Can you pass a joker in the Charleston?

No. Under NMJL rules a joker may never be passed at any point in the Charleston, including the Second Charleston and the courtesy pass. If one is passed by mistake, the receiving player hands it back and it is replaced with another tile.

What is the order of the Charleston?

The First Charleston goes right, across, left. The optional Second Charleston reverses it: left, across, right. The whole sequence is often remembered as ROLLOR: Right, Over, Left, Left, Over, Right.

What is the courtesy pass in mahjong?

An optional final exchange after the Charleston where you and the player across from you trade zero to three tiles. You both pass the lower of the two numbers you each ask for.

When can you blind pass in the Charleston?

Only on the last pass of each Charleston: the first left of the First Charleston and the last right of the Second Charleston. You may pass along one, two, or three of the tiles you were just handed without looking at them.

American Mahjong Charleston Rules: Pass Order & Jokers

What Is the Charleston?

The Charleston is a structured tile-passing ritual that happens before gameplay begins in American Mahjong. It’s one of the features that makes the American version unique. No other major variant of Mahjong has anything quite like it.

During the Charleston, players pass tiles to each other in a set sequence. The goal is to get rid of tiles you don’t need and (hopefully) receive tiles that bring you closer to a winning hand. It adds a layer of strategy and excitement before a single tile is even drawn from the wall.

The Passing Sequence

The Charleston has two parts: the First Charleston and the Second Charleston. Each part consists of three passes.

First Charleston (Mandatory)

Every player must participate in all three passes of the First Charleston. No exceptions.

Right — Pass three tiles to the player on your right
Across — Pass three tiles to the player sitting across from you
Left — Pass three tiles to the player on your left

An easy way to remember the order: R-A-L (Right, Across, Left).

Second Charleston (Optional)

After the First Charleston, the group votes on whether to do a Second Charleston. If any player says no, it doesn’t happen. If everyone agrees, the sequence reverses:

Left — Pass three tiles to the player on your left
Across — Pass three tiles to the player across from you
Right — Pass three tiles to the player on your right

The reverse order is L-A-R (Left, Across, Right).

Some players use the mnemonic ROLLOR to remember the full sequence: Right, Over (across), Left, Left, Over (across), Right.

The Courtesy Pass

After the Second Charleston (or after the First Charleston if the second was declined), there’s an optional Courtesy Pass. You and the player across from you may exchange zero, one, two, or three tiles. Both players must agree on the number. If you don’t want to pass any, you can pass zero.

Jokers Can Never Be Passed

Jokers stay in your hand for the entire Charleston. That covers every pass of the First and Second Charleston and the courtesy pass. It isn’t a strategy tip; it’s an NMJL rule. If a joker is passed by mistake, the player who receives it gives it back and it is swapped for another tile. The hand isn’t dead, because the game hasn’t officially started until East makes the first discard.

Sometimes you don’t have three tiles you’re willing to give up, but you’re required to pass three. In this situation, you can do a “blind pass.” Take one or more of the tiles you just received from the previous pass and include them in your outgoing pass without looking at them (or at least without fully incorporating them into your hand).

Blind passes are only allowed on the last pass of each Charleston: the first left (the third pass of the First Charleston) and the last right (the third pass of the Second Charleston). On every other pass, all three tiles must come from your hand.

The rule to remember: blind passing is for the final pass, when you may have nothing left you’re willing to give up. You still pass three tiles, taking one, two, or all three from the tiles just passed to you without looking at them.

Strategy During the Charleston

The Charleston isn’t just a formality. How you handle it can set you up for a strong game or leave you scrambling. Here are some practical tips.

1. Don’t Commit to a Hand Too Early

Before the Charleston, you’ll scan the NMJL card and see a few hands that loosely match your tiles. Resist the urge to lock in on one hand right away. The Charleston will change your tiles significantly. Keep your options open through at least the first three passes.

2. Pass What You’ll Never Use

Winds and dragons that don’t fit any of your candidate hands are usually safe to pass. Single tiles in a suit you’re not pursuing are also good candidates. The key is to pass tiles that have zero chance of helping you, not tiles that are merely inconvenient.

3. Be Careful What You Pass Across

Tiles you pass to the player across from you will stay on the opposite side of the table. Tiles you pass right or left end up with adjacent players. Think about who might benefit from what you’re discarding. If the player across from you seems to be collecting Bams, don’t hand them three Bams.

Of course, early in the Charleston you won’t know much about other players’ hands. As the passes continue, pay attention to what you’re receiving. It gives you clues about what others are not collecting.

4. Think About the Second Charleston

If you’re in good shape after the First Charleston, you might want to decline the Second Charleston to protect your hand. If you still need help, vote to continue. Remember that all four players must agree for the Second Charleston to happen.

5. Use the Courtesy Pass Wisely

The Courtesy Pass is your last chance to swap tiles before the game begins. Even exchanging one tile across can make a difference. Don’t skip it automatically. Look at your hand, check the card, and decide if there’s one tile that just doesn’t fit.

Common Mistakes

Trying to pass a Joker. Jokers can’t be passed at any point in the Charleston, so don’t count them among the three tiles you plan to give away. Build your passes from the rest of your hand.

Passing pairs. If you have a pair that fits multiple hands on the card, don’t break it up. Pairs are valuable starting points.

Blind passing carelessly. Blind passes are a lifeline when you’re stuck, but they mean you’re sending tiles without knowing what they are. Use them only when you truly have no other option.

Forgetting the order. Passing to the wrong player disrupts the whole table. Use the ROLLOR mnemonic until the sequence is second nature. (You can find this and other terms in our American Mahjong glossary.)

Practice the Charleston

The best way to get comfortable with the Charleston is repetition. Play enough games and the sequence becomes automatic, freeing your mind to focus on strategy instead of logistics.

Mahj Parlour includes the full Charleston in every game, whether you’re playing against bots or with friends. It’s a low-pressure way to practice the passing sequence and develop your strategy before sitting down at a real table.