6-05

Engineering a come-from-behind win

In international tournaments, table points are earned depending on your rank at your table at the end of each game. First place scores 4 points, second place scores 2, third place scores 1, and last place scores 0. As the game nears its end, you need to start building your hand with specific goals in mind (depending on how many points you must earn to finish with the desired rank). In particular, for the very last hand it is vital that you determine exactly how many points you will need to achieve the desired results. This section teaches you how to calculate the number of points and type of win needed to overtake a player.

First, count the number of points between yourself and your target (the opponent that you wish to overtake in score). This is just a simple matter of subtraction. Next, subtract 32 from this number (32 is the gain in points that you are guaranteed if you finish: 8 points from each player, 8 of those points being from your target, so that a 32-point gain is made). The resulting number tells you how many points your hand must be to beat the target when you go out on one of the other opponent’s discard (Equation 1).

Equation 1:Calculating the number of points needed to overcome a point spread (when tile is taken off an unrelated player)

Needed points = (Target’s score – your score) – 32

For example, you’re in 2nd place. The leading player is 60 points ahead of you. Sixty minus 32 equals 28. If you finish off a “bystander’s” discard, your hand must be 28 points or more to overtake the leader and win the game.

Next, divide this number by 2 (Equation 2).

Equation 2:Calculating the number of points needed to overcome a point spread (when tile is taken off target)

Needed points = [(Target’s score – your score) – 32]/2

This is the number of points your hand must be if the winning tile is taken from the target himself. Next, divide the number by 2 once again. Now you have the number of points required to overtake the leader when the winning tile is self-picked (Equation 3).

Equation 3:Calculating the number of points needed to overcome a point spread (when tile is self-drawn)

Needed points = [(Target’s score – your score) – 32]/4

Continuing with the same example, if the opponent in 1st place has a 60 point lead on you, subtract 32 from 60, and you get 28 points. Divide this by 2 for 14 points. Divide it again, equaling 7 points. This is the number of points you need to win if you pick your tile. In other words, any hand will do, since you must have at least 8 points to go out. It’s worth noting whether or not your opponent is more than 64 points ahead of you. If he is, you should go for a self-drawn hand. The reason is as follows: with a 64-point lead, you would need to take a 32-point hand off one of the other opponents, or a 16-point hand off the target. Neither of these is an easy task. But a self-drawn hand must only be the minimal 8 points, and given these options, gives you the most hope of making up for the point spread. This once again emphasizes the extra value that is awarded to a self-drawn hand.

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Number of points gained on a target player by going out

Hand value	Off bystander	Off target	Self-drawn
8	40	48	64
9	41	50	68
10	42	52	72
11	43	54	76
12	44	56	80
13	45	58	84
14	46	60	88
15	47	62	92
16	48	64	96
17	49	66	100
18	50	68	104
19	51	70	108
20	52	72	112
21	53	74	116
22	54	76	120
23	55	78	124
24	56	80	128
25	57	82	132
26	58	84	136
27	59	86	140
28	60	88	144
29	61	90	148
30	62	92	152
31	63	94	156
32	64	96	160
33	65	98	164
34	66	100	168
35	67	102	172
36	68	104	176
37	69	106	180
38	70	108	184
39	71	110	188
40	72	112	192