The Charleston
What the Charleston is
Why every game starts by passing tiles around.
Beginner · lesson 14 of 25
Before real play begins, everyone passes tiles to each other in a set pattern called the Charleston. It's unique to American Mahjong, and it's your first chance to trade away tiles you don't want for ones you might.
You pass three tiles at a time (right, across, and left) and usually receive three back each time. The goal is to shed tiles that don't help any hand you're eyeing while keeping your options open.
Note
There's rarely one perfect pass. A good pass keeps the most hands reachable, and that's exactly how the drill scores you.
Reading ahead is fine. The path takes lessons in order, so this one ticks off once you get here.
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