American mahjong

The Charleston in Mahjong

By Twin Dices Updated 3 min read

Quick answer

The Charleston is a tile swap at the start of American mahjong. Before play begins, each player passes 3 tiles to the right, then across, then left. A second round is optional. It helps you trade away tiles you don't need. You may never pass a joker.

Players pass three face-down tiles across the table during the Charleston

At a glance

  • Used in: American mahjong
  • Tiles per pass: 3
  • First Charleston: right, across, left (required)
  • Second Charleston: left, across, right (optional)
  • Courtesy pass: 0 to 3 tiles, with the player across
  • Jokers: never passed

What is the Charleston in mahjong?

The Charleston is how players swap tiles in American mahjong. It happens after the deal and before the first turn.

Everyone passes 3 tiles at a time. You give away tiles you don't want. You get new tiles that might help your hand.

How does the Charleston work?

The Charleston has up to three parts, and only the first is required.

  1. Pass right. Give 3 tiles to the player on your right.
  2. Pass across. Give 3 tiles to the player across from you.
  3. Pass left. Give 3 tiles to the player on your left. This ends the first Charleston.
  4. Second Charleston, if no one stops it. Pass left, then across, then right. Any player may stop the passing before this round.
  5. Courtesy pass, if you like. Trade 0 to 3 tiles with the player across. If you want different numbers, you both pass the lower one.
Diagram of the Charleston: pass 3 tiles right, across, then left. The optional second Charleston goes left, across, right, then a courtesy pass of 0 to 3 tiles.
Each round of the Charleston, plus the courtesy pass.

What are the Charleston rules?

The biggest rule is that you may never pass a joker. A joker is a wild tile. If you pass one by mistake, it must be given back.

  • Pass 3 at a time. Every pass is 3 tiles. Only the courtesy pass can be fewer.
  • Blind passing is allowed. On the first left and the last right, you may pass on tiles you just got. Pass 1, 2 or 3 of them without looking.

Tip: Have your 3 tiles ready before each pass. The table moves faster that way.

Want to know more about wild tiles? Read about mahjong jokers.

Ready to pass some tiles?

Practice your passes on an American set of 160 or 166 tiles, with jokers and spares.

Shop American mahjong sets

Questions people ask

Do you do the Charleston with 2 or 3 players?

No. NMJL rules skip the Charleston in games with 2 or 3 players. Some groups of 3 still pass tiles, using a house rule. See 3-player mahjong.

What happens after the Charleston?

East has 14 tiles, so East starts by throwing one out. Then play moves to the right. The full game is in how to play American mahjong.

Do other kinds of mahjong use the Charleston?

Chinese mahjong does not. Wright-Patterson mahjong, a Western style, does. Its players pass right, across, then left.

Keep learning

Sources

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