The Charleston in American mahjong
The Charleston is the face-down tile exchange before regular play. The required first sequence goes right, across, then left. A second sequence goes left, across, then right unless any player stops it at the single checkpoint. Every main pass uses three tiles, the two end passes allow a blind pass, and jokers can never be passed.
What the Charleston does
The Charleston is a series of face-down tile exchanges before regular play begins. You choose tiles you do not want, pass them in a set direction, and receive the same number from another player.
Every pass in the first and second Charleston has exactly three tiles. Keep each packet face down until it reaches you.
If you use a mat, follow its pass arrows when the table changes direction. The tiles themselves can be any allowed faces; the point of the sequence is where each three-tile packet goes.
Quick check: count three tiles before every main pass.
First Charleston: right, across, left
The first Charleston is required for all four players unless East declares a winning opening hand before the first pass. Its order is right, across, then left.
Text version, from your seat:
- Pass three tiles to the right in the first Charleston.
- Pass three tiles across in the first Charleston.
- Pass three tiles to the left in the first Charleston. Blind passing is allowed here.
Take one pass at a time:
- Choose three tiles and pass them face down to the player on your right.
- Receive three from your left, then choose the next three and pass them across.
- Receive three from across, then make the final pass to your left.
Do not race ahead when your packet arrives. Everyone should finish one direction before the table begins the next.
Quick check: right, across, left.
The one stop point
After the first Charleston’s left pass, pause before anyone looks at the next left pass. Any one player may stop the optional second Charleston here.
If someone stops, skip all three passes of the second Charleston and move to the courtesy pass. If nobody stops and the second Charleston begins, everyone must finish its three passes.
Ask one plain question at the pause: “Does anyone want to stop?” Wait for all four players before moving tiles.
Common mistake: you cannot stop halfway through the second Charleston.
Second Charleston: left, across, right
The second Charleston reverses the outside directions: left, across, then right. Each pass still contains three tiles.
Text version, from your seat:
- Pass three tiles to the left in the second Charleston.
- Pass three tiles across in the second Charleston.
- Pass three tiles to the right in the second Charleston. Blind passing is allowed here.
- Choose three tiles and pass them to the player on your left.
- Receive three from your right, then choose three to pass across.
- Receive three from across, then finish with a three-tile pass to your right.
The middle pass stays across in both sequences. Only the first and last directions switch.
Quick check: left, across, right.
Blind passes happen only at the ends
You may make a blind pass in two places. During the left pass that ends the first Charleston, the blind tiles come from the player on your right as that pass moves around the table. During the right pass that ends the second Charleston, they come from the player on your left. You may forward up to three of those incoming tiles without looking at them.
The packet must still total three tiles. If you pass along only one received tile, add two of your own. If you pass along two, add one of your own.
Keep the just-received tiles face down while they travel through your hands. You may also skip the blind-pass option and choose all three from your rack.
Common mistake: a blind pass does not let you send fewer than three tiles.
Keep jokers out of every pass
You may not pass a joker during either Charleston or during the courtesy pass. If 
is among the tiles you were about to send, put it back and choose another tile.
Check every tile you selected from your own rack before you turn the packet face down. Do not turn over or inspect an incoming tile that you are forwarding blind. Decorative joker artwork can be easy to miss in a busy rack.
Finish with the courtesy pass
After the Charleston, you and the player across from you may agree to exchange zero, one, two, or three tiles. Each opposite pair makes its own choice.
If you ask for three and the player across asks for one, both of you pass one. The lower request is always the count used by that pair.
Zero is allowed, so an opposite pair can make no exchange at all. When both pairs finish, gather your concealed tiles and get ready for East’s first discard.
Return to How to play American mahjong for the full round, or continue to joker rules.
Common questions
How many charlestons are in mahjong?
American mahjong has a required first Charleston and an optional second Charleston. The first goes right, across, left. After it ends, any player may stop before anyone looks at the next left pass. If nobody stops, the second goes left, across, right and must be completed. After either stopping or completing the second Charleston, opposite players may separately agree to a courtesy exchange of zero to three tiles. Learn more in What the Charleston does.
When should you stop the Charleston in mahjong?
You may stop the Charleston only after all three passes of the required first set and before anyone looks at the next left pass. Any player may stop there without giving a reason. There is no single best strategic choice for every hand. If nobody stops and the second set begins, finish all three passes before the courtesy pass. Learn more in What the Charleston does.