Those who know me know that I love sanshoku more than is healthy. How far would I call to get sanshoku…?
This post has been borne out of the fact I’m on a bit of a losing streak. As some of my mentors in JPML have mentioned, these troughs usually occur due to my reticence to call. I think several European players must be afflicted with the same illness.
It’s a side-effect of progress. We learn the game, we call a lot. As we progress we learn to not call and then we pride ourselves on the fact we don’t call too much. Then…we don’t call enough.
Here is an example where calling even though the hand isn’t huge is recommended.
I’ve already called so I’m looking at tanyao for my yaku. North is likely a safe hold until I’m ready. I’m probably hoping that in an ideal situation, the 2p will emerge. Instead, the 5p comes out. Do I still call?
Calling here gets you into tempai and locks in tanyao, dora 2 for 3,900. It’s not great value but it’s not awful. However, if you draw the 2p, you can then walk that over to a 234 sanshoku and mangan.
Perhaps you’re thinking “this is a no brainer” but it’s the sort of hand I might hesitate on calling. These kinds of theoretical exercises help me test my habits and build the mental tools I need for victory in a real game!
(Example from Japan Professional Mahjong League “Mahjong Fundamentals Collection” p.89)
