What is the Charleston in Mahjong?

The Basics

The Charleston is a structured tile exchange that happens at the beginning of every American Mahjong game, before any tiles are drawn from the wall. Named after the popular 1920s dance (Mahjong arrived in America during the same era), the Charleston gives players a chance to improve their hand by trading unwanted tiles with other players.

No other Mahjong variant in the world uses the Charleston. It's one of the defining features that makes American Mahjong unique — and it's where a large part of the skill advantage is earned.

How the Charleston Works

The First Charleston (Mandatory)

The first Charleston consists of three passes. Each pass, every player selects 3 tiles from their hand and passes them simultaneously:

1. Pass Right — Select 3 tiles and pass them to the player on your right
2. Pass Across — Select 3 tiles and pass them to the player sitting across from you
3. Pass Left — Select 3 tiles and pass them to the player on your left

The first Charleston is mandatory — all four players must participate in all three passes.

The Second Charleston (Optional)

After the first Charleston, players vote on whether to do a second one. If any player objects, no second Charleston occurs. The second Charleston reverses the order: left, across, right. Once begun, it must be completed in full.

The Courtesy Pass (Optional)

After all Charlestons are complete, players sitting across from each other may optionally exchange 0–3 tiles. The number exchanged must match on both sides — if one player offers 2 and the other offers 3, no tiles are passed.

The Blind Pass

During any Charleston pass, if you receive tiles you want to keep, the "blind pass" lets you immediately pass those received tiles along without looking at them — satisfying the 3-tile requirement while keeping what you want. The blind pass is only allowed during the last pass of each Charleston (left pass in first, right pass in second).

Charleston Strategy

• Identify your target hands first — Before passing any tiles, look at your hand and decide which 2–3 hands on the card you might pursue. Only then choose which tiles to pass.
• Pass with purpose — Every tile you pass should be one that doesn't contribute to any of your target hands.
• Never pass Jokers — Jokers are valuable in every hand. There's never a reason to pass one during the Charleston.
• Adapt after receiving — The tiles you receive may completely change your strategy. Stay flexible and reassess your target hands after each pass.
• Be careful what you pass across — Tiles passed across go to the player who will discard toward you during the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Charleston in American Mahjong?

The Charleston is a tile-passing phase that happens before the main game. Each player passes 3 tiles right, 3 tiles across, and 3 tiles left in the first round, then the same in the second round in reverse order. It lets players exchange unwanted tiles before play begins.

Can you pass jokers in the Charleston?

No. Jokers cannot be passed in any phase of the Charleston. They must remain in your hand until the main game begins.

What is the courtesy pass?

After the second Charleston, two players sitting across from each other may agree to exchange 1, 2, or 3 tiles. Both must agree on the same number, or no tiles are passed.

Where can I learn more American Mahjong rules?

Our free guide library covers everything from basic rules to advanced strategy. Start with the American Mahjong Rules guide if you're new to the game.