Strategy

Charleston strategy for beginners

Knowing the pass order is step one. Knowing which three tiles to let go of is what turns a messy deal into a hand you can win.

If you're still learning the order itself (right, across, left, then left, across, right), start with the Charleston rules page. This guide assumes you know the passes and want to get better at choosing tiles.

Start with a goal, not a tile

The biggest beginner mistake is looking for "bad" tiles to throw away. A tile is only bad compared to the hand you're trying to build. So before your first pass, take a moment to look at your tiles next to the card.

Ask yourself:

Which suit do I have the most of?
Do I have mostly odd or mostly even numbers?
How many pairs do I have?
How many winds, dragons and flowers?

Those answers point you toward one or two sections of the card. Now you have a reason to keep some tiles and pass others.

Pick two hands

Early on, aim for two possible hands that share a lot of tiles. For example, two hands from the same section, or one hand that uses your pairs and another that uses the same suit.

Why two? Because the Charleston is unpredictable. You don't know what's coming. If you commit to a single hand on the first pass and then receive nothing useful, you're stuck. With two targets, more of the incoming tiles will help you.

By the end of the Charleston, you'll usually see which of the two is coming together. Settle on it then.

What to keep

Jokers. You can't pass them anyway. Jokers can't go into any Charleston pass, including the courtesy pass. They're also the most useful tile in the game, so a hand with two or three jokers is a strong start.
Pairs and groups. If you have two or three of the same tile, hold on to them. Groups are the backbone of almost every hand. Breaking a pair is rarely worth it in the first few passes.
Flowers, usually. Many hands on the card use flowers, often several of them. If you're dealt three or four, they can push you toward a hand. If you only have one and your hand clearly doesn't need flowers, it can go.
Tiles that fit both your target hands. These are your most flexible tiles.

A joker, a pair and several flowers: tiles most players would hold on to early.

What to pass

Lone tiles from your weakest suit. If you have eight Dots, four Craks and one Bam, that Bam is an easy pass.
Tiles that fit neither target hand. Odd numbers when you're going for evens, for example.
Single winds or dragons you have no plan for. One North Wind on its own is hard to use unless you're aiming at a winds hand.

Try not to pass tiles that are good for your neighbour in an obvious way. You can't control this much, but if you just received three Bams from the left, don't pass Bams right back unless you have to.

The "don't break it" rule

A simple rule of thumb for beginners: don't break a pair or group to make a pass unless you've given up on every hand that uses it. If you find yourself about to split a pair because you can't find three other tiles, that's the moment to think about a blind pass instead.

Using the blind pass

On the last pass of each Charleston (the first left and the second right), you're allowed to pass along some or all of the tiles coming to you without looking at them. This is called a blind pass, or stealing.

It's useful when:

Your hand is shaping up nicely and you don't want to give away any of it.
You have only one or two tiles you're happy to part with. Pass those, and make up the rest from the tiles coming in.

The downside: you never see the tiles you blind pass. One of them might have been exactly what you needed. Use it when protecting your hand matters more than taking a chance on new tiles.

Remember, blind passing is only allowed on those two passes. Not on any other pass, and not in the courtesy pass.

Should you stop the second Charleston?

The second Charleston only happens if all four players agree. Any one player can stop it, but only before it begins.

You might want to stop it if your hand is already in great shape and you'd rather not pass away six more tiles. On the other hand, if your hand is weak, the second Charleston is a second chance. Most beginners are better off letting it happen while they learn. It's also more practice at choosing passes.

Courtesy pass tactics

After the Charleston, you and the player across may swap up to three tiles. Each of you says how many you'd like to swap, and you both pass the lower number. Zero is allowed.

Ask for what you can spare. If you only have one tile you're happy to give up, ask for one.
Zero is fine. If your hand is close and every tile matters, there's no shame in asking for none.
Listen to the number they ask for. If the player across asks for zero, their hand may be in good shape already.

Reading what others pass you

Every tile you receive is a tile someone else didn't want. That's information.

If the player on your right passes you three Craks, they're probably not collecting Craks. Craks you discard later may be safer near them.
If you receive several flowers, someone is probably not going for a flower-heavy hand, which leaves more flowers in play for you.
If someone passes you a pair, they may be desperate for passing material, or that number just doesn't fit their plan.

Don't read too much into a single pass. Players sometimes pass tiles they'd like to keep because they have no choice. But over six passes, a pattern often appears. Noticing it is one of the skills that separates new players from experienced ones.

Practise without pressure

The best way to improve is repetition. The Daily Charleston gives you the same 13 tiles as every other visitor that day. Make your passes and see where your hand ends up. Try a different approach the next day and compare. If jokers still confuse you, the joker quiz is a quick refresher, and the cheat sheet keeps the pass order beside you at the table.

Questions

Can I pass the tile I just received on the same pass?

Only on a blind pass, and only on the first left or the second right. On every other pass, you choose your three tiles and put them face down before picking up the tiles coming to you.

Should I always keep flowers?

Not always. Flowers are useful in many hands, but if you have only one and your likely hands don't use flowers, it's a fine tile to pass.

What if I can't find three tiles I want to pass?

That's a sign your hand is in good shape. On the passes where blind passing is allowed, use it. On the others, pass the tiles that are least useful to your best hand, even if it hurts a bit.

Is it rude to stop the second Charleston?

No. It's part of the rules. Just say so clearly before it starts. For more on table manners, see mahjong etiquette.