EXERCISING CHARLESTON OPTIONS (ARTICLE 218)

A hand of mah jongg is divided into two phases: the Charleston phase and the pick-and-discard phase. The purpose of the Charleston is to allow you to transform your dealt hand by participating in a series of passes between opponents. There are two rounds of passes, and in both rounds, you will pass three unwanted tiles to your opponents in three passes. The first round is compulsory (right-across-first left). However, if East recognizes they have a winning hand before the Charleston begins, they can declare mah jongg. This is called a Heavenly Hand and is worth double the value of the hand. The second round is optional (second left-across-last right). If East has a winning hand after the first round, they can declare mah jongg. This is called an Earthly hand and is also worth double the value of the hand.

You cannot change your outgoing pass after you look at an incoming pass. Also, no rules stipulate when tiles from an incoming pass can be racked. Waiting until everyone has their incoming pass is best for a smooth process. Also, it’s courteous to wait to give another player an outgoing pass until everyone has racked the tiles from the previous incoming pass.

You can take advantage of three additional options during the Charleston. Still, these options should only be exercised after careful consideration because exercising these options can alert vigilant opponents to the level of hand development you have achieved. Let’s look at each option’s when, why, and how.

Option 1 Passing Blind

You can pass up to three tiles “blind” in the last pass of each round (e.g., first left, last right). This would allow you to keep a well-developed hand intact. You will use tiles from your incoming pass to supplement the number of missing tiles from your hand, sight unseen. If you look at the supplemental tiles, you are not only breaking the rule but giving yourself an advantage over your opponents, which is unfair.

Option 2 Stopping the Charleston

Any player can stop the Charleston without giving a reason. Since the second round is optional, it is a courtesy for someone to ask the players if they are interested in continuing after the first left. In some groups, the player in the East seat is responsible for that job. If no one says anything and you want it stopped, you must speak up before someone looks at the tiles on their second left, or it’s too late. To keep someone from forging ahead, the best time to say something is when you receive your first left. You are not required to give a reason so say, “I may want to stop the Charleston.”

Strategically speaking, if you know what hand you are playing and have less than three tiles to pass, consider stopping the second round. If you are between categories or hands, stopping the second round is ill-advised because you only delay the inevitable. Instead, choose the strongest option and continue with the second round to take advantage of every opportunity.

Incidently, it is customary to form a pyramid by placing one tile on top of the other two to indicate the first pass of the second Charleston. The formation is known by other names like biscuit, cookie, hat, house, and stack. This custom is not in Mah Jongg Made Easy or league bulletins.

Option 3 Participating in the Optional Across Pass

You have one more chance to develop your hand further and strengthen your position in a final pass negotiated with the player across from you in the optional across pass, also known as the courtesy pass. The decision to participate is up to you. However, if your opponent passed blind or stopped the second round, consider declining an offer because they likely have a well-developed hand, and you don’t want to give them tiles that can give them an even more significant advantage.

Commitment to a Pass

A player can look at or change the tiles they have passed if they have not yet looked at their incoming pass from the other player. A player is committed to following through with a pass once they have picked up the incoming pass from the other player (NMJL bulletin 2025).

Charleston Courtesy: Nice to Do, Not Required

There are no official rules requiring players to wait to look at incoming passes or to delay passing their tiles during the Charleston. These practices are courtesies, not obligations. While some players prefer a more synchronized rhythm during the Charleston, others may pick up and pass tiles at their own pace. Respecting these differences helps maintain a smooth and enjoyable game for everyone.

Source: Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024, page 13)