A-league rules

[Gnom]

I did my debut tonight with the A-league rules (or something really close), since I didn't see another topic here goes!

I already had some chances to watch A-league rules games, so I already had some ideas about how to play my hand, but having ideas and actually playing are two different things, can't say I did too well. I only dealt in two hands in two han chans but one of them was a dealer mangan, and I didn't win many hands either. That and the tsumos, I did -35 and -8. I have to say I wasn't so lucky with my draws either (I know, "blame it on the luck", but honestly without being perfect shit my draws were well below average).

So about the rules themselves, I found it pretty interesting that there is very fewer room for luck. Although I must confess I love hitting ura doras on a pon or shin doras on a kan, the fact that you know from the start what you're gonna get makes a big difference. The game looks more defensive, and winning some small hands looks like it makes much more of a difference. Generally speaking, it seemed like the sweat was more from the effort of making something with one's hand than from the stress of maybe leaving with ¥5,000 less.

My wife just called to say she'll e back soon so I'll go make dinner, maybe I'll share some more impressions tomorrow if my brain doesn't erase it till then. Anyway, although I wouldn't stick to only A rules, I'll definitely try it some more. Did other people here try these rules? (In addition to Oozball who reported doing so and, obviously, Jenn and Garthe!)

[Ozball]

Yeah I've commented on these before but I'll do so again anyways :p

I've actually enjoyed the JPML A-Rules when I've played with them. Not having to worry about Ura-Dora is nice (I never hit them myself anyways :p) But I had the same issue as you in lack of winning hands (I need to get my Oui-sen write up done ><) and losing most of my points to tsumo. So I'm working on trying to improve that aspect of my game at the moment.

What were you involved in that used A-Rules?

[Gnom]

I found a jansou which has a kind of competition event on saturday night, and they used A-rules. Actually I went there because it is possibly the only time one can enjoy no-rate free mahjong in Nagoya (the only one I found anyway), and I don't enjoy free as much as I'd like to, since my focus is a bit too much on the money aspect and less on the game. Although I'm about average and don't really lose that much money on the long-term, it's preventing me from fully enjoying the game. Set would be nice, if I had some people to go with

Anyway, I didn't know it was gonna be A rules until I was explained the house rules, so that was a bit of a surprise. Like I said, I wouldn't stick to only these rules, but I sure will go back to this jansou. Actually playing it makes what goes on in one's head clearer to me, and it looks like it involves more of the other players actions. Although this was a minor experience I got a glimpse of it, and it really looks fitted to competition.