Charleston
The three-pass tile exchange at the start of an American Mahjong game — first left, then across, then right.
Definition
The Charleston is a ritual tile-passing sequence that takes place before gameplay begins in American Mahjong. Each player selects three tiles to pass in a specific direction: first to the left, then across the table, and finally to the right. After the mandatory Charleston, players may agree to an optional second Charleston (right, across, left). A final "courtesy pass" of zero to three tiles across may follow.
How It Works in Gameplay
The Charleston is your first strategic opportunity. Before passing, study the current NMJL card and identify one or two hands you might pursue. Pass tiles that don't fit your plan while keeping tiles that do. Because you'll receive tiles from other players, your hand can shift dramatically — stay flexible. The across pass is often considered the most important because you can't predict what you'll receive from the player across.
Example
You're dealt several Bams and a pair of Flowers, so you decide to pursue a hand requiring Bams. During the first left pass, you send away three unneeded Winds. From the right, you receive two Dots and a Joker. You pass the Dots across and keep the Joker. By the end of the Charleston, your hand has transformed from a jumble of mixed suits into a focused collection pointing toward a specific winning hand.
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