Tilebird

Stopping the Charleston and the courtesy pass

Who can stop the Charleston, and when? What about the courtesy pass?

The Charleston More about the charleston

Question 1 of up to 2

Has the first round — right, across, first left — been finished by everyone?

Read every possible ruling for this situation

Cannot stop first

The first round cannot be stopped

Standard rule
The first round cannot be stopped. All three passes — right, across, and the first left — must be completed by everyone, even a player whose hand is already set. The only time passing is skipped altogether is when East is dealt a complete hand and declares Mah Jongg before the Charleston begins. Finish the first left; then anyone may raise the question of stopping.
Why
The first round is part of the deal itself; everyone is entitled to those three passes.
Common house rules
None that we know of. This one is played the same way at nearly every table.

If your table agreed on a house rule before the game, that rule wins.

Under review by instructors

Sources consulted: Mahj Life Rules Wiki, Article 218 (Exercising Charleston Options); Mahj Life Rules Wiki, Article 999 (Glossary: Compulsory Round); Tom Sloper, Mah-Jongg FAQ 19 (American rules): “How does the Charleston work? When can I stop the Charleston?”; AMJA, The Complete American Mah Jongg Rulebook, FAQ: is the Charleston mandatory; can East stop the Charleston

Anyone can stop

Any one player may stop it now; the courtesy pass still follows

Standard rule
Any one player may stop the Charleston now, without giving a reason, and the second round is skipped for everyone. The moment to speak is after the first left and before anyone picks up their second-left pass; a good habit is to say “I may want to stop” as soon as you receive the first left. If nobody stops it, the second round (left, across, last right) goes ahead. Either way the courtesy pass is still available afterward: you and the player across from you may exchange one, two, or three tiles, the player who wants fewer sets the number, and either of you may decline — the other pair may pass whether or not you do. The player who stopped the Charleston may take part in the courtesy pass too.
Why
The second round is optional by design, and one player’s need to protect a hand is reason enough; the courtesy pass is a separate, voluntary step.
Common house rules
Some groups let only East ask whether to continue, or require a majority to stop; the standard is any single player. Some tables skip the courtesy pass out of habit — it is always on offer in the standard game.

If your table agreed on a house rule before the game, that rule wins.

Under review by instructors

Sources consulted: Mahj Life Rules Wiki, Article 218 (Exercising Charleston Options); Mahj Life Rules Wiki, Article 193 (Charleston Underway and Must Be Completed — via the “Rules not in Mah Jongg Made Easy 2024” insert); Tom Sloper, Mah-Jongg FAQ 19 (American rules): “When can I stop the Charleston?” and “How does the courtesy pass work? Do we still do the courtesy if somebody stopped the Charleston?”; AMJA, The Complete American Mah Jongg Rulebook, FAQ: is the Charleston mandatory (second and third phases); Mah Jongg Made Easy 2024, p. 13 “Optional Pass” (page reference as cited by Mahj Life)

Second round locked

Too late to stop — finish the second round

Standard rule
It is too late to stop. Once anyone has picked up or looked at their second-left pass, the second round is underway and must be completed by everyone through the last right. After the last right comes the courtesy pass, which is optional for each pair of opposite players: one, two, or three tiles, the smaller number wins, and either player may decline.
Why
Once tiles from the second round are in hands, stopping would leave the table uneven; the round has to run to its end.
Common house rules
Some tables are lenient if the stop is spoken in the same breath as the first second-left pass being lifted. Decide in advance how strict you want to be.

If your table agreed on a house rule before the game, that rule wins.

Under review by instructors

Sources consulted: Mahj Life Rules Wiki, Article 218 (Exercising Charleston Options); Mahj Life Rules Wiki, Article 193 (Charleston Underway and Must Be Completed — via the “Rules not in Mah Jongg Made Easy 2024” insert); Tom Sloper, Mah-Jongg FAQ 19 (American rules): “When can I stop the Charleston?”; AMJA, The Complete American Mah Jongg Rulebook, FAQ: “Does looking at my tiles affect stopping the second Charleston?”

All rules