Definition
2468 is the section of the card whose numbered tiles are all even, the twos, fours, sixes and eights, and its hands may also call for dragons or flowers.
A deal heavy in evens with no odd numbers is pointing here. Only four numbers qualify, so every pair and pung in this section is built from the same small pool of tiles.
At the table
With only four qualifying numbers and four of each numbered tile in a set, an evens hand draws on a small pool, and any other player going for evens is drawing on the same tiles. The mistake is hedging with an odd tile or two long after the rack has clearly gone even, because those tiles serve nothing and you owe three of them at every pass.
Also called evens.
Read the full guide: How to Read the Mahjong Card: The Notation, Decoded.
See it on real tiles. The AI coach reads a dealt hand, free, and names the direction it goes for, what to keep and what to pass, at the free read.
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Related: The card, Direction, Consecutive Run, 13579, 369, Winds and Dragons. All 52 terms.