MORE about Wall Games

Greetings and salutations from Bubbe, who for some reason is still stuck on a Wall....Game.

I know my last blog was all about how to play defensively for a Wall Game, but I threw a tournament a few days ago and wanted to say more words about how valuable this strategy can be.

In a mah jongg tournament, every player is working on earning POINTS, rather than exchanging money. A winning hand is awarded the number of points listed on the card, plus additional bonus points for self-picking and/or jokerless hands. If a game ends without a winner, as a Wall Game, any player whose hand is still "alive" earns 10 points.

Over time, these points can add up. Obviously, they don't add up as quickly as someone who self-picks a closed, jokerless hand; but you could, theoretically, collect quite a few points by playing smart and NOT throwing someone else's mahj tile. If you haven't fully absorbed Bubbe's wise saying, "If you can't win, don't lose," go back and read my last blog entry--better yet, go get a copy of "Searching For Bubbe Fischer."

The downside of Wall Games during a tournament is that they take longer. You have to play down to the very last tile, and if you have two Wall Games, it's even worse...it's hard to complete four such games within the prescribed time limit.

As I wrote in the previous article, there are certain strategies to keep in mind. Especially if you play in a tournament, it is worth learning those concepts. "Not losing" is something to be proud of: one of my good friends, playing in her first tournament, actually had eleven of her sixteen games end that way, for a total of 110 points!

Amassing such a string during a tournament is something to be proud of; that player has managed to stay alive, throughout the game, and deserves  recognition. I know that such a player is never going to actually earn the highest score, so I have created a new prize category. I honor those contestants who managed to "not lose" the most Wall Games. They are awarded "Wall Flowers," or in our case, chocolate daisies:

It is yet another way to celebrate mah jongg. The tournament doesn't have to be only about the top three scorers; other people should have fun, and win prizes, too!

I'd love to hear about your tournament experiences. Feel free to contact me at bubbefischer@gmail.com

Talk to you soon.

Bubbe Fischer