What Is the Courtesy Pass in Mahjong? How It Works
The courtesy pass is an optional last swap at the end of the Charleston. You and the player sitting opposite you trade up to three tiles, or you both skip it. It's the one part of the Charleston that's entirely up to the two of you.
That's the short version. The longer one includes the reassuring news that "zero" is a perfectly good number.
When does the courtesy pass happen?
Last. After the regular passes are finished, the courtesy pass is the final step before play begins. It happens whether the table did the whole Charleston or stopped it early. It also happens when the table skips the second Charleston, which is the part that trips people up.
Skipping the second Charleston and skipping the courtesy pass are two separate decisions. You can do one and not the other. Nobody has to explain themselves for either.
Who do you pass to?
The player directly opposite you. Not the one on your left, not the one on your right, and not the whole table at once.
Each opposite pair settles it on its own. So you and the woman across from you might swap two tiles while the other two players pass on the whole thing and go straight to refilling their drinks. Both versions are normal.
How many tiles can you pass?
Anywhere from zero to three. You each say a number, and if the numbers don't match, the swap uses the smaller one. That way nobody ends up handing over more tiles than they wanted to.
Groups say it a little differently around the table, so listen for how yours does it. The usual move is to name your number out loud and let the lower one win.
Can you say no?
Yes. Nobody can make you do a courtesy pass, and you don't owe anyone a reason. If the player opposite you wants to trade three tiles and you'd rather keep everything, say zero and the swap doesn't happen. Because the lower number wins, your zero settles it.
This is worth knowing before your first game, because the other Charleston passes feel mandatory (they mostly are, and the second Charleston needs the whole table to agree). The courtesy pass is the exception that's entirely yours.
How is it different from the regular Charleston passes?
Three differences. First, it only goes one direction, straight over to the player opposite you, instead of rotating around the table. Second, it's optional. Third, you and one other person decide it together, not the whole table.
The regular passes follow the ROLLOR pattern: right, over, left for the first Charleston, then left, over, right for the second. The courtesy pass is a single extra "over" tacked on the end, if you both want it.
Should you actually do it?
Often, yes, and here's a way to decide without any math.
Look at your rack. If every tile is pulling its weight toward the hand you're building, pass zero and keep everything. A settled rack is a lovely thing and you're allowed to leave it alone.
If you're holding a tile or two that fit nothing you're building, this is your last polite chance to send them away. It's also your last chance to receive something useful. A tile that's dead weight on her rack is occasionally exactly what you were missing, and the swap is small enough that it costs you almost nothing to find out.
Jokers can't be passed in the regular Charleston, and you'd want to keep yours anyway. They're the most useful tiles on your rack.
If you're still deciding which hand to go for, what to pass in the Charleston covers how to choose tiles you won't miss. A blind pass is a different move, so don't mix the two up when you're calling it out loud.
What if you're new and don't know what to say?
Say "I'll do one," or "I'll do zero," and mean it. The player opposite you has made this exact call dozens of times and learned it from someone at her own table who was glad to explain. If you're not sure, ask. She will probably be thrilled to be asked.
Of everything in the Charleston, this is the friendliest step. It's the one place where the game asks politely before it makes you do anything.
The courtesy pass, quick reference
- It's the final pass of the Charleston, even if the second Charleston is skipped.
- It's optional. Each opposite pair decides for itself.
- You pass to the player directly opposite you.
- You can pass zero to three tiles.
- If you and your partner pick different numbers, the lower number is used.
- Jokers can't be passed in the regular Charleston.
You're going to be fine
There's a moment at your first table when the Charleston ends and someone says "courtesy?" and everybody looks at you. Say a number between zero and three. You can't get it wrong. Then pick up your tiles and go find your hand.
When you're ready to learn the rest of the flow, our how to play guide walks through it start to finish.