The Courtesy Pass in American Mahjong Explained
After the Charleston ends, one small exchange remains: the courtesy pass. It is optional, quick, and quietly one of the most tactical moments of the game.
What the Courtesy Pass Is
The courtesy pass is a final tile exchange between the two players sitting across from each other. Each pair agrees on a number — 0, 1, 2 or 3 tiles — and exchanges that many face-down. Both players in the pair must pass the same number; if either wants zero, the pass is zero.
Rules to Know
- Jokers can never be passed, courtesy pass included.
- Tiles are passed face-down and simultaneously.
- The agreed number must be equal on both sides.
- Once tiles are exchanged, the pass cannot be taken back.
- After the courtesy pass, East discards and play begins.
Courtesy Pass Tactics
By now you have seen twelve passes and know roughly what your opponents collect. Pass a tile that is useless to you but unlikely to complete your opponent’s exact need — middle-number suit tiles in families they have already dumped are classic safe passes. If your hand is one tile from a strong position, offer 1 tile to minimize damage; if your hand is chaos, push for 3. The Charleston that precedes all this is covered in the Charleston guide.