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For seven straight years Barney has shared his sentiments and statistics with Destination Mah Jongg on the new card - what a treat, here we go!
Two words – Burger King. While studying the new card, I kept thinking about Burger King’s slogan – Have It Your Way! To me, this card has something for everyone. For example:
· You missed those Addition Hands? Well, they are back.
· Knitted Hands make you smile? At least’s there’s one in the 369-section of the card. So, smile.
· At heart, you’re really a Flower Child. No worries, there’s a garden across the entire card.
· And if you are anxious about having to learn new hands, no fears. Many popular hands are back this year accompanied by some creative new hands and patterns we have not seen in a long time (if ever).
To start, let us thank The League again for creating the card that brings us so much joy throughout the year. I am certain most people would agree that last year’s card was an exciting and challenging one and I know personally I will miss it and some of the hands that I truly loved in 2022. But it was time for something new – just like it is every year when we get close to April. So, I welcome the new card, the new excitement, and a fun year ahead playing the 2023 NMJL Card with my friends and family.
Finally, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. The sign of the Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity in Chinese culture. 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. OK, Bugs, tell us what you got!
· The card is Blue again – as is always the case with odd years. Next year I am sure we will see a Red card (for even years).
· There are 10 sections of the card this year – one more than last year. The Addition Hands section of the card is back!
· There are 70 different hands that appear on the card this year – up 4 from last year. (NOTE: If there are 2 different hands printed on the same row of the card, I count them as 2 hands.) Most of that is accounted for by a large increase in 13579 hands and a decrease in 2468 hands. If you like playing odds, you’re going to enjoy this card. Yes, I know, you play the tiles you get but I think we all have favorite sections deep down inside.
· As is always the case, the common patterns of Pung Pung Kong Kong (more easily written as 3344 – 3 tiles, 3 tiles, 4 tiles, 4 tiles) and Pung Kong Pung Kong (written as 3434) alternate with years. This is a year of 3434 which is good to keep in mind as it helps you remember the proper patterns for some (9) of hands on the card. We also have a good number (7) of “normal curve” (think of a hill) patterns. These take the form of Pair, Pung, Kong, Pung and Pair (also written as 23432). You will find many other patterns too – but none of them will be as common as the 2 I just mentioned.
· Two other patterns of particular note to me are the patterns used in 4 of the concealed hands. Check out the concealed hands in the 2468-section and Consecutive Run section of the card. Both of those hands use a FF3223DD pattern. Over time that will stick in your brain. Similarly, the concealed hands in the 13579-section and 369-section of the card use the same pattern of 313-313. I find this very helpful.
· My small disappointment at this point – neither of my 2 favorite hands from last year (concealed Even hand and FFF 1111 357 9999 hand) are back this year. But I am certain I will have new favorites before long. Speaking of which – I already have my eye of the top Quint hand and the concealed Like Numbers hand. Let’s see where that ends up a year from now!
· The League has again positioned all of the concealed hands as the last row(s) within each section. It was not always that way in the past. Many people prefer them listed last. All of the concealed hands this year (not including the Singles & Pairs hands) are valued at 30 cents, so no need to wonder if the hand is 30 or 35 cents like in years past.
· Speaking of hand values – I was a little surprised that the concealed hands in the 2468-section and Consecutive Run section of the card were not valued at 35 cents. Since each required 4 pairs, I believe they will be more difficult to make than other hands with 3 sets of pairs.
· For the DRAGON fans, this card should make you happy. 15 hands use dragons. They appear in every section of the card except the Addition Hands and Quints sections. And there is a nice balance of Dragon patterns: single Pung, pairs of Pungs, single Kong, pairs of Kongs. Something about the 222 888 DDDD DDDD (3 suits, 2 and 8 only) has piqued my interest. It’s a rather different pattern and I am liking it already.
· Spending just a moment in the Quints-section of the card. Like last year, we have a Quints hand that only requires 1 Joker. It’s the second hand down. This is something good to keep in mind even when you are only sitting there with 1 Joker (or dare I say even no Jokers). It’s also a well disguised hand (as it was last year) since the Pung Kong combo of 333 4444 (only those numbers) will most likely be an indication of a different, must easier hand on the card (consecutive run section of the card). I also wondered why they only want us to do this hand using these numbers – since this could very easily be and consecutive Run of 4 numbers. When this hand last appeared in 2015, the same notation appeared (These Numbers Only) so perhaps there is a reason. Also note this hand is values at a nickel less than the other 2 Quints hands since this hand only requires 1 Joker.
· Many people refer to the last hand within the Singles and Pairs section of the card as the Big Hand – probably because it’s the highest value and most difficult of any hand on the card. Well, things are “back to normal” this year with the Big Hand appearing in the Singles and Pairs section of the card and using the common pattern of FF 2023 2023 2023 (3 suits) and valued at 75 cents. If you were one of the players who made last’s year’s Big Hand, congratulations! That was quite a difficult hand for sure.
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