PLAYING DEFENSIVELY (Article 117)

Commentary: In mah jongg, all the players are “in it to win it,” but players should continually assess their potential to win. If they know they cannot win, they should switch to defense and focus on discarding safely. If someone folds in poker, they forfeit interest in the pot, throw in their cards (i.e., muck), and are out of the game for that hand. Folding may be indicated verbally by saying, “I fold,” or by mucking their cards. If someone folds in mah jongg, they say nothing and keep playing, but they stop developing their hand to discard it as safely as possible in hopes of a draw (i.e., wall game).

Each player has a unique style of play. Some make moves impulsively, without considering the risks, while others carefully evaluate multiple factors to maximize their chances of winning—avoiding costly mistakes and minimizing the risk of discarding a winning tile for an opponent. There are four playing styles:

Stingray is a fixed-passive playing style in which a hand is picked and played with little consideration for other options. Players tend to delay commitment to stay flexible, especially if jokers need to be used to calling a discard and making an exposure. They also tend to fold earlier than assertive players if they draw risky tiles in the end game. Practices guarded pragmatism.

Dolphin – An adaptive-passive playing style in which players gather tiles that can be used in a chosen category and typically will not pick a hand until they have no discards. Players tend to delay commitment to stay flexible, especially if jokers need to be used to calling a discard and making an exposure. They also tend to fold earlier than assertive players if they draw risky tiles in the end game. Practices cautious pragmatism.

Orca – A fixed-assertive playing style in which a hand is picked and played with little consideration for other options. Players tend to take risks to expedite hand development. They also push to win even if they draw risky tiles in the end-game. Practices reckless optimism.

Shark – An adaptive-assertive playing style in which a player gathers tiles that can be used in a chosen category. When the player has no discards, they consider the best hands for their collection of tiles. Players tend to take risks to expedite hand development. They also push to win even if they draw risky tiles in the end-game. Practices savvy optimism.

Players may exhibit different combinations of these traits and tendencies, making analyzing and adapting to their strategies challenging and exciting.

Question from a player:  A player has two exposures on their rack. May another player discard the obviously needed tile to that player?

Answers from the NMJL:

Most of the skill in playing Mah Jongg depends upon the ability to play a good defensive game. If a hand does not improve rapidly during the play and a large portion of the wall is exhausted, a player should break up their own hand and discard tiles that are useless to the other players. This is called “dogging” tiles.

Exchanging a Joker or Jokers can double the value of another player’s hand by making the hand Jokerless. If a player is thoroughly familiar with every hand, this player can usually judge by the exposed Pungs, Kongs, Quints, Sextets and discards, which combinations the other players are playing. An experienced player will always try not to discard a tile that is obviously needed by another player but will discard the same tile as the player on the left, or some other “safe” tile.

At this stage of the game, it is unwise to discard a tile that has not been discarded before. When “dogging,” a Joker can be discarded and named the same as the previous tile. While you are trying to complete your hand, remember it is just as important to prevent the other players from completing their hands. YOU CANNOT MAH JONGG SECOND.

Sources: Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024 page 16, Defensive Playing)

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Other answers from the NMJL:

“A good player will try and play defensively at all times. We have no ruling on a “hot” tile. Remember, you cannot declare mah jongg second.”

“A good player never throws a dangerous or obvious tile at any time or into a third or fourth exposure, and every pick and discard should be a challenge to the very last tile on the wall. This is part of the fun!”

“A good player defends the play always but if she does not have a tile that is not dangerous, of course, she has to throw the tile which she thinks is the least dangerous and hope that it does not result in giving mah jongg. After all, this is a game of skill but also a gamble and a game of luck and when one is lucky then very often there is another one that is not so fortunate.”

“A good player defends the play always but if she does not have a tile that is not dangerous, of course, she has to throw the tile which she thinks is the least dangerous and hope that it does not result in giving mah jongg. After all, this is a game of skill but also a gamble and a game of luck and when one is lucky then very often there is another one that is not so fortunate.”

“Hot or cold wall. A good player never throws a dangerous or obvious tile at any time or into a third or fourth exposure, and every pick and discard should be a challenge to the very last tile on the wall. This is part of the fun!”

“Wall games occur because players start dogging too early in the game. If a player has exposed part of their hand very early in the game, it is not always a fact that the player is set for mah jongg. Discretion must be used on the part of the discarder.”

Sources for other answers:  National Mah Jongg League Bulletin Q&A (1967 page 5, 1968 page 4, 1972 page 5, 1973 page 5, 1980 page 3, 1981 page 3, 1982 page 3, 1983 page 3, 1985, 1992 page 5, 1993, age 12, 1996 page 5, 1997 page 5, 2002, 2015)