The Charleston is the tile passing phase that happens after the deal and before normal play begins in American mahjong. Every player passes three face down tiles at the same time. The first three passes go right, across, then left.
If every player agrees to continue, a second Charleston follows in reverse: left, across, then right. After that, opposite players may agree to one final courtesy pass of zero to three tiles.
The full order is easy to remember once you see it in one place.
The exact Charleston order
| Stage | Pass direction | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| First Charleston | Right, across, left | Yes |
| Second Charleston | Left, across, right | Only if all four players agree |
| Courtesy pass | Across | Optional for each opposite pair |
The common memory aid is ROLLOR: right, over, left, left, over, right. “Over” means across the table.
Each regular pass contains exactly three tiles, and every tile stays face down. Pass your three tiles before looking at the three sent to you. The American Mah Jongg Association rulebook provides the full procedure and exceptions.
Clear, full size tiles are especially helpful while a new group learns the sequence. Our Beach American mahjong tiles keep the faces full size at approximately 32 × 24 × 16 mm while making the 160 tile set easier to carry between tables.
When can the second Charleston stop?
The first Charleston is required. Once its three passes are complete, any player may decline the second Charleston. The group then moves to the courtesy pass.
The decision must be made before anyone looks at tiles received during the first pass of the second Charleston. If players have already looked, the second Charleston must be completed.
You do not need to explain why you want to stop. A strong starting direction, several useful pairs, or simply not wanting to risk the hand may be enough.
What is a blind pass?
A blind pass lets you protect part of your hand when you cannot comfortably choose three tiles to give away.
It is allowed on the final pass of either Charleston. That means the first left or the second right. You may take one, two, or all three incoming tiles and pass them onward without looking at their faces. Your outgoing group must still total exactly three tiles.
For example, if you can spare only one tile from your rack, you may add two unseen incoming tiles and pass all three together. The important rule is that you cannot look at the incoming tiles before forwarding them.
How does the courtesy pass work?
The courtesy pass is a separate exchange between the two players sitting across from each other. Each person may offer to pass zero, one, two, or three tiles.
The smaller number controls the exchange. If you want to pass three but the opposite player wants to pass one, each of you passes one. If either player says zero, that pair does not exchange any tiles.
The two opposite pairs decide independently, so one pair may exchange two tiles while the other pair exchanges none.
What should a beginner pass?
Do not force yourself into one exact hand too early. Before the first pass, use the current card to find two or three realistic directions.
Keep natural pairs, connected number groups, and tiles that work across more than one possible hand. Pass tiles that are isolated from your strongest options. As new tiles arrive, reassess before choosing the next three.
If you are still learning the equipment and tile groups, start with our guide to choosing an American mahjong set for beginners. You can also review the complete American mahjong tile count before setting up your first game.
The simplest Charleston reference is: right, across, left. If everyone continues, reverse it. Save blind passes for the last pass of either Charleston, then let each opposite pair decide the courtesy pass.