The Charleston is the part of American mahjong that makes it feel different from other versions of the game. Before the first discard, every player hands off tiles they do not want and receives new ones that might help. The first Charleston is required: you pass three tiles to the right, three across and three to the left. It is also the part new players find most confusing, so this guide covers it slowly, with a worked example, the blind pass, the one rule that never bends, and the mistakes to avoid.
Key takeaways
- The first Charleston is required and has three passes: right, across, then left.
- You pass three tiles each time, face down, so your hand size never changes. East stays at 14 and everyone else at 13.
- Jokers can never be passed, in either Charleston or the courtesy pass. Flowers can be.
- Many tables allow a blind pass on the last pass, but check your group's rules first.
- After the first Charleston, East discards first, and the turns move counterclockwise.
The three passes
Take the passes in this order, always counting from your own seat:
- Right. Pass three tiles to the player on your right.
- Across. Pass three tiles to the player sitting across from you.
- Left. Pass three tiles to the player on your left.
Typically all four players choose their tiles and pass at about the same time, tiles face down. Three go out and three come in on every pass, so your hand size never changes. That is why East, who starts with 14 tiles (see 13 and 14: how many tiles everyone starts with), stays at 14 until the first discard.
The first Charleston is not optional. The second Charleston and the courtesy pass are different: those are optional extras. Think of the first Charleston as a required round of trading before anyone takes a turn.
What to pass and what to keep
The simple principle is to give away the tiles that connect to nothing else you hold, and keep the tiles that might become part of a group.
- Good candidates to pass: a lone wind, a single tile from a suit you barely hold, a tile that has no pair, no neighbor and no obvious use.
- Usually worth keeping: pairs, triples, tiles that run together in the same suit, and anything you are not yet sure about.
- Cannot be passed: jokers.
What comes back may not be better, but each pass opens new options. Early on, avoid committing too hard to a single plan. If you have not already, take a minute to sort your rack first, because it is much easier to decide what to pass when you can see your whole hand.
The one hard rule: no jokers
Jokers are never passed, in the first Charleston, the second Charleston or the courtesy pass. Everything else, including flowers, can be passed. Say the rule aloud when a new player joins the table, because passing a joker by mistake is the kind of error that gets noticed several tiles too late.
The rule is also a reminder of how valuable jokers are. A joker can stand in for a tile in a group of three or more, so the joker you keep is a tile that nobody else will ever receive from you. For the full picture, see jokers: what they can replace.
The blind pass
On the last pass of a Charleston, which is the pass to the left in the first Charleston, many tables allow a blind pass. It works like this: you may pass along one to three of the tiles you have just been handed without looking at them. They never join your hand. You still pass three tiles in total, so if you blind pass one tile, the other two come from your own rack.
Not every group uses the blind pass, and groups differ on the details. Ask before the first hand, and agree on whether the option is allowed and how many tiles it covers. If your group says no, simply look at what you receive and pass three tiles of your choice.
When a blind pass makes sense
A blind pass is handy when the three tiles you receive on the left-pass round look unhelpful, or when you simply like your hand as it is and do not want to disturb it. It is also a quick way to keep the game moving, because you do not need to think through a fresh set of tiles.
Worked example: all three passes
Imagine a made-up player, Lena, who sits as South. After sorting, her 13 tiles show a pair of 4 bams, a pair of 7 dots, a joker, a flower, a lone North wind, a lone green dragon, a single 9 crak, a single 2 crak, a single 5 crak, a single 6 bam and a single 3 dot.
- Pass right. She sends the North wind, the 9 crak and the 2 crak. None of them connect to anything. She keeps her jokers and her pairs.
- Pass across. Three new tiles have arrived from the player on her left. She re-sorts, sees that one of them gives her a third 4 bam, and sends away the green dragon, the 5 crak and one of the newcomers that does not fit.
- Pass left. This is the last pass of the first Charleston. If her group allows a blind pass, she might pass two of the tiles she was just handed without looking, plus one tile from her own rack. If not, she looks and chooses three.
At the end, Lena still has 13 tiles, and she has not given away a single joker. Her hand looks different from the one she started with, and that is the point. Do the same thing with your own tiles and you will soon get a feel for the rhythm.
What happens after the first Charleston
Once the first Charleston is complete, play can move on. Here is the sequence:
- Optionally, there may be a second Charleston, but only if all four players agree. Any player can decline, and that decision is binding. The second Charleston goes left, across, then right.
- Optionally, there may be a courtesy pass between the two players sitting across from each other, of up to three tiles, or none.
- East discards first. East still has 14 tiles and drops to 13 after the discard.
- Play then runs counterclockwise: each player draws one tile and discards one, as described in your turn: draw one, discard one.
For the official side of the game, the yearly card comes from the National Mah Jongg League. Charleston customs can vary slightly from group to group, so a quick pre-game check is always wise.
Common mistakes and a quick reference
- Passing a joker. It is not allowed. Check your three tiles before you pass them.
- Passing face up. Tiles are passed face down.
- Passing the wrong number. It is three each time. A wrong tile count is one of the things that can make a hand dead.
- Forgetting the order. Right, across, left. Say it aloud if you need to.
- Rushing. Wait until everyone is ready before the tiles change hands.
- Not re-sorting. After each pass your rack has changed, so take ten seconds to sort and count.
| Pass | Direction | Tiles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Right | 3, face down | Required; no jokers |
| 2 | Across | 3, face down | Required; no jokers |
| 3 | Left | 3, face down | Required; no jokers; blind pass possible at many tables |
Try it at your next game
Before the first pass, ask the table whether blind passes are allowed. Then count your hand after every pass and say "thirteen" (or "fourteen" if you are East) aloud. It keeps everyone honest and makes the whole Charleston faster.
Frequently asked questions
Is the first Charleston required in American mahjong?
Yes. The first Charleston is required in every hand: three tiles right, three across and three left. The second Charleston is the optional one, and it only happens if all four players agree.
Can you pass a joker in the Charleston?
No. Jokers can never be passed in the Charleston or in the courtesy pass. Flowers can be passed, along with all the other tiles.
How many tiles do you pass in the Charleston?
You pass three tiles on each pass. Because three tiles also come in, your hand stays the same size: 13 tiles for most players and 14 for East until the first discard.
What is a blind pass?
On the last pass of a Charleston, many tables let you pass along one to three of the tiles you were just handed without looking at them. You still pass three tiles in total. Not every group uses it, so check your group's rule before the first hand.
Which direction do you pass first?
Right first, then across, then left. The optional second Charleston reverses it: left, across, then right.
What happens if I pass the wrong number of tiles?
A wrong tile count can make your hand dead, which means you can no longer win. Tell the table as soon as you notice, so the table can sort it out before play begins. Counting your rack after every pass is the easiest way to catch a mistake.
Keep reading
- The second Charleston and the courtesy pass
- Jokers: what they can replace
- A 60-second way to sort your rack
- Your turn: draw one, discard one
- After the Charleston: choosing which hand to chase
These guides follow the way American mahjong is commonly played with the National Mah Jongg League card. Groups sometimes add house rules, so agree on yours before the first hand, and always use the current year's official card. SOLMAY is not affiliated with the NMJL.
