Mahjong 101: Passing aka “The Charleston”

Each player puts her tiles on her rack, facing her but concealed from the other players. The player then organizes her tiles in groups and pairs according to the categories on the card. Three unwanted tiles are picked for passing. The passing is organized into two “Charlestons,” as follows:

First Charleston (compulsory):
Each player gives 3 tiles to the player on her RIGHT; then
Each player gives 3 tiles to the player ACROSS from her; then
Each player gives 3 tiles to the player on her LEFT.

At the end of the first Charleston, any player may decide to halt the passing and proceed to the final Optional pass.

Second Charleston ( compulsory ):
If no one halts the passing, then the second Charleston begins, in which:

Each player gives 3 tiles to the player to her LEFT; then
Each player gives 3 tiles to the player ACROSS from her; then
Each player gives 3 tiles to the player to her RIGHT.

A player is permitted to STEAL one, two or three tiles on the last pass of each Charleston. For example, if a player only has one tile she wishes to pass, she may take two tiles which are passed to her and add her one tile and pass them to the next player. A player may only “steal” a tile on the FIRST LEFT and LAST RIGHT.

One point to remember: A Joker may never be passed.

Optional Charleston:
At the end of the second Charleston, an OPTIONAL pass is permitted. The players exchange either 0, 1, 2 or 3 tiles with the player across from her.

During the passing, players are concentrating on the card and how the tiles they are receiving can fit together to make a hand. 

Back to Mahjong 101: The Rules