# How Does the Charleston Work?

**Quick answer:** In Mahjong Island, the Charleston is a tile swap before play begins. Everyone passes 3 tiles right, then 3 across, then 3 left. If every player votes yes, a second Charleston follows.

Source: https://mahjongisland.com/blog/can-you-take-a-tile-for-a-run-in-mahjong · Mahjong Island · Updated 2026-10-29

The Charleston in Mahjong Island works as a tile swap before play: every player passes 3 tiles right, then 3 across, then 3 left. "Across" means the player sitting opposite you. If every player votes yes, a second Charleston passes 3 left, then 3 across, then 3 right.

## When does the Charleston happen?

The Charleston happens right after the deal and before anyone takes a turn. Each player is dealt 13 tiles, and the dealer gets a 14th tile. The dealer discards first, but only once the Charleston is done.

## What does a pass look like?

You pick tiles to send away and keep the ones you want. Say your hand holds two Red Dragons. That is a Pair, two identical tiles. You might keep them and pass 3 other tiles instead.

Tiles: Red Dragon, Red Dragon. A Pair: two Red Dragons.

## Why pass tiles at all?

The Charleston gives you a chance to trade tiles before play starts. You win by completing one hand on the Island Card: 14 tiles that match one line on the card. You can pass tiles that do not fit the line you want.

To see how the rest of a hand plays out, read [the Mahjong Island rules for winning a hand](/guides/mahjong-rules). To pick a line to aim for, browse [every winning hand with examples](/guides/mahjong-winning-hands).

[Play a hand free](https://mahjongisland.com/play?new=1)

## Frequently asked questions

### How many tiles do you pass in the Charleston?

You pass 3 tiles each time. The first Charleston has three passes: right, across, and left.

### Is the second Charleston required?

No. The second Charleston happens only if every player votes yes.

### Who plays first after the Charleston?

The dealer goes first. The dealer holds 14 tiles and discards first once the Charleston is done.