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MC Rules: what is allowed and what will be punished |
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Written by Anton Kösters
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Friday, 02 September 2011 12:49 |
DELFT - The Mahjong Competition Rules (MCR) have hardly changed since the first MERS tournament. But some things that can be done and cannot be done during MERS tournaments did change. Some other things remain vague. Newcomers may become uncertain because of that. Anton Kösters sheds his light.
Touching a tile involuntarily
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If you are in doubt between taking a discard as a chi or one from the wall, in that situation holds: "a touched tile is a taken tile". However, when taking a tile from the wrong side of the wall you can still correct until you have put the tile in your hand, or discarded that tile. |
Not putting a tile turned around a quarter turn to indicate the discarder
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There is no direct penalty, however it may lead to point penalty by the referee if you intentionally and continuously refuse to do this correctly (obstruction of the game) |
Making rows of discarded tiles shorter or longer than 6 tiles
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Same as above. |
Call 'mahjong' instead of 'hu'
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Both are allowed, although in my opinion, there is nothing more easy than to call 'hu' in any pronounciation. Calling 'mahjong' was allowed as a concession to players who were used to call mahjong on winning a hand, and to riichi-players. But lately I noticed that some new French players were apparently taught to call 'mahjong' instead of 'hu'. You may at least expect some convergence on this point. |
| How to promote a melded pung to a melded kong |
In fact, this is not described in the Green Book, but the only correct and unambigious way is to place the fourth tile in the set parallel to the already claimed tile. This way, it still remains visible who discarded for the third tile of the melded pung. Note that Mahjongtime-players tend to put the fourth tile on top - horror. But this will never be penalized. |
| How to put the winning tile in your hand, before counting points |
Flat, above the set where it belongs to if on discard, or, upright if self-drawn. In fact, it should always be possible for the referee to check the number of points without further explanation from the players. But this is never penalized either. |
| Erroneously exposing a tile while claiming a pung or chi |
This can still be repaired before you discard, however, the erroneously exposed tile should be discarded the next turn. The latter is hardly ever applied. |
| Announcing incorrect or even fantasy names to point combinations while counting the correct number of points. |
You will get away with that too. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 07 November 2011 07:51 |
How about the new Dutch players? Or the new Belgian players? And the old ones?
Strangely, among the French who keep calling 'mahjong' and not 'hu' after years of practice and tournaments are those who originate from China.
When I asked one why he did not call 'hu', he told me it was more respectful for other players who did not know the Chinese language, therefore he implicitly considers calling 'hu' as kind of pedantic, or even ridiculous when the pronunciation is wrong.