The Charleston Explained for Your First Game

The Charleston is the passing phase before ordinary play. It gives everyone a chance to reshape the starting hand before drawing begins.

Your first goal is not to make brilliant passes. It is to follow the directions, protect any joker, and notice which broad possibilities remain.

The required first Charleston

Pass three tiles in this order:

1. Right — to the player on your right.
2. Across — to the player opposite you.
3. Left — to the player on your left.

A simple memory phrase is right, across, left. Say the direction quietly before moving your tiles.

Never pass a joker

Jokers may not be passed during the Charleston. Keep any joker on your rack even if you do not yet know where you will use it.

What should a beginner pass?

Use a low-pressure process:

1. Group obvious pairs and related tiles.
2. Look for two or three broad card possibilities rather than committing instantly.
3. Pass isolated tiles that do not support those possibilities.
4. Reevaluate after every group of three arrives.

Do not dismantle a strong pair merely because you have not selected a final hand.

The optional second Charleston

The second Charleston occurs only by table agreement. Its directions reverse: left, across, right. A courtesy pass may follow under the governing rules.

Blind-passing procedures have exact limits and positions. Learn those from the current official rules or a teacher rather than improvising from a summary.

A useful beginner sentence

If the table is moving too quickly, say:

“I know the direction; I need another moment to choose my three.”

That keeps the game moving without pretending the decision is finished.

Practice without playing

Put nine spare tiles in front of you. Move three right, three across, and three left while naming each direction. Then repeat the optional sequence: left, across, right. Keep a marked “joker” tile stationary throughout.

Next: learn the joker rules that matter most.