Tag Archives: tournament

INTERESTED IN TOURNAMENTS BUT AFRAID TO TRY?…

Have you often thought about playing in a Mah Jongg tournament but just don’t know what to expect? Well, our friends at Dragons on the Green have just the solution – and this is really a great idea! How about a “mini Mah Jongg tournament” where all the ins and outs of tournament play are explained before the games begin – this is what Judy and Bonnie are offering. Read on…

Continue reading →

THERE IS STILL TIME…

…to be a part of another Donna Eschen-involved event supporting the Special Olympics held this time at the Minami Community Center in Santa Maria, CA. We know that every event in which Donna is involved is always a smashing success and this one will be no different. Santa Maria is in the beautiful Santa Maria Valley but not far from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara…which means if you are looking for a way to banish those January winter blues, hop in your car and head up to this mini tournament. Just print out this form and send it in. There are still spots left!

 

YES, I’D PROBABLY BE TIRED TOO!

I wonder if I could play for 24 straight hours? Maybe…in my dreams! How about you?screen-shot-2016-11-02-at-10-49-04-am

Danilo Serio MCR Tournaments 31 October 2016

screen-shot-2016-11-02-at-10-49-28-am

MILAN, ITALY – Like last year, Luca Gavells wins the 24 hour tournament in Milan; at the second place was the Russian Aleksei Shpilman and third place was won by Stefano Rijoff.

28 players participated at the competition, with total entertainment from everybody. Thanks for organization to Italian Federation and the club of Milan, Associazione Italiana Mahjong. 

 

PRIZES! LUNCH! REFRESHMENTS! TABLES FOR ALL LEVELS!

Our friend Jennifer Jacobson, the Senior Program Coordinator at the Rosen JCC in Orlando, has sent us information about their annual Mah Jongg tournament (and for non-tournament players there are tables for you, too!) to take place on Sunday, December 4th, 2016. If you live in the Orlando area, be sure to support this wonderful event!screen-shot-2016-10-28-at-5-28-41-pmscreen-shot-2016-10-28-at-5-29-04-pmscreen-shot-2016-10-28-at-5-29-34-pm

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

 

Screen Shot 2016-05-26 at 1.12.26 PM

All of you living in or around Orange County in Southern California…the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County in Irvine will be holding another one of their very friendly Mah Jongg tournaments on June 2nd…and there are still seats available!

The tournament includes a lovely continental breakfast and a delicious catered lunch with prizes of gift certificates for amounts ranging from $50 all the way up to $100. 

And for those of you who don’t yet play Mah Jongg or are thinking that you aren’t yet ready for tournament play, this event features a beginners table (contact Geri at 435-3400 x 303).

If you want to attend, contact:

Geri Dorman MS, LPCC, BCC

Prime Time Adult Director

Merage Jewish Community Center

949 435-3400 x 303

DEATH DEFYING QUESTIONS!

Screen Shot 2015-06-06 at 11.46.42 AMIt’s been a while since I have posted the Q&A’s from Gladys Grad‘s Mah Jongg Academy™ but the newest issue just came out and I thought you would all enjoy reading this really great set of questions and answers. 

By  GLADYS GRAD – “GRAND MASTER OF AMERICAN-STYLE MAH JONGG TOURNAMENTS”
(Some “death defying” questions that deserve repeating….from our most recent tournament.)

Q. If I throw out a tile before East discards to start the game, am I dead? 

A.  Nope. You are not “dead,” because East hasn’t thrown out the 1st tile to begin the game.  Retrieve your tile, and wait for East to discard.

Q. 1) If I expose my tiles on my rack before I pick up the discard for my exposure, am I dead? 
     2) Q. If I expose my tiles for my MAH JONGG before I pick up the discard I claimed, am I dead? 

A.  In a tournament, you are not “dead”….(yet).  We are not that strict yet….but the day is coming when this rule will be enforced. However….literally, your turn does not start until you pick up your tile TO BEGIN YOUR TURN (either a discarded tile, or one from the wall); and subsequently either rack it or expose it.  

     Remember to always pick up the discard and place it on TOP of your rack, before you expose the tiles from your hand. 

Q. If I accidently look at a pass in the Charleston before I pass my own 3 tiles, am I dead? 

A.  Not dead.  The game hasn’t even started yet.  In a tournament, you will lose 10 points (minus -10) from your game-score for that hand.  For your social game, there is no official NMJL ruling and no official penalty.

Q. If I place my tile on the table in front of the player whose Joker I want to exchange, am I dead?  

A.  You are not dead.  If that tile touches the table it is considered discarded (not dead).  However, if you had REQUESTED the exchange VERBALLY (and NOT expected your opponent to read your mind) BEFORE THE TILE TOUCHED THE TABLE – then you and your tile were safe.  Remember to use language everyone understands…not like someone in our last tournament said “that’s mine.” (!!??)

Q. If I’m the next player in line when my opponent discards her tile, do I have to verbalize that I’m taking that tile before I make my exposure, or am I dead? 

A. Recently, the NMJL responded to this question and acknowledged that you should verbalize that you are claiming the discarded tile. 

     However, since we don’t usually verbalize that we are taking a tile from the wall when it’s our turn to pick….and because the NMJL did not indicate a penalty for failure to verbalize when claiming a discard….then (for the time being) we will allow this in our tournaments. 

     Remember, the NMJL also tells us to be aware of what is happening on the table….not just listen.

Q.  Why do I have to lose 10 points in a tournament if I throw someone their Mah Jongg, and they don’t have any exposures? I prefer to play in tournaments where they don’t penalize you. 

A. We get this question every day. 

     I’d like to ask you a question, Joan.  “When you play in your social game, and you give your opponent her Mah Jongg tile…..aren’t you always penalized….even if she didn’t have anyexposures?”  If you play according to NMJL rules, your penalty is doubled for giving someone their Mah Jongg – even if your first tile  – or the last tile thrown in the game – gave her Mah Jongg. 

     In a fair and equitable game there is always a consequence for giving someone Mah Jongg. If you are playing in a tournament that does not penalize you points for giving someone their mahj…then you are getting a gift. 

     I would hate to be the player who came in 2nd, if you won 1st place with 10 more points.