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How to Do the Charleston in American Mahjong: A Beginner's Guide

To do the Charleston in American mahjong, every player passes three tiles to the right, then three across, then three to the left. If everyone agrees, a second Charleston follows in reverse order: left, across, right. After that, the two players sitting across from each other may make an optional courtesy pass of zero to three tiles, and Jokers can never be passed at any point.

The Charleston is the tile swap that happens after the deal and before the first discard. It is the part of American mahjong that confuses new players most, mainly because the direction keeps changing. Here is how it works, one step at a time.

What the Charleston Is For

After the deal, East has 14 tiles and everyone else has 13. Your hand probably does not match any hand on your card yet. The Charleston gives every player a structured chance to get rid of tiles they do not want and pick up tiles that might help. You pass away the tiles that do not fit the hands you are considering, and you hope the tiles coming in move you closer.

Before You Pass: Pick a Direction for Your Hand

Take a minute to sort your tiles and look at your card. You do not need to commit to a single hand yet, but try to narrow it to two or three possibilities. Tiles that fit none of them are your passing candidates. Many players also hold on to pairs and anything that fits several hands on the card.

The First Charleston: Right, Across, Left

The first Charleston is required for everyone. Each pass is exactly three tiles, placed face down.

1. Pass right. Choose three tiles and pass them face down to the player on your right. You receive three tiles from the player on your left.
2. Pass across. Choose three tiles and pass them to the player sitting opposite you. You receive three from that same player.
3. Pass left. Choose three tiles and pass them to the player on your left. You receive three from the player on your right.

A simple rule of thumb: pick up the tiles you received only after you have put your own pass on the table. That keeps the order clean and prevents accidental swaps.

The Blind Pass on the Last Pass

The final pass of the first Charleston, the first left, allows a blind pass. If you cannot find three tiles you are willing to give up, you may take one, two, or three of the tiles being passed to you and pass them on without looking at them. You still pass a total of three tiles, made up of any tiles from your hand plus the unseen ones. Some players call this "stealing." Rule sources and groups describe the blind pass a little differently, so check the official card and rules your group follows.

The Second Charleston: Left, Across, Right

The second Charleston is optional. It only happens if all players agree, so any one player can stop it. If it goes ahead, the order reverses:

1. Pass left three tiles.
2. Pass across three tiles.
3. Pass right three tiles.

The last pass of the second Charleston, the second right, also allows a blind pass, with the same rules as above. If someone stops the second Charleston, play moves straight to the courtesy pass.

The Courtesy Pass: Across, Zero to Three Tiles

When the Charleston is finished, you may make a courtesy pass with the player across from you. You and that player agree on how many tiles to exchange, anywhere from zero to three. If one of you wants to pass three and the other only one, the lower number is typically used. Nobody is required to give a courtesy pass.

Rules That Trip Up Beginners

• No Jokers, ever. Jokers cannot be passed during either Charleston or the courtesy pass. Keep them.
• Always three tiles. Every Charleston pass is three tiles, even when you use a blind pass. The courtesy pass is the only exchange that can be fewer.
• Everyone passes at the same time. Wait until all four players have their tiles ready, then pass together.
• Direction changes are the hard part. First Charleston: right, across, left. Second Charleston: left, across, right. Then courtesy across.

Groups sometimes play house rules, especially for three-player or two-player games, so check the official card your group uses for special cases and agree on any variations before you start.

A Quick Memory Trick

Think of the first Charleston as going around the table to the right, crossing the table, then coming back left. The second Charleston simply rewinds it. Then you finish by being polite to the person across from you, which is why it is called a courtesy pass.

Even so, it is easy to lose track in the middle of a lively game. Many groups keep a small reference card on the table. Our free Charleston Quick Guide lays out the full passing order on one page, written in our own words.

Charleston Tips for New Players

• Pass tiles that help nobody. Early on, simple discards from suits you are not using are a safe choice.
• Watch what comes back. Tiles you receive can hint at what other players are not collecting.
• Do not hold out for perfection. It is fine to keep two possible hands open through the first Charleston.
• Say the direction out loud. A quick "passing right" from the table keeps everyone in sync.

Hosting a game for new players? Our guide to hosting a mahjong night covers seating, setup, and how to keep a beginner table relaxed.

Keep the Guide Where You Play

We are developing the American Mahjong Mat, Host Edition: a 33 x 33 inch mat that ships rolled, with a smooth woven fabric top over a cushioned foam rubber base with a non-slip underside, a matching carry bag in Coastal Blue Chinoiserie, and a Charleston Quick Guide card we wrote ourselves so the passing order is always at hand. It is not available yet. If you would like to hear when it is, join the early list. It is free: launch news and the occasional hosting tip, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Questions

Quick answers

What is the order of the Charleston in American mahjong?

The first Charleston goes right, across, then left, three tiles each time. An optional second Charleston goes left, across, then right, followed by an optional courtesy pass across.

Can you pass a Joker in the Charleston?

No. Jokers cannot be passed during the Charleston or the courtesy pass.

When can you do a blind pass?

On the last pass of each Charleston: the first left and the second right. You pass on one to three received tiles without looking, still passing three tiles in total.