What is the Charleston in American mahjong?

At the start of each game players pass three tiles: first to the right, then across, then to the left. A second Charleston may be played if nobody wins, and a one-tile courtesy pass is optional.

Can the Charleston be skipped?

The first Charleston is mandatory. The second is optional and any player may veto it; the courtesy pass is entirely optional.

What happens after the Charleston?

After the passes the wall is broken and play begins normally: draw, call, discard, until someone declares mah jongg.

The Charleston: American Mahjong's Passing Ritual Explained

How the Charleston works — three rounds of passing tiles, the optional second Charleston, and the courtesy pass. Everything you need before your first game.

Published 2026-07-18 · Updated 2026-08-13

The Charleston: American Mahjong's Passing Ritual Explained

The three passes

At the start of an American Mah Jongg game, each player passes three tiles. First pass: pass three to the player on your right. Second pass: pass three across. Third pass: pass three to your left. This is the Charleston.

Players receive three tiles in return each round, so the hand stays at 13 after each exchange.

The second Charleston and courtesy pass

If no player declares mah jongg, a second, optional Charleston can be played, but any player may veto it. After the second, players may request a "courtesy pass": one tile passed left, one across, one right, at their option.

Strategy

Pass tiles that are far from your hand's direction, but watch what others pass you; it hints at which section of the card they are building. This site automates the Charleston with a clear prompt so you always know whose turn it is to pass.

What to pass: a quick checklist

First choice: honors you cannot pair (a lone dragon or a wind that is not your seat or round). Second: suits you are abandoning. Third: tiles that are still useful to you but duplicated (keeping a pair is more valuable than keeping two isolated tiles of the same number).

Never pass a joker, a flower that completes a hand, or a tile that leaves you with only singletons and no direction. When unsure, pass the suit you drew the fewest of; it usually matches the section you are not building.

Opening after the Charleston

The Charleston is your chance to shape the hand before the wall opens: decide your section, protect the pair it needs, and let the extra tiles go. A balanced hand after the pass (one clear pair, one long suit, and a joker or two) is the fastest path to a win.

Use the built-in highlighter: after the passes, this site shows the card lines your hand already fits, so you pick the section with the fewest missing tiles.

FAQ

What is the Charleston in American mahjong?: At the start of each game players pass three tiles: first to the right, then across, then to the left. A second Charleston may be played if nobody wins, and a one-tile courtesy pass is optional.
Can the Charleston be skipped?: The first Charleston is mandatory. The second is optional and any player may veto it; the courtesy pass is entirely optional.
What happens after the Charleston?: After the passes the wall is broken and play begins normally: draw, call, discard, until someone declares mah jongg.