, 4 Crak]
Answer: No. Left may be collecting even Craks.
Question: Across shows this set. Which tile is the most risky to throw? [North, North, Joker, North]
Answer: East. Across may be collecting winds.
Question: Your discard gives someone mahjong. What do you pay?
Answer: Double. The player who throws the winning tile pays double.
Question: You need a pair of 6 Bams. Three 6 Bams have been thrown. What do you do?
Answer: Switch hands. Only one 6 Bam is left, and jokers can't fill a pair.
Question: What does an exposed set tell you?
Answer: What that player is building
What this lesson teaches
- Exposed sets show what other players are building.
- Tiles already thrown, or that fit no exposed set, are safer to throw.
- Late in the game, don't throw a tile that could finish someone's hand.
