The Charleston in American mahjong, step by step

The order of passes

Every pass is three tiles, face down, all players at once. The direction changes each time:

1. Right (first charleston)
   Required. Pass 3 tiles to the player on your right.
2. Across (first charleston)
   Pass 3 tiles to the player opposite you.
3. Left (first charleston)
   Pass 3 tiles left. You may blind pass here.
4. Left (second charleston)
   Optional. Only if all four players agree.
5. Across (second charleston)
   Pass 3 tiles across.
6. Right (second charleston)
   Pass 3 tiles right. You may blind pass here.
7. Across (courtesy pass)
   Optional. You and the player across agree on 0 to 3 tiles each.

Many players remember the first six passes as "right, across, left, left, across, right".

Rules that trip people up

• No jokers. You can never pass a joker.
• Always three tiles. Each of the six main passes is exactly three tiles.
• Blind passing. On the last pass of each Charleston (the first left and the second right), you may pass on 1, 2 or all 3 of the tiles you are receiving without looking at them, topping up from your rack so that you still pass three. This lets you keep tiles you want.
• Stopping the second Charleston. It only happens if every player wants it. If anyone says no after the first Charleston, it is skipped.
• Courtesy pass. Only between players sitting across from each other, only if both agree, and both pass the same number of tiles, from 0 to 3.

What to pass

Before the first pass, look at the card for two or three hands your tiles could grow into. Then pass tiles that fit none of them. A few common habits:

• Keep jokers (you have to), pairs and anything that appears in several of your possible hands.
• Pass lone tiles in a suit you are not collecting.
• Do not commit to one hand too early. The Charleston often changes what you are building.
• Flowers appear in many hands, so think twice before passing them.

Choosing what to pass

• Before the first pass, pick two or three hands on the card that fit your tiles. Pass tiles that fit none of them.
• Think before passing pairs and flowers: many hands use them.
• On the blind-pass steps, passing on unseen tiles lets you keep a hand that is coming together.
• If your hand is already close, you can stop the second Charleston. Any one player can stop it.
• Remember what you passed and to whom. It tells you what your neighbours are probably not collecting.

More in beginner strategy.

Common questions

What is the Charleston in mahjong?

A tile-swapping round at the start of each American mahjong hand. Players pass unwanted tiles to each other in a set order before play begins, to improve their hands.

Is the second Charleston required?

No. The first Charleston is required; the second happens only if every player agrees. Any one player can stop it.

What is a blind pass?

On the last pass of each Charleston (the first left and the second right), you may pass on one, two or three of the tiles coming to you without looking at them, so you still pass three in total.

Can you pass a joker in the Charleston?

No. Jokers can never be passed, in either Charleston or the courtesy pass.

Can you pass flowers in the Charleston?

Yes. Flowers can be passed like any other tile, though many hands use them, so think before you do.

What is the courtesy pass?

An optional final swap of zero to three tiles with the player across from you. You both pass the same number.

What if I do not want to give up any tiles?

You still have to pass three on each required pass. On the blind-pass steps you can pass on tiles you have just received instead of tiles from your hand.

Why is it called the Charleston?

The name is commonly linked to the 1920s dance of the same name, but there is no definitive record of why the American game adopted it.

Sources: Wikipedia: American mahjong; Mahjong 4 Friends Charleston guide.