The lessons · lesson 10 of 13

Reading the table

What another player's face-up groups and throws tell you, and which of your tiles is risky or safer to throw them.

1. What you can see of another player

   You can't see the tiles on another player's rack. They stand facing that player. But you can see the groups they have called. Those sit face up in front of them. The player on your left has called three 2 Bams, four 6 Bams and four 8 Bams. You also see every tile they throw. This player has thrown a North, a 1 Crak and a 3 Crak.

   A 25-second video, with captions.

2. Their groups point at a hand

   Their groups are 2s, 6s and 8s, all in Bams. Even numbers, in one suit. On this year's card, only one hand has three 2s, four 6s and four 8s in one suit. It is three 2s, three 4s, four 6s and four 8s. So the player on your left is making it in Bams, and the group they are missing is three 4 Bams.

   A 26-second video, with captions.

3. A tile they need is risky to throw

   Now your own rack. You just drew a 4 Bam. Your hand is all Dots, so you don't need it. But the player on your left does. If you throw it and it is the last tile they need, they call it and say Mah Jongg. And you pay double. A tile another player needs is risky to throw, even when your own hand has no use for it.

   A 23-second video, with captions.

4. A tile they threw is safer

   Now look at what they have thrown. They threw a 1 Crak. If their hand used 1 Craks, they would have kept it. So the 1 Crak on your rack is a safer throw. It can't finish their hand. The tiles a player throws tell you what they are not making.

   A 20-second video, with captions.