Erik's Mahjong Ramblings #2) Pon Panic

Erik Karhan, Mahjong Rambler

Erik's Mahjong Ramblings #2) Pon Panic

Recently I've been trying to play a bit more menzen, or closed style. That means calling less, which is difficult as it sometimes takes every ounce of strength not to slam the button on a pon. A few players have told me that they have an impulse to start calling when other people start calling. If you've ever been in the middle of a mad scramble of consecutive calls, you've probably felt the urge to join in and start your own calling madness.

This isn't necessarily wrong, and there are many strong proponents of high call rate attacking styles! However, understanding the nuances and risks of that sort of play is essential to succeeding with aggressive playstyles. You have to have a strong understanding of push/pull and defense to not overextend, and your reading skills need to be equally sharp. Definitely give it a go, and get a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of dynamic high call rate play.

That being said, try to avoid calling just to recklessly race towards a meaningless win. If there's a player overcalling every hand at your table, take advantage of it! One mangan can offset 8 cheap hands! Start to see the value in aiming for 3 han when you can, and save those cheap fast hands for when you need to neutralize a threat or move things along. If you're having trouble feeling when it is right to open or not, here are some things you can consider:

1) How important is this hand? Does it neutralize a threat? Does it actually make a difference if I win it?

2) If I do open this hand, what is its maximum value? What if it is kept closed? Will it help me change placements or boost my points a lot? Do I see the dora? How scary or expensive do other people's hands look?

3) How much does the offered call actually help my hand move forward? How many times will I need to call? Does the call fill an essential bottleneck? Am I leaving behind slow bad shapes? If I do manage to get tenpai, how long will it take to win?

Calling is a very nuanced, often oversimplified topic. Nothing I have said here is written in stone or the only way to approach playing. Ritsumi san, houou player and writer of "Super Menzen Mahjong" is a strong proponent of trying out new ideas to broaden your understanding of the game. You might surprise yourself with what is possible both with and without calls!