Before the first draw
The Charleston, Explained
How the signature American Mahjong passing sequence works—and how to make better beginner decisions during it.
The Charleston is a sequence of three-tile passes completed after the deal and before ordinary play. It helps everyone improve their rack while beginning to reveal which suits or tile families may be difficult to collect.
The first Charleston
Every player completes three mandatory passes:
- Pass three tiles to the player on your right.
- Pass three tiles to the player across from you.
- Pass three tiles to the player on your left.
On the final left pass, many tables allow a player to “blind pass” one, two, or three received tiles without looking at them. Confirm the table’s procedure before you begin.
The second Charleston
Players may agree to a second sequence. If it is played, the direction reverses:
- Pass three tiles to the left.
- Pass three tiles across.
- Pass three tiles to the right.
The group must be aligned on whether to continue; do not begin passing until the table has decided.
The courtesy pass
After the Charleston, partners across the table may agree to exchange zero, one, two, or three tiles. The two players agree on the number before revealing the tiles they will pass.
What should a beginner pass?
- First identify pairs, flowers, jokers, and strong clusters in one or two suits.
- Scan the card for a few compatible sections rather than one exact hand.
- Pass isolated tiles that appear in none of those possibilities.
- Avoid breaking a pair early unless the surrounding rack clearly points elsewhere.
- Do not pass jokers during the Charleston.
What can the passes tell you?
If a suit never reaches you, other players may be collecting it. Repeated winds or particular numbers can make some card sections more promising. Treat this as context rather than certainty—players also pass defensively or change directions.