What is the order of the Charleston in American Mahjong?

The first Charleston is three passes of three tiles each: right, then across, then left. If all four players agree, a second Charleston follows in reverse: left, then across, then right.

What is a blind pass in the Charleston?

On the last pass of a Charleston, a player who doesn't have three tiles they want to give away may pass along one or two of the tiles they just received without looking at them, combined with their own discards, to make three.

Can you skip the second Charleston?

Yes. The second Charleston is optional and only happens if all four players agree to it. Any single player can stop it, in which case play moves on to the optional courtesy pass.

The Charleston in American Mahjong: How It Works, Step by Step

If there's one part of American Mahjong that makes brand-new players freeze, it's the Charleston. The tiles start flying in different directions, everyone seems to know what they're doing, and you're left holding three tiles wondering which way to pass them. The good news: the Charleston follows a fixed, predictable pattern. Once you've seen it laid out once, it stops being intimidating — and it quickly becomes one of the most enjoyable, strategic parts of the game.

This guide explains exactly what the Charleston is, the precise order of every pass, the special moves (the blind pass and the courtesy pass), when it can be stopped, and a simple strategy to get you started.

In one sentence The Charleston is a series of tile exchanges at the start of each hand, where players pass three tiles at a time — right, across, and left — to improve their starting hands before play begins.

What this guide covers

What the Charleston is (and why it exists)
The first Charleston: right, across, left
The second Charleston: left, across, right
The blind pass
The courtesy pass
A simple Charleston strategy for beginners
Frequently asked questions

What the Charleston is (and why it exists)

The Charleston happens right after tiles are dealt and before regular play starts. Every player begins with 13 tiles (the dealer has an extra one to discard), and those starting tiles are random — you almost never get a hand that's already heading toward a winning pattern on the card. The Charleston gives everyone a chance to trade away tiles they can't use and pick up tiles that might fit the hand they're trying to build.

It's named after the 1920s dance, from the same era the American game took shape, and the back-and-forth passing does have a certain rhythm to it once it clicks. Crucially, you pass tiles blind to the receiver — you choose what to give, but you don't get to pick what you receive. That uncertainty is exactly what makes it interesting.

The first Charleston: right, across, left

The first Charleston is mandatory and always has three passes, three tiles each time, in this exact order:

Pass 1 — Right. Choose three tiles you don't want and pass them to the player on your right. At the same time, you receive three tiles from the player on your left.
Pass 2 — Across. Pass three tiles to the player sitting opposite you, and receive three from them.
Pass 3 — Left. Pass three tiles to the player on your left, and receive three from the player on your right.

All four players pass at the same time, so there's no waiting your turn. You pick up the three tiles coming in, fold them into your hand, then decide what to send on the next pass.

Helpful memory trick The first Charleston goes R–A–L (right, across, left). The second reverses it to L–A–R (left, across, right). It's a mirror image — easy to remember once you notice the symmetry.

The second Charleston: left, across, right

After the first Charleston, there's an optional second one. It only happens if all four players agree to do it — any single player can decline, and then you skip straight ahead. The second Charleston runs in the reverse direction:

Pass 1 — Left.
Pass 2 — Across.
Pass 3 — Right.

Why would you decline? If your hand has come together nicely and you don't have three tiles you're willing to part with, you can stop the second Charleston to protect your hand. If you're still searching, you'll usually want to keep going.

By the later passes, you may find you only have one or two tiles you actually want to give away — but a pass always has to be three tiles. That's where the blind pass comes in.

On the last pass of each Charleston (the third "left" pass of the first Charleston, and the third "right" pass of the second), you're allowed to take one or two of the tiles you just received and pass them along without looking at them, combined with your own discards, to make up the required three.

You can blind-pass one tile (giving two of your own + one unseen) or two tiles (one of your own + two unseen).
You may not blind-pass on the earlier passes — only on the final pass of a Charleston.

The blind pass is a safety valve: it lets you keep every tile you want without being forced to break up your hand just to fill a pass.

The courtesy pass

After the Charleston (or Charlestons) finish, there's one last optional exchange: the courtesy pass. The two players sitting across from each other may agree to swap tiles — anywhere from zero to three. It works like this:

You and the player opposite you each decide how many tiles you'd like to exchange (0, 1, 2, or 3).
You swap the lower of the two numbers. If you want to pass 3 but they only want to pass 1, you each pass 1.

The courtesy pass is a gentle final tune-up. It's optional, and it's fine for the answer to be zero on either side.

A simple Charleston strategy for beginners

You don't need advanced tactics to start. These few habits will carry you a long way:

Have a target in mind. Glance at the card and pick a section of hands you might aim for (for example, a particular suit-and-number theme). Pass away tiles that don't serve any plausible target.
Let go of isolated, unhelpful tiles first. Lone winds, single dragons you can't build on, and odd one-off numbers are usually the easiest to release early.
Keep your jokers and flowers. Jokers are precious wildcards and flowers appear in many hands — don't pass these away while you're learning. (You actually can't pass jokers in the Charleston.)
Watch what you're forced to keep. If great tiles keep arriving for one type of hand, lean into it. The Charleston often tells you which hand to chase.
Don't over-commit too early. Stay flexible for the first pass or two before locking onto a single hand.

Important rule You can never pass a joker during the Charleston. Jokers stay in your hand. Everything you pass must be a regular tile.

Frequently asked questions

What is the order of the Charleston?

The first Charleston is right, across, left — three tiles each pass. If all four players agree, the second Charleston reverses it: left, across, right.

Is the second Charleston required?

No. It's optional and happens only if everyone agrees. Any one player can stop it, and play moves to the courtesy pass.

Can I pass jokers in the Charleston?

No. Jokers can never be passed. Only regular tiles can be exchanged.

What if I don't have three tiles to pass?

On the last pass of a Charleston you can use a blind pass — sending along one or two tiles you just received, unseen, to make up the three.

Keep learning New to the whole game? Start with American Mahjong Rules: The Complete Beginner's Guide. Once your hand comes together, you'll want to understand how scoring works and how to use your jokers.