Learn it by doing. Our free Charleston simulator deals you a hand and walks you through every pass, with tips at each step. Try it after reading this page.
Why the Charleston exists
The Charleston is one of the things that makes American mahjong its own game. Mahjong came from China, and players there don't trade tiles this way; it was added as the game developed in the United States. After the deal, everyone holds tiles they can't use. The Charleston lets you pass them along and, with luck, get back tiles that fit the hand you want to build from the card.
It happens after the deal and before East's first discard. East has 14 tiles and everyone else has 13. You keep those totals the whole way through, because you always give as many tiles as you receive.
The basic rules for every pass
- You pass three tiles at a time, face down.
- Pick your tiles and set them in front of you before you pick up the ones coming to you.
- Never pass a joker. Not ever, not even by accident in a blind pass.
- Everyone passes at the same time, in the same direction.
The first Charleston: right, across, left
The first Charleston is always played. It has three passes:
- Pass right. Give three tiles to the player on your right.
- Pass across. Give three tiles to the player sitting opposite you.
- Pass left. Give three tiles to the player on your left.
First Charleston · always played
Each pass: 3 tiles, face down. Never a joker.
Pass right
Give 3 tiles to the player on your right.
Pass across
Give 3 tiles to the player sitting opposite you.
Pass left
Give 3 tiles to the player on your left.
Blind pass allowed
Optional second Charleston
Left , then Across , then Right
Any player can stop it. Blind pass allowed on the last right.
Optional courtesy pass
0–3 tiles, across
Agree with the player opposite you. Then East discards first.
The blind pass on the first left
By the third pass, you may have a hand you really like and not want to give up three of your own tiles. On the first left, you're allowed to pass blind. You take one, two, or all three of the tiles being passed to you, and pass them straight on to the left without looking. Fill out the rest from your own hand so you still pass three in total. Some people call this "stealing."
The stop vote
After the first Charleston, the table decides whether to do a second one. If any one player wants to stop, the second Charleston is skipped. You don't need to explain why. If nobody objects, you go on.
The second Charleston: left, across, right
The second Charleston runs in the opposite order, like a mirror of the first:
- Pass left.
- Pass across.
- Pass right. This last pass can be a blind pass, just like the first left.
An easy way to remember it: right, across, left, then turn around and come back: left, across, right.
The courtesy pass
Last comes an optional courtesy pass with the player across from you. You and your partner across agree to trade zero, one, two, or three tiles. If one of you wants to pass three and the other wants one, you both pass one. You can always say "none, thanks." Jokers still can't be passed.
When the courtesy pass is done, East discards her first tile and regular play begins. Our how to play American mahjong guide covers everything after that.
A quick summary
| Round | Passes | Blind pass allowed? |
|---|---|---|
| First Charleston (required) | Right, across, left | On the left pass |
| Stop vote | Any player can stop here | Not applicable |
| Second Charleston (optional) | Left, across, right | On the right pass |
| Courtesy pass (optional) | Across only, 0 to 3 tiles | No |
House rules vary on small details, like whether a table allows blind passes at all or how the courtesy pass number is agreed. When in doubt, just ask the table.
Charleston strategy for beginners
Keep your options open
Look at your tiles and find two or three hands on the card they could become. Pass tiles that fit none of them. Deciding on one hand too early is the most common beginner mistake.
Hold on to jokers, pairs, and flowers
Jokers can't be passed anyway, which is lucky, because they're your best friends. Pairs are valuable because you can't call a discard to make a pair (except for Mahjong), but once you hold one, you can call a matching discard to turn it into a pung. Flowers show up in lots of hands, so think twice before letting them go.
Pass the loners
A single tile with nothing near it, like one lonely wind or a number far from anything else in its suit, is often the easiest tile to pass.
Notice what comes back
The tiles you receive tell you what your neighbors don't want. If someone passes you three Dots, they're probably not collecting Dots. That clue helps later when you choose what to discard.
Don't panic
You'll pass a tile and then wish you hadn't. Everyone does. The Charleston gets faster and easier with practice, and the best practice is the Charleston simulator, where you can replay as many hands as you like without anyone waiting on you. If a term on this page was new, check the mahjong glossary.
